Extra Points: The COVID Catalyst

Are you ready for Super Wild Card weekend?!

In 2020, Major League Baseball experimented with an expanded playoff and universal designated hitter. In time, both will be adopted as “the way it is” versus a pandemic exception. 

During the bubble experiment in Orlando, the NBA created a play-in tournament to determine the number-7 and 8 seeds in each conference. A concept that will remain in place for this season, and certainly beyond.

The regular season started just before Christmas. Something the league has been discussing for years. The ratings were an overwhelming success. Record-setting.

In March the NFL and players association agreed to expand the playoff field to 7 teams in each conference. Simultaneously, the league reduced the total number of first round bye to one per conference.

Prediction: The ratings for NFL games this weekend will be record breaking. Six games In wild card will be a rousing success and more impactful for the league than four.

Whether Coronavirus is to thank or blame for the sweeping changes across the sports landscape can be debated. What cannot be debated is that Coronavirus is the vehicle used to make these changes.

Are you ready for super wild card weekend?

It’s an NFL first…but it won’t be the last.