NFL: Expanded playoffs possible in 2015
Looks like we still may get an expanded NFL season sooner, rather than later.
According to ESPN, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday that the NFL’s competition committee will make it a priority in 2014 to research expanding the playoffs with a possibility of adding two teams to the playoffs in 2015.
The commissioner commented at this week’s NFL meeting in Washington, D.C., per ESPN:
"How do we continue to make sure the regular-season games are incredibly important each week, but also, how can we create more interest, and does expanding the postseason allow other teams to get into the dance with the potential of going on and winning the Super Bowl? That is a good thing for fans. It is a good thing competitively.What has happened is our league is so competitive right now. The games are so close that it is realistic to think that a team can have a great second half, get into the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. We have seen it."
Goodell also said “there is a lot to be done” for expanding the NFL playoffs. He also believes expanding the playoffs means that the Super Bowl would have to be played in mid-February.
“How do you schedule that? Do you have three games on Saturday and three games on Sunday? Do you have two on Friday, two on Saturday and two on Sunday? Do you go into Monday? There are competitive consequences in there and television consequences,” Goodell said.
It has been reported that along with expanding the preseason, the NFL is looking into the possibility of reducing the preseason to just three games, although Goodell believes the shortened preseason could not go into affect until after next season.
"I really don’t think we could make that change for ’14. Our teams go out with ticket packages as early as November, so we really don’t have an awful lot of time. We want to do it thoughtfully, and we want to do it carefully. So that’s going to take some committees to address it. Then we have to get together as a league again to do that, and it also includes a lot of negotiation with our broadcast partners, our players and a lot of partners."