NFC Playoff status ***merged*** **updated 12/20 post #226

[TrailBlazer]

They need to expand the playoffs. This is ridiculous. We're sitting at 10-4. It should be a lock to make the playoffs. But it's not. We should be able to mail it in, get some guys rested and healthy for the stretch run. Indy has their division locked up with 10 wins. But no, we have to go all out. The NFC being so much better than the AFC is really kinda unfair. You shouldn't have to win 12 games or you miss out. It would be a shame. And horrible for the NFL. Because dallas is a moneymaker and they can beat any team in this league.

 

[jterrell]

I'm thinking that is true but I'm thinking that is wishful thinking.

from a match up stand point they could lose to the Giants.

they are somewhat soft in the secondary and Eli could get hot and beat them with ODB much like Dez owned them.
especially if they turn the ball over like they did last night.

 

[jterrell]

Best case for Dallas is to win out then tie Seattle for best record.
We'd get top seed via head to head.

We'd also get the much easier playoff road with a Bye then home game versus someone other than Seattle. Arizona, Detroit or Philly.

 

[jterrell]

Adding one team to each conference would be fine if they also add a re-seeding and make a rule for when a division is hilariously bad.

No team should make the playoffs at below .500.
A 6 win team making it while an 11 team misses should be plenty of impetus for rules change.

 

[Alexander]

They need to expand the playoffs. This is ridiculous. We're sitting at 10-4. It should be a lock to make the playoffs. But it's not. We should be able to mail it in, get some guys rested and healthy for the stretch run. Indy has their division locked up with 10 wins. But no, we have to go all out. The NFC being so much better than the AFC is really kinda unfair. You shouldn't have to win 12 games or you miss out. It would be a shame. And horrible for the NFL. Because dallas is a moneymaker and they can beat any team in this league.

Nothing needs to change about the playoff format. If there were 7-9 teams getting in all the time, then I would say yes, it needs to change. This is an anomaly and very frustrating for us in particular, but the flaw is not with the structure. The problem is the two losses in the division in the event there is a tie in the overall record with Philadelphia.

 

[kramskoi]

They need to expand the playoffs. This is ridiculous. We're sitting at 10-4. It should be a lock to make the playoffs. But it's not. We should be able to mail it in, get some guys rested and healthy for the stretch run. Indy has their division locked up with 10 wins. But no, we have to go all out. The NFC being so much better than the AFC is really kinda unfair. You shouldn't have to win 12 games or you miss out. It would be a shame. And horrible for the NFL. Because dallas is a moneymaker and they can beat any team in this league.

Jones has already stated his interest in expanding to 14 teams...which reduces the likelihood that 10-6/11-5 teams end up being excluded from the playoffs for teams with lesser records...see NFC South.

 

[TrailBlazer]

Nothing needs to change about the playoff format. If there were 7-9 teams getting in all the time, then I would say yes, it needs to change. This is an anomaly and very frustrating for us in particular, but the flaw is not with the structure. The problem is the two losses in the division in the event there is a tie in the overall record with Philadelphia.

Doesn't matter if it's an anomaly. Some provision should be put in place to protect against this. Doesnt matter if it only happens once every 10 years. It should never happen. Put the best teams in the playoffs. This is the NFL. Not pop warner. Most watched sport in the US. There is a lot on the line. Smart guys making a ton of money make these rules. They can't do something to fix this crap? The NFC South should not get a team in if they are under .500 and there is a wild card contender with a better record. That's all they have to do. It's simple and they need to get it done. It's clear as day. Shouldn't have to win 12 games to get in because the NFC South blows.

 

[CowboyChris]

1 x - Arizona 11 3 0
2 Detroit 10 4 0
3 Dallas 10 4 0
4 Carolina 5 8 1
5 Seattle 10 4 0
6 Green Bay 10 4 0

If the playoffs started today we would be hosting GB and Carolina hosting Seattle.

My question is....what scenario would it take for GB vs Seattle in the first round?

 

[DallasBlockersClub]

Seattle could sleep to the NFC Championship in that scenario.

 

[JBS]

1 x - Arizona 11 3 0
2 Detroit 10 4 0
3 Dallas 10 4 0
4 Carolina 5 8 1
5 Seattle 10 4 0
6 Green Bay 10 4 0

If the playoffs started today we would be hosting GB and Carolina hosting Seattle.

My question is....what scenario would it take for GB vs Seattle in the first round?

You are drawing VERY thin on this one...might even be drawing dead...but I didn't go through every scenario

 

[CowboyChris]

You are drawing VERY thin on this one...might even be drawing dead...but I didn't go through every scenario

I ask cause i would hate to have to beat both Gb and Seattle to get to the SB.

Im not discounting Det, AZ and whoever wins the NFC South, but i like our chances vs any of them.

 

[mldardy]

Seattle could sleep to the NFC Championship in that scenario.

Maybe. I'm still not sold on this 'Seattle is back' yet. They still have an anemic offense and they just aren't as intimidating especially at home as they have been.

 

[jazzcat22]

We win our last 2 games without any issues. I like our chances against any team. Home or away.

 

[jobberone]

They shouldn't water the playoffs down too much. Too much chance for a mediocre team to catch breaks and beat a much better opponent. I'm not opposed to having enough teams to leave out the three best division winning records maybe four on first round. Not convinced its a good idea though.

 

[Idgit]

I ask cause i would hate to have to beat both Gb and Seattle to get to the SB.

Im not discounting Det, AZ and whoever wins the NFC South, but i like our chances vs any of them.

Yeah, GB at home and SEA anywhere right now are matchups I don't love. The others I could live with. Having GB come to Dallas is a lot better than the other way around, though.

 

[Tabascocat]

A lot of chickens being counted here......but, I don't care for our defense to see Megatron this year, at all. Detroit has a very good defense and their offense will shred our defense. Give me Seattle or GB over those guys.

 

[jterrell]

A lot of chickens being counted here......but, I don't care for our defense to see Megatron this year, at all. Detroit has a very good defense and their offense will shred our defense. Give me Seattle or GB over those guys.

no nice way to put this... you are crazy

detroit has a great record but has played a charmin soft schedule and has a lot of very low scoring, close wins.
that team is basically solid but nothing more.
they have scored 100 points less than us.
100!!
they seriously eeked by minny yesterday narrowly avoiding upset as a long FG sailed just wide. 16-14 win.

GB and Sea are both more fearful.
GB has a better offense and home field advantage than us.
Defense is very similar.

Sea has a nasty defense, nasty home field advantage and plays smash mouth minimizing mistakes.

 

[ConstantReboot]

A lot of chickens being counted here......but, I don't care for our defense to see Megatron this year, at all. Detroit has a very good defense and their offense will shred our defense. Give me Seattle or GB over those guys.

Megatron is not the best receiver in Detroit this year. Its Golden Tate. Detroit's defense is very good but their offense has been subpar. They only put up like 16 points against the Vikings? I think we can beat either Detroit or Arizona than a team like Green Bay.

 

[cowboys2233]

Do you realize how silly that sounds? If you can do it on the road, you can do it at home.

Idc what they record is at home. They've played better teams at home and it's not close.

Yup, and games like Thanksgiving are a bit misleading. The lack of recovery time was a much bigger factor than the stadium the game was being played in. At this point, the benefit of having a bye week would far surpass any worries about playing at home. If Romo is able to get that extra week of rest before the divisional round, game on.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Looking at the ESPN playoff scenario tool, it appears that, in week 17, if we beat WAS and DET beats GB, we're in the playoffs no matter what happens in any other game over the next two weeks. Do they have that right?

Not that the Lions beating the Packers in Lambeau is likely, but I didn't realize there was such a simple path to the wild card.