If they go to a 14 team playoff, then a 16 team playoff will quickly follow. Can't have only the 1 seed getting the bye. Won't be fair. Too big of an advantage.
The owners couldn't get the 18 game season a few years ago, so they are pushing for 17 games first. Then when they get 17 games, they will start pushing for 18 games because an odd number of games doesn't make sense.
It's all about the dollars. :money8: