The NFLPA and the NFL have a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in place that will run through the 2030 season. With it comes the likely expansion of the regular season to a 17-game schedule for each club. That, however, isn't expected until sometime after the 2020 season.
What could likely occur immediately, and wasn't necessarily contingent on the passing of a new CBA, is the expansion of the NFL playoffs from 12 to 14 total teams. That would mean an extra team per conference. It would also mean that, moving forward, only one team per conference will earn a first-round bye.
Following the 2019 season, the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs all earned first-round byes within their respective conferences. Under the new rules, the Packers and Chiefs would have played during the Wild-card round while the 49ers and Ravens would have been the only teams with playoff bye weeks.
It would have also meant that the Los Angeles Rams (9-7) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) would have snuck into postseason play as No. 7 seeds within their respective conferences.
Below is what the 2019 playoffs would have looked like under the new expanded format.
* Denotes a division winner
NFC First-Round Bye:
San Francisco 49ers* (1 seed, 13-3)
The 49ers would have played the lowest-seeded winner from the NFC Wild-card round.
NFC Wild-Card Round:
Los Angeles Rams (7 seed, 9-7) at Green Bay Packers* (2 seed, 13-3)
Minnesota Vikings (6 seed, 10-6) at New Orleans Saints* (3 seed, 13-3)
Seattle Seahawks (5 seed, 11-5) at Philadelphia Eagles* (4 seed, 9-7)
AFC First-Round Bye:
Baltimore Ravens* (1 seed, 14-2)
The Ravens would have played the lowest-seeded winner from the AFC Wild-card round.
AFC Wild-Card Round:
Pittsburgh Steelers (7 seed, 8-8) at Kansas City Chiefs* (2 seed, 12-4)
Tennessee Titans (6 seed, 9-7) at New England Patriots* (3 seed, 12-4)
Buffalo Bills (5 seed, 10-6) at Houston Texans* (4 seed, 10-6)
