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NFL team owners voted Tuesday to expand the playoffs by one team in each conference for a total of 14 next season.
During a conference call to discuss league business after the annual meetings were canceled due to coronavirus, the owners also awarded one of those extra games to CBS and one to NBC. Three-fourths of the 32 owners needed to approve the change, and the vote was unanimous.
Pash also anticipates intentional games in England and Mexico.
“I expect that international games will be part of our schedule for this year,” Pash added. “We’re optimistic just as we expect conditions in the United States to permit playing a full season that will be the case for our international partners as well. Obviously, that’s something that we’ll have to work closely with the authorities, public health and other government authorities in those other countries to make sure it’s entirely safe.”
Former Eagle Troy Vincent, and now the league’s executive vice president of football operations, said all options are being looked at and they’re constantly contingency-planning.
The Eagles sent a letter to season ticket holders postponing their second payment installment to help fans during this uncertain financial period.
The NFL Draft, which will be virtual for all parties involved, will also host a fundraiser for those affected by this crisis.
Three games are set for Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 9 and 10 — pending the NFL schedule going forward as planned; that schedule likely will be released on May 9, according to Brian Rolapp, the league's chief media and business officer, to give the NFL “flexibility.”
CBS will broadcast one of the new games on Jan. 10 at approximately 4:40 p.m. EST. The game will also be available via live stream on CBS All Access. A separately produced telecast of the game tailored for a younger audience will air on Nickelodeon.
NBC, its new streaming service Peacock and Spanish-language Telemundo will broadcast the other new game on Jan. 10 at approximately 8:15 p.m. EST.
“It's definitely going to be different,” Washington Redskins linebacker Thomas Davis said. “It's going to be weird. Essentially, the second team (in each conference) is being penalized for being a good football team.
“It just makes it more competitive, it adds more teams in and it allows teams that are hot late in the season like the Titans to be able to make a run — a team that might not normally be in the playoffs are getting that opportunity. I like it, though.”