A Jerry Jones kind of rule change

[Whyjerry]

Mediocrity about to be rewarded. Jerry will like this a lot. Thoughts on the change?

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28975474/nfl-playoff-expansion-14-teams-everything-need-know

 

[Nav22]

Hate it.

The #2 seeds are being punished by losing their bye.

They have to earn their way to the Divisional Round now by pummeling some garbage #7 seed that probably finished 8-8 or 9-7.

Way to water down the playoffs, clowns. Fixing what isn’t broken.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Mediocrity about to be rewarded. Jerry will like this a lot. Thoughts on the change?

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28975474/nfl-playoff-expansion-14-teams-everything-need-know

Someone did a study of the last decade or so and the conclusion was pretty much that it wasn't really that much of a game changer. People have a fear that this will open a floodgate of 8-8 (or worse) teams getting in, but in reality those 8-8 teams are usually division winners that wouldn't have gotten in any other way, even with an extra playoff spot available.

 

[gimmesix]

ESPN just trying to be funny here for no good reason:

I still don't get why this had to happen. What was wrong with the 12-team format?
It comes down to one word. It starts with an "m" and ends in a "y."

Microelectrophoretically?
Close, but no.

 

[KJJ]

Don’t like the change. Any change that increases the odds of an 8-8 team or worse making the playoffs isn’t a good change. It’s cheapening regular season games by lessening the importance of having a good regular season to make the playoffs.

 

[HungryLion]

It’s only good for money making purposes.

It does nothing to improve the playoffs.

I am against anything that lessens the importance of regular season games.

What makes NFL football so damn exciting is that every single game is so critical and so important. It creates a weeklong anticipation and then a thrill or down afterward.

I don’t want anything that cheapens that feeling. It’s one reason I can barely watch baseball or basketball until later in the season or the playoffs because early in the season the games just don’t feel like they matter.

Oh your baseball team is now 30-25 instead of 29-26. Who gives a rats behind.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I don't know why you guys keep saying this. This doesn't benefit poor teams it benefits the teams who are 10-6 or 11-5 and who miss out on the playoffs for a 8-8 divisional winner.

Not sure how you guys see this as rewarding mediocrity or water down the playoffs.

 

[gimmesix]

Someone did a study of the last decade or so and the conclusion was pretty much that it wasn't really that much of a game changer. People have a fear that this will open a floodgate of 8-8 (or worse) teams getting in, but in reality those 8-8 teams are usually division winners that wouldn't have gotten in any other way, even with an extra playoff spot available.

I really don't have a problem with it. Some 10-6 teams have been left home because of worse division winner got in. If some 8-8 teams make it, then there's either a chance for a major upset or they get put in their place quickly.

 

[Runwildboys]

I really don't mind it, but only because there are times when the better teams just have an off night, or even a few, for whatever reason. I think this gives the league a better chance of fielding the best teams. And if the number 2 seed can't beat the number 7 seed, well....oops.

 

[Playmaker247]

I don't know why you guys keep saying this. This doesn't benefit poor teams it benefits the teams who are 10-6 or 11-5 and who miss out on the playoffs for a 8-8 divisional winner.

Not sure how you guys see this as rewarding mediocrity or water down the playoffs.

People just hate change. Idk how this can be seen as bad. What’s wrong with a extra game? As a football fan I love this.

 

[Virginia-Dave]

The positive side is that there will be two more playoff games to watch every season, the negative is that the two extra teams will almost always be an 8 or 9 win team. This was always gonna happen, the NFL's greed always wins out. Who wants to put money on the Cowboys being the first #2 seed to lose to a #7 seed?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

People just hate change. Idk how this can be seen as bad. What’s wrong with a extra game? As a football fan I love this.

I don't get it either. I don't have the fear of a 7 or 8 win team getting into the post season. That's not a concern of mine. Even when the Eagles did it last year it didn't bother me. It bothers me more if a good team gets left off in favor of a 8 win team. That's the problem.

 

[Vtwin]

No problem with this. Teams can change significantly over the season. A 3-5 team through the first half can hit their stride going 5-3 over the second half. If bad team does get in they won't last long.

I'd get rid of all the playoff byes. To big a variable and inconsistency. The reward for a high seeding is home field and a theoretically, weaker opponent.

 

[Runwildboys]

No problem with this. Teams can change significantly over the season. A 3-5 team through the first half can hit their stride going 5-3 over the second half. If bad team does get in they won't last long.

I'd get rid of all the playoff byes. To big a variable and inconsistency. The reward for a high seeding is home field and a theoretically, weaker opponent.

Some teams (Dallas) don't seem to get an advantage with a bye, anyway.

 

[ChuckA1]

Has nothing to do with participation trophies, has everything to do with more money.

 

[OmerV]

Hate it.

The #2 seeds are being punished by losing their bye.

They have to earn their way to the Divisional Round now by pummeling some garbage #7 seed that probably finished 8-8 or 9-7.

Way to water down the playoffs, clowns. Fixing what isn’t broken.

I wouldn't call it punishment. Whether they get a bye or not is just a function of the structure needed to accommodate a certain number of teams in the playoffs. That's what gave them a bye to begin with.

This is not to say I like expanding to teams (I don't) just saying the number of teams determines the structure, so there is no punishment being handed down.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Jerry has been pushing this for a while. He's even said on the record that had this been in play, the Cowboys would have made the playoffs a few more times.

Won't do what it takes to get better....does what it takes to lower the bar.

 

[leeblair]

Mediocrity about to be rewarded. Jerry will like this a lot. Thoughts on the change?

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28975474/nfl-playoff-expansion-14-teams-everything-need-know

The NFL is dying- a victim of their own greed. They are becoming more of an entertainment business than a sports competition.
The quality of play is declining and the level of professionalism is as well.
Players seem to think that "juking" and celebrating two yard gains and tackles 8 yards into the secondary are worth millions.
It's not the game we watched in the early 90's and before.
If they aren't careful the XFL or another startup league that plays real old school football will take a chunk out of their ratings.

 

[cowboyblue22]

Hate it.

The #2 seeds are being punished by losing their bye.

They have to earn their way to the Divisional Round now by pummeling some garbage #7 seed that probably finished 8-8 or 9-7.

Way to water down the playoffs, clowns. Fixing what isn’t broken.

its about the money they will earn its not about football

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I'm more bothered by the odd number of regular season games, which means an unequal number of home and away games each year.

But that one is a Jones move also in that it's all about more money.