Honestly, I wouldn't think this would be that hard to implement. Should just be a switch to toggle on/off in the options prior to the game. The playoff atmosphere is already in the game. Just turning it on for Play Now is the issue. If they can't add something this minor in without jeopardizing other major issues, I wouldn't hold out hope for anything else to get fixed.
Exactly, it's not that hard to implement just a toggable option would do the trick.