NFL owners add two playoff teams

NFL owners voted on Tuesday to expand the post-season to 14 teams for the 2020 season.

The decision was made during a conference call, which substituted for the NFL’s Annual League Meeting. The meeting was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The playoff expansion means the number of wild-card teams will expand from two to three in each conference. Instead of doubleheaders on wild-card weekend, there will be tripleheaders, which are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 9, and Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021.

CBS and NBC will granted broadcasting rights for one additional game each. As part of the CBS coverage, the game also will air on Nickelodeon in a separate broadcast designed for children.

The new format makes gaining the No. 1 seed in each conference more important.

The No. 1 seeds will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and they’ll be the only teams with a bye.

The No. 2 seed in each conference, which previously had a bye, will host the No. 7 seed on wildcard weekend. As in the past, the No. 3 seed will host the No. 6 seed, with the No. 5 seed playing at the

No. 4 seed’s home field.

The vote was not disclosed, but it required approval from 75 per cent of the NFL’s 32 owners. Players already agreed to the plan when they approved the new collective bargaining agreement earlier this month.

The TB12 brand will live on in Tampa, Fla.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Tuesday that quarterback Tom Brady will wear No. 12 with his new team, just as he did for 20 seasons with New England.

Wide receiver Chris Godwin had worn No. 12 since 2017. He’s switching to No. 14.

Brady won six Super Bowl championships in New England wearing No. 12.

The Buccaneers’ website said Godwin and Brady spoke after Brady signed his two-year deal with the Bucs on March 20. Reuters