Playoff Structure is Dated

[windward]

It’s crazy the amount of people that don’t read posts.

I specifically said leave the divisions together to keep the rivalarlies in tact but don’t guarantee a playoff spot the winner.

Yeah, but you can’t get rid of the divisions, man!

 

[robjay04]

It is not really that controversial.

No offense, but it seems kind of whiny since we are all sitting here wishing our team were playing this weekend.

I really just thought of it while I wasn’t watching some bad football with the Jags/Bills. I wasn’t even thinking about the Cowboys though I do think the Cowboys or Seahawks are better teams than some of the AFC teams we have seen this weekend.

 

[windward]

I posted it few years ago and will post it again
After each season when teams are ranked from 1 to 32 the NFL should do a NFL Draw (similar to FIFA draw). Create 4 pots
pot 1 : Teams ranked from 1 to 8 (heads of each division)
pot 2: Teams ranked from 9 to 16
pot 3: Teams ranked from 17 to 24
pot 4: Teams ranked from 25 to 32

That's another blockbuster event on NFL calendar. Imagine the ratings. Now NFL can put some rules (like a team from the east coast cannot be placed in a group or division where all 3 teams are on the west coast. just an example)

Old rivalries do not exist anymore, TV networks are coming up with new rivalries depending on strong teams meeting in the playoffs for a few times (i.e., Pats v Colts) or big name QBs competing against each other ,, etc. But someone please tell me.. where is the Packs/Bears rivalry? Cowboys/Commanders? Chiefs/Raiders? Jets/Dolphins .. those games are now reserved for MNF which is the irrelevant TV spot on the NFL calendar..
Another point, teams like Pats is having a HUGE advantage from playing in a historically bad division, and almost every year getting HFA throughout the playoffs, thanks to the automatic 5 divisional wins they have before the season even begins...

If they are saying rating are going down (even with so called rivalries) why not shake things up with an earthquake ...that shod grab fans and everybody's attention
Imagine the draw event, the coverage, the analysis, the new rivalries, the level of play will get even better because you will not have bad divisions, and there is always the "division of death" ..

Bold.

I like it.

 

[windward]

I really just thought of it while I wasn’t watching some bad football with the Jags/Bills. I wasn’t even thinking about the Cowboys though I do think the Cowboys or Seahawks are better teams than some of the AFC teams we have seen this weekend.

I’ve thought the same in other years, even when Dallas was 13-3, 4-12 or 9-7.

If the goal is to get the best 12, why not think out of the box? It would be a hit, I’m pretty sure.

 

[Floatyworm]

Here is the fix....32 teams

2 conferences...NFC, AFC 16 teams a piece

No divisions.

All NFC teams play each other once.

All AFC team play each other once...

Top six teams make it in each conference...

top 2 teams in each conference earn byes...

Look @ it this way....this gets rid of the doubts that one division is better than the other since everyone is playing the same teams.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

The NFL did do the top 8 teams in each conference making the playoffs in 1982. Didn't particularly like it.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Then what is the point of divisions?

There would be no point, that’s what makes it a stupid idea to get rid of them without properly adjusting the schedule. Four team divisions are not ideal but at least it is a common block of teams with a mostly equal schedule completing for a playoff spot. Would you rather compete for a playoff spot with a team that has played 14 of the same teams as you, or 2?

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Here is the fix....32 teams

2 conferences...NFC, AFC 16 teams a piece

No divisions.

All NFC teams play each other once.

All AFC team play each other once...

Top six teams make it in each conference...

top 2 teams in each conference earn byes...

Look @ it this way....this gets rid of the doubts that one division is better than the other since everyone is playing the same teams.

You stole my idea... but unlike me, you forgot to mention they would have to chop a game off the schedule, which the NFL would never do.
Also, what determines home and away? I guess they could do it like college and alternate every year. And I doubt no play between the conferences at all until the Super Bowl would also fly like a brick.

 

[jrumann59]

Divisions promote regional and historical rivalries. Moreover, they provide a mini goal within the season to win your division. That was more meaningful back when divisions were generally five teams, now a division championship just means you did better than three other teams. But it helps with marketing and gives a goal to shoot for other than winning it all because only one team wins the Super Bowl a year.

the old 5 team division setup really made it easy for teams to make the playoffs since if you beat your whole division you had 8 wins and really only had to win 2 or 3 non division games to make the playoffs. I like it now while Division is important you also have to carry your weight against the rest of the league

 

[jrumann59]

You stole my idea... but unlike me, you forgot to mention they would have to chop a game off the schedule, which the NFL would never do.
Also, what determines home and away? I guess they could do it like college and alternate every year. And I doubt no play between the conferences at all until the Super Bowl would also fly like a brick.

Yes there are teams that salivate when they know they get to play the Dallas, Pitt, NE when they normally do not, the take home for the gate is usually larger.

 

[Floatyworm]

You stole my idea... but unlike me, you forgot to mention they would have to chop a game off the schedule, which the NFL would never do.
Also, what determines home and away? I guess they could do it like college and alternate every year. And I doubt no play between the conferences at all until the Super Bowl would also fly like a brick.[/QUOTE]

I don't think that is...that big a deal. I mean who in the AFC is a must see game vs the Cowboys?

 

[camelboy]

You stole my idea... but unlike me, you forgot to mention they would have to chop a game off the schedule, which the NFL would never do.
Also, what determines home and away? I guess they could do it like college and alternate every year. And I doubt no play between the conferences at all until the Super Bowl would also fly like a brick.

How about each AFC team plays one extra game against a NFC team, and vice versa? they can determine the logic of which team plays which

 

[Pants]

Wild card weekend, a way for the league to make money. But also s way for 12 teams to have a shot. Dallas, Seattle and Detroit had their shot. Top 4 teams have the top 4 seeds, as it should be. Just don’t add more

 

[links18]

the old 5 team division setup really made it easy for teams to make the playoffs since if you beat your whole division you had 8 wins and really only had to win 2 or 3 non division games to make the playoffs. I like it now while Division is important you also have to carry your weight against the rest of the league

Teams have made the playoffs at 7-9 recently. I can't remember that happening when there were five team divisions.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

How about each AFC team plays one extra game against a NFC team, and vice versa? they can determine the logic of which team plays which

But wouldn’t you hate to lose a playoff tie breaker to a team that got to play the Browns while your AFC team was the Patriots? Having said that, I guess I could live with that. But it would have to be on a wheel, not random. In other words, Dallas would play each AFC team once every 15 years.

 

[diefree666]

Teams have made the playoffs at 7-9 recently. I can't remember that happening when there were five team divisions.

because it did not happen. I think there should be one change: if a division winner does not have a winning record they forfeit having a home game. They then play the top wildcard at THEIR field.

 

[RoboQB]

Yaaaaaaawwwwwwnnnn. Who gives a flying flip?

You're having a bad dream. Pour a drink and go back to sleep... lol

 

[Beast_from_East]

Rivalries.

Still keep the divisional games every season but randomize the rest. I don’t think a divisional championship should guarantee a playoff spot. That is how we get teams with losing records in the playoffs.

Chances are if you dominate your divisional foes, you’re gonna make the playoffs regardless but a 7-9 team making it over a 10-6 team? Not good for football.

How many times has this actually happened, that a sub 500 team has won their division?

I remember Seattle doing it a couple of years back, but that is it. You are making it sound like every year we have division winners with losing records, that is just not the case. Yea, maybe one time every ten years or so you will have a situation like Seattle making it at 7-9 but that is a rare event. So why change the entire playoff structure to prevent something that only happens once a decade anyways?

And for the record, that 7-9 Seattle team beat an 11-5 Saints team in the playoffs that year............................so again, why are changes needed?

 

[Verdict]

I wouldn’t change it but I do think the Patriots dynasty has been inflated some from playing in the worst division in football for 15 years and basically getting a bye every year in the playoffs.

They get a cake walk into the playoffs and come in relatively healthy.

 

[Kevinicus]

This isn’t really about the Cowboys. Obviously the Cowboys could’ve potentially benefitted. This is more about the fact that the Bills are in the playoffs, the Jags benefitted from a weak division, the Titans stink and the Chiefs were a very weak team after a hot start.

The AFC Conference game is already set just like last season.

The Chiefs final 4 games of the regular season:

4-0
27-15 W over Oakland
30-13 W over LA Chargers
29-13 W over Miami
27-24 W over Denver (resting some key starters)

Average score:

28.25 - 16.25 (avg margin of victory: 12)