NFL owners approved expanding the playoff field from 12 to 14 teams this season, and that decision has the endorsement of Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert.
In a conference call with fans Tuesday, Colbert was asked about the league adding a 17th game, which won’t happen until 2021 at the earliest. Colbert tied his answer into the additional playoff team in each conference.
The AFC and NFC each will have seven playoff teams, with the No. 1 seed getting a first-round bye.
“I’m excited about that,” Colbert said during the 15-minute chat. “Not that we want too many teams in the playoffs, but I thought 12 was a little too little. Maybe that 17th game might be influential on who those extra teams might be.
“The more teams we can have compete for a championship, I think it will be better for our game.”
Had the playoff field been increased in 2019, the Steelers would have gotten the No. 7 seed with an 8-8 record. Instead, they were left on the outside after losing their final three games. The Tennessee Titans earned the No. 6 seed.
Given the benefit of an additional playoff team in the AFC in past seasons, the Steelers would be working on a 10-year postseason run and every season except 2009 under coach Mike Tomlin’s tenure.
The addition of two teams means 43.7% of all NFL teams will qualify for the playoffs. That compares to 33.3% in Major League Baseball, 51.6% in the NHL and 53.3% in the NBA.
With the NFL annual meeting being canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak, NFL owners approved the change via conference call.
