Tampa Bay Buccaneers will benefit from expanded playoffs

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are entrenched in several offseason decisions, but the league as a whole is on the cusp of some major changes.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are entrenched in the offseason and the organization is looking to make the best decisions possible to compete in the NFL.

The league, though, is on the cusp of some major changes that could come with newly-proposed 10-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

The NFLPA proposed to put the CBA to a vote of all the players and that is expected to take place over the next couple of weeks.

Though many high-profile NFL players have spoken out against the agreement, there is one factor within the CBA that would positively affect the Buccaneers: The expanded NFL playoff.

While most fans enjoy the NFL playoffs just as it has been, an expanded playoff would give the Buccaneers an even greater chance at getting to the postseason- which is something the franchise hasn’t done in 12 seasons.

With a playoff expanded to 14 teams (seven in the NFC, seven in the AFC), the Buccaneers would be competing for a wildcard bid much more competitively that they have in the past decade.

As a matter of fact, many of those Tampa Bay teams who missed the playoffs in previous seasons would’ve been in the postseason with this expansion. Overall, the expansion would mean more football, more inclusion and even more competitiveness over the course of the season.

It will be interesting to see how the players view the CBA and what the two sides decide to compromise on to make the deal work, but the truth is this: An expanded playoff and a 17-game season is coming, and it could be here as early as next season.

There are other aspects- such as the franchise tag- that would not benefit the Buccaneers, but the expanded playoff would be a plus for Tampa Bay.