NFL commissioner Roger Goodell kicked open the door on renewed discussions for playoff expansion in a town hall meeting with season ticket holders in Jacksonville.
Goodell in recent years shared considerations to expand the regular season to 18 games and also stretching the playoff field by at least two teams.
Even Goodell said he understands coaches and players who don’t want to dilute the product. With additional playoff spots available, the chances to enter the final weeks of the regular season having most or all postseason positions determined would increase. That means a possible ratings hit with teams locked into a playoff spot resting stars.
Goodell told Jaguars’ season ticket holders the discussion and decision will be tough.
“And the reason I say that is it works so well right now. We have 12 teams that qualify for the playoffs and what it does is it’s not just the number of teams in the playoffs, it’s what it does to our regular season,” he said. “I think that’s what makes the NFL great is every game means so much. That game means a great deal. You don’t ever want to lose that. You don’t want to lose the fact that every regular-season game is important. And only having 12 teams qualify, which is the smallest of any of the professional leagues by far, that’s a good thing for us.
“(It) likely will happen at some point, but we want to be really cautious because we really like the balance we have with the importance of the regular season and the postseason and you don’t want to mess with that balance. You have to be really careful and cautious.”