Roger Goodell Reportedly Considering Expanding the NFL Playoffs

Are you ready for half of the NFL to make the playoffs? 

That may seem like a crazy idea, but according to commissioner Roger Goodell, increasing the amount of playoff teams is an idea that's currently being discussed (via Jeff Darlington of NFL.com):

"

Roger Goodell just said the competition committee will look at the possibility of expanding the playoffs from 12 teams to 14 or 16 teams.

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) December 12, 2012"

It has never seemed like there were any pressing problems with the current NFL playoff format. The postseason always goes off without a hitch, and if anything, there has been debate about too many teams (see: 7-9 Seattle Seahawks of 2010 ) playing after Week 17.

Still, though, this is a business. More games equals more money.

Just for fun, let's take a look at the past couple of years and see what teams would have made the postseason if the field was expanded to 16 spots (assuming you just add the next two wild-card spots from each conference). 

In that 2010-11 season, the San Diego Chargers (9-7), Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8), New York Giants (10-6) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6) would have punched their tickets to the postseason.

Last year, the Tennessee Titans (9-7), New York Jets (8-8), Chicago Bears (8-8) and Arizona Cardinals (8-8), depending on tiebreakers, would have all made it.

This season, the Bengals (7-6) and the Redskins (7-6) would be in line to advance, the latter via a three-way tiebreaker. 

Call me crazy, but this seems like an idea that, more often than not, would water down the postseason with mediocre teams. 

Then again, Major League Baseball made the idea of expanding the postseason look pretty smart earlier this year. 

Keep your eye out for this one, folks. 

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