Exclusive: How the NFL Might Reshape Playoffs for an 18-Game Season

The NFL’s push to get an 18-game regular season schedule will dominate discussions with the NFLPA in the coming months, and the league already has several potential options for how a revamped calendar would impact the playoffs, according to league sources familiar with the matter.

Adding another week of games would immediately eliminate teams playing a third preseason game, according to all of the scenarios that have been discussed internally to this point, and would also include the addition of a second bye week, to allow players more rest and recovery. 

And while an 18th game would expand the scope of the regular-season television packages, obviously, and significantly raise revenues in that regard, it would also lead to alterations of the playoff structure.

“All of this is obviously very preliminary, but I don’t think the structure of the playoffs would change in a significant sense,” said one league source who is in close contact with several of the owners most bullish in getting an 18th game as soon we possible. 

“The most likely outcome would be that no team receives an extra playoff bye, the top teams in each conference would play on the first weekend. So there wouldn’t be an extra week of the playoffs, but those teams playing on the opening weekend would create additional inventory.”

And addition inventory means more revenue.

Tradeoffs And Compromises

Getting the NFLPA to agree to expand the season, again, only a few years after going to a 17th game, will require plenty of negotiating and plying, and will have natural impact on how the offseason is structured and how jobs are created. 

There are myriad potential ramifications for roster size, including how-many players dress for games as well as potential expansion of the practice squads.

The expansion of the international schedule will require even more rest and recovery for players

“All of that is on the table and under consideration,” said one league source who is close to several owners who are bullish on getting an 18th game. 

“Would they listen to something like lifetime health coverage? I think they’d have to. I don’t think anyone would be naïve to that possibility. I’m not sure they would go that far.The owners have to prove the financial case for this, and provide sufficient infrastructure for health and safety.”

By 2028, if not sooner, expect it to be sorted.