Report: NFL competition committee to submit 16-team playoff contingency plan

The NFL's competition committee is expected to submit a proposal for a 16-team playoff field in the event games are lost during the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports, citing league sources.

A resolution is expected to be presented to team owners in the near future.

A 16-team field would consist of the four division winners and four wild-card teams from each conference, Mortensen adds.

Such a contingency may be necessary if COVID-19 wreaks havoc on the NFL schedule. The league will enter Week 9 on Thursday and many teams have already passed their bye week. Aside from adding a Week 18, the league may have to expand the playoff field if some of its clubs can't fulfill a 16-game schedule.