NFL planning on full, on-time schedule despite coronavirus

Despite the coronavirus outbreak here in America, the National Football League is confident it’ll play an on-time, 16-game season this fall.

The NFL doesn’t believe the coronavirus will change its plans come September..

While everyone in America — and around the globe — understands the seriousness of the health crisis being faced, the NFL believes its 2020 season won’t be impacted by the illness.

On Tuesday, executive vice president and general counsel Jeff Pash told reporters the NFL plans to go forward with a full 16-game, on-time schedule come autumn. The games are expected to be played in the normal stadiums in front of full crowds. This belief, according to Pash, is based on conversations the league has had with medical professionals.

Of course, nobody knows what’s going to happen. If the curve flattens enough in the United States, the NFL could have time to have training camp in July and August alongside a preseason schedule. Afterwards, it would go into a season starting in mid-September (as usual) with the playoffs beginning in January.

The postseason will certainly look different, though.

The NFL ratified the proposal of expanding the playoffs, which will take effect immediately. The new system has seven teams making the postseason from each conference instead of six. This is the first time the playoff format has been changed since the 1990 campaign.

Under this new look, Wild Card weekend will have a triple header on Saturday and Sunday, with games starting at 1 p.m. ET and stretching towards midnight. The only teams with first-round byes will be the top seeds.

Additionally, one of the Wild Card games will be simulcast on Nickelodeon, with the broadcast being geared towards a younger audience.