Rejigger the Playoff Format

[BStan84]

I can see both sides of the argument. For the side agreeing to change it, of course it makes sense to reward the team with the better record attaining the home playoff game.

However, as a fan of the NBA, I can say division games feel meaningless/just like every other game since division titles have no bearing on your playoff position.

I would hate to take away from the "special" and ultra-competitive nature and feel to the six rivalry division games each year. Maybe they could implement a caveat that each division winner is guaranteed a playoff birth, but seeding would come down to W/L record?

 

[Denim Chicken]

I can see both sides of the argument. For the side agreeing to change it, of course it makes sense to reward the team with the better record attaining the home playoff gam

It makes about as much sense as having division winners if you're going strait W/L without regard to strength of schedule. However, the intangibles are better with the current format.

 

[McKDaddy]

The playoffs are intended to be a showcase of the best teams

IF this is the intent of sports (which it should be), current system makes no sense.

Have each team play half of the NFL (16 games) with one repeat against a division rival (rotates each year). Win's matter and winners are rewarded.

The good cross section of competition helps to fairly seed for the playoffs. .

 

[Cowboy4ever]

I like the current format. IMO winning your division matters.

I think it can be done in a way that preserves that though. Winning your division is an automatic playoff berth, regardless of your record. Still have 4 Division winners and 3 wildcards that are decieded in the same manner they are today. But the seeding in the playoffs could be based on records with the 4 best records getting the home game.

 

[BigD5]

Does it really mean much to win a division when there’s only 4 teams in each division?

So you did better than 3 other teams? Hooray

 

[links18]

The NFL like the current format because it keeps more teams in the mix later in the season. You only have to be better than three other teams to make the playoffs and host a game. The freaking Panthers are still alive. YIKES!

 

[fivetwos]

I think the NFL needs to look into overhauling the playoff/postseason format. The playoffs are intended to be a showcase of the best teams. It makes no sense to reward a team like the Bucs (currently 7-8) home field advantage for a postseason game simply because they won their division.

We’re currently 12-4 (could be 13-4) and only getting in as a wild card.

I like the way the NBA does it with seeding based on W/L records. That way you in theory get the best 8-10 teams contending for playoff spots and a higher likelihood/incentive that they’ll be playing meaningful games at the end of the regular season (instead of sitting starters) vying for home field advantage.

It’s not perfect but certainly better than what we have now.

I’m a way Id like to see the NBA model. It does seem to be more fair….

The problem lies here…..they cannot continue to double up on division opponents during the regular season when where you finish within your division doesn’t matter….and the owners value the rivalries.

 

[JayFord]

they do it that way then theres no need for division games

i feel it should be tweaked in a way that if the wild card has the better record they get the home game

you win your division at 7-10 you dont need a home game just be glad youre in

 

[Bagman]

No. Let the poorer division winners get their home game. Let winning the division titles have value. It’s our tough luck if we can’t catch the Eagles.

Nobody can catch the Eagles. So NOBODY deserves a home game ? Your theory penalizes the division alignment.

 

[Runwildboys]

Great post. Dallas might be 13-4 and yet they have to travel to a .500 team? Makes no sense. The entire playoff should be stacked by record. Teams will play harder. Just another thing the NFL has done that makes zero sense.

True. There'd be less relaxing once a team won their division or even clinched a playoff spot.

 

[Bagman]

Win your division or you don't deserve to host a playoff game. Nobody would want it changed if the 8-9 Cowboys were about to play the 12-5 Buccaneers at home in the wild card round.

To be fair, I think it should be changed, but do it this OFFSEASON to eliminate the question of who benefits and who loses.

 

[jazzcat22]

So what happens if 2 teams in the same division are 16-1. One has to be a WC.
The other 3 division winners are 15-2, 14-3, 13-4 or whatever. So two of those teams may have to play on the road against the 16-1 WC team at some point?

 

[Bagman]

I think it can be done in a way that preserves that though. Winning your division is an automatic playoff berth, regardless of your record. Still have 4 Division winners and 3 wildcards that are decieded in the same manner they are today. But the seeding in the playoffs could be based on records with the 4 best records getting the home game.

This is the best possible rule. The NFL should change it this offseason so it starts in the 2023-24 season.

 

[noshame]

I'm sure they will look at making a change after this year because good Lord

 

[jazzcat22]

I'm sure they will look at making a change after this year because good Lord

I doubt it, it has happened before with WC teams having better records than division winners.

May as well do away with divisions then, or only have 2 in each conference. That will not happen either. They went from 3 divisions to 4 with the expansions, in order to increase playoff teams.
Wait until they go to an 18 game schedule. There could be a 6-10 team getting in at a WC.

 

[noshame]

I doubt it, it has happened before with WC teams having better records than division winners.

May as well do away with divisions then, or only have 2 in each conference. That will not happen either. They went from 3 divisions to 4 with the expansions, in order to increase playoff teams.
Wait until they go to an 18 game schedule. There could be a 6-10 team getting in at a WC.

I said look at making a change
Of course we could still win the division!

 

[lukemartin79]

Great post. Dallas might be 13-4 and yet they have to travel to a .500 team? Makes no sense. The entire playoff should be stacked by record. Teams will play harder. Just another thing the NFL has done that makes zero sense.

Hockey has gone back and forth and changed theirs so many times over the years. No matter how you do it, someone will get screwed and someone will be *****ing. If you take care of business and win your division, you are guaranteed a top 4 seed- nothing wrong with that. Yes, that means TB or CAR gets in at 500 or below - it happens. In baseball the Dodgers and Giants finished the regular season 1 & 2 in wins a few years ago, but were in the same division. Dodgers got top wild card, seeded below less win division winners - it happens. If Cowboys had beaten the Iggles twice and not lost to GB and JAX, they'd be looking at 1 and Philly 5. Just have to beat whatever team you get in the playoffs at home or on the road- its the only thing you can control.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Not in my opinion. I enjoy the rivalry that divisions create.

You can still have the rivalry. The format doesn’t necessarily remove divisions.

 

[Rayman70]

I hate the 17 game schedule btw. Yes, the current format isnt great.

 

[817Gill]

Happens way too rare to make a change. Can’t just overreact because we get the short end of the stick this year. Win your division host a playoff game.