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4 NFL Teams That Benefit the Most From Potential New Playoff Format

By Steven Kubitza

The Los Angeles Rams would benefit under the potential new NFL playoff format.
The Los Angeles Rams would benefit under the potential new NFL playoff format. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

A proposed new NFL playoff format would see seven teams in each conference make the postseason. Only the top seeds in each conference would earn a bye, thus creating six total Wild Card games. This format would benefit teams on the fringe of the postseason and also those at the top of each conference.

4. Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams are in a stacked NFC West division.
The Los Angeles Rams are in a stacked NFC West division. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Rams missed the playoffs by one game in 2019. Now the team enters 2020 in a division that is among the best in all of football -- even the Arizona Cardinals could be competing for a playoff spot. The Rams regressed after reaching the Super Bowl two seasons ago and an extra playoff spot helps the team's chances of making it to Jan. football after a tough division slate of games.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers were the first AFC team out of the playoffs in 2019.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were the first AFC team out of the playoffs in 2019. / Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers would have made the playoffs with Duck Hodges at quarterback if the playoff field had been expanded in 2019. Ben Roethlisberger is expected to return, but he is nearing the end of his career and the Baltimore Ravens are atop the AFC North. The Steelers always seem to finish at least .500 and that should be good enough to make the postseason going forward.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs want to earn another bye in 2020.
The Kansas City Chiefs want to earn another bye in 2020. / Kyle Rivas/Getty Images

The Kansas City Chiefs earned a first-round bye this past postseason as the second seed in the AFC. The team now enters 2020 as the favorite in the conference and a top seed now carries much more weight. Being the only team to earn a bye is a huge advantage and would set up the Chiefs with one fewer game needed to repeat as champions.

1. San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers will open 2020 as NFC favorites.
The San Francisco 49ers will open 2020 as NFC favorites. / Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

The San Francisco 49ers won a three-way tiebreaker to get the No. 1 seed in the NFC this past year. The team doesn't appear to be set for any major regression and winning the conference would be that much easier with a bye. Last season, having that week off led to a dominant win in the Divisional Round win over the Minnesota Vikings. Such an advantage would hold even more weight next season.