FOXBOROUGH, MA - JANUARY 9: Thomas Mistowski, foreman of the Gillette Stadium field crew, walks past the AFC Divisional Playoff round logo that his crew painted onto the field ahead of Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on Jan. 9, 2019.

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

Boston Globe / Getty

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.

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