The potential for expanded playoffs next season may be losing steam.
According to Mark Maske of the Washington Post, support had eroded for a proposal to expand the playoff field from 12 to 14 teams for next year.
The story cites a source familiar with the deliberations saying the idea is “50-50 at best” and “doesn’t look good for next season.”
The same source believed that expanded playoffs will eventually happen but that it’s appearing more unlikely to happen in 2015.
Commissioner Roger Goodell has championed the idea of expanded playoffs in the past. However, he seemed less optimistic about the prospects of expanding the playoff field during his press conference at the Super Bowl late last month.
“The possibility of expanding the playoffs has been a topic over the last couple of years,” Goodell said in January. “There are positives to it, but there are concerns as well, among them being the risk of diluting our regular season and conflicting with college football in January.”
The Post story cites possible issues regarding the Thursday night TV deals as a reason for lessening the push for the expansion in the near future. The matter would require the proposal to be approved by 24 of the league’s 32 owners.
The matter did not reach a vote among the owners last year.
