With the COVID-19 pandemic causing many franchises to make roster adjustments this week, the NFL’s competition committee has crafted a potential contingency plan in case 2020 becomes the league’s first season in generations not to feature teams playing the same number of games.
The committee is expected to pitch a 16-team playoff bracket — up from the 14-team field set to debut this season under the 2020 CBA — to owners as a fail-safe format in the event the pandemic forces regular-season cancellations, Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com reports. The altered bracket would feature no byes and unfold like the quarterfinals of a college basketball conference tournament — though, with home-field advantage obviously still in place — with 1-vs.-8, 2-vs.-7, 3-6 and 4-5 matchups opening the playoffs.
No team has seen a game canceled yet this season, but the coronavirus has forced several schedule changes. With the virus now hitting the country at record levels, the NFL is preparing for scenarios in which teams are prevented from playing 16 regular-season games.
Interestingly, the league’s 16-team emergency bracket would eliminate the requirement for division winners to receive an automatic home game. Seeding would be determined by win percentage, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports. This plan taking effect would remind of 1982, when a players’ strike slashed the season to nine games and prompted the NFL to implement a 16-team bracket. This year, it would seemingly deny the NFC East’s champion from a home playoff game. All division winners would still be guaranteed a playoff spot, however.
No NFL season has featured a missed game since 1935. But since the Titans and Patriots outbreaks resulted in teams’ bye weeks being moved, the league would need a solution in the event teams that have already had their byes run into coronavirus trouble. All teams must approve the plan before it becomes the league’s official contingency option. While this would seem to be a way for the NFL to avoid staging a Week 18 makeup window, Pelissero notes that is still an option.
Liking the 16-playoff idea. Just like college basketball. However, all playoff teams should get a week off before playoffs start.
Forfeits are the way to go. If your team isn’t adhering to the protocols enough to play a game then it is the same as a little league team not having enough players show up to play the game.
Then I hope my Jets fly every game and smear grape jelly on all the doorhandles and let nature take its course.
No level of protocols stop the spread of a virus. Or are you actually assuming that everyone who gets it deserves it?
The NFL has some terrible owners but I can’t imagine any of them would actually accept the Lombardi trophy on a forfeit.
Houston Astros had no problem keeping their MLB trophy after getting busted cheating.
16 teams takes away the reward for winning the conference top seed and there isn’t 16 teams good enough in the league to make the playoffs worth while
Right now 9 teams in the AFC are 4-3 or better
The NFC has 7 teams with Records of 5-2, 5-3 or better
Does that mean that the NFC East is banned from the playoffs if they seed 1-8. Since the NFC Teams all are below .500 and destined to stay there. I am hoping the Eagles go 6-9-1. I am figuring their wins at this point 5 against the NFC East and 1 against the 49ers. Pederson gives up on the running game. Was up big on Washington 17-0 blew that game. Is 0-3-1 in games when a team rushes less then 20 times. 0-3 when it is his team. the tie was against the Bengals in OT. Yet somehow those less then 20 Rush attempt teams have 5 wins. But many many many more losses
14 is too many. Go back to 12. Don’t care. Good teams should regularly miss the playoffs. Teams need to win their division or be really good to make the playoffs
At least its better than what MLB did with their whacky 16 team playoff scenario.
At least it is not the Whack Playoff Format from the 1970s
1972 Undefeated Miami played at Pittsburgh in the AFC Title game. 1973 Divisonal playoff Dallas got a home game against the Rams. Dallas 10-4 Rams 12-2 both had won their Respective Division. Minnesota also a better record played the NFC title game in Dallas that yr.
in 1964 the Baltimore Colts played the NFL Championship game in Cleveland though the Colts had a better Record then the Browns. 1962 13-1 Packers at 12-2 Giants
1965 11-3 Browns at 10-3-1 Packers
Packers played Playoff Tie Breaker to move to 11-3-1
against Colts
1966 Packers 12-2 at Cowboys 10-3-1
1967 Rams 11-1-2 at 9-4-1 Packers
1968 Colts 13-1 at 10-4 Browns
1968
Raiders 12-2 at Jets 11-3
Raiders really 13-2 after beating Chiefs in a playoff
for the Division title
1966 Chiefs 11-2-1 at Bills 9-4-1
1965 Bills 10-3-1 at Chargers 9-2-3
Don’t know how they figured that one out
with all the Ties the Chargers had.
Good bit of research but all the teams knew and accepted the playoff formats during those years before the seasons began. A team that can’t overcome a slight bit of adversity hardly deserves to wear the label of “champions”.
It’s fine to add more teams but the top teams need a benefit from playing the season.
Give the top 12 a bye and the next 8 can play that week for right to join them.
If there is more playoff teams I stop watching this year, no matter the excuse.