Rejigger the Playoff Format

[Outlaw Heroes]

You could use division ranking as a tie-breaker in the proposed W/L seeding format, but again, 7-10 or 8-9 team winning its division and getting home field advantage over a 12-5/13-4 team is criminal.

Meh. The reward for going 12-5/13-4 in that circumstance is that you get to play the 7-10/8-9 team. That's virtually a pass through to the divisional round if you're worthy of that 12-5/13-4 record.

 

[JoeKing]

I think division titles are meaningless.

I don't care what you think, winning your division does matter. If it's a weaker team, record-wise, so be it. It might mean an easier game for a wild card team but in the case of Tampa Bay, I don't think so. Brady thrives in the playoffs! The NFL has the format correct, as is! I'm sorry if your ego can't tolerate an opposing view. Not sorry!

 

[fivetwos]

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 only type of modification I’d ever expect to see, if anything.

Changing the schedule format will mess with parity, which they strived to achieve.

 

[wssaustin]

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.

You won't be crying for this when we were 8-8 and got into playoff.

 

[erod]

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.

You can't do this because it doesn't take into account strength of schedule enough most of the time.

They need to go back to 3 divisions in each conference and only one wild card team, but I know that would never happen.

 

[Rayman70]

Meh. The reward for going 12-5/13-4 in that circumstance is that you get to play the 7-10/8-9 team. That's virtually a pass through to the divisional round if you're worthy of that 12-5/13-4 record.

we gonna see I guess. Either at Carolina or The Bucs me thinks.

 

[Streifenkarl]

You won't be crying for this when we were 8-8 and got into playoff.

This.

This whole thread is just an overreaction to the current situation. And it's not like playing at home in the play offs has been a huge advantage for us anyway lol.

 

[Doomsday]

The rejiggering should include going back to 16 games and eliminating Thursday Night games.

Should but we all know 18 games are coming eventually.

I think they should leave the playoff matchups alone as well. It sucks to go on the road with 12 or 13 wins but division winners should get a home game.

 

[cnuball21]

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.

Yea the fact a team with a losing record can have gone field advantage is a joke.

Do it based on W/L records.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I don't care what you think, winning your division does matter. If it's a weaker team, record-wise, so be it. It might mean an easier game for a wild card team but in the case of Tampa Bay, I don't think so. Brady thrives in the playoffs! The NFL has the format correct, as is! I'm sorry if your ego can't tolerate an opposing view. Not sorry!

You don’t have many years left do you?

 

[Staubacher]

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.

I pictured you tapping your eye with a steak knife as you said that.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

This.

This whole thread is just an overreaction to the current situation. And it's not like playing at home in the play offs has been a huge advantage for us anyway lol.

Yeah, it’s actually not. But don’t let me stop you from watching an inferior product.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

You can't do this because it doesn't take into account strength of schedule enough most of the time.

They need to go back to 3 divisions in each conference and only one wild card team, but I know that would never happen.

NBA doesn’t consider strength of schedule.

 

[fivetwos]

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

Maybe add something like it has to be more than a three game difference, or…..division winner loses the home game if they have a losing record.

A 10-7 division winner should not have to surrender a home game to a 12-5 wild card.

The schedule is set up entirely around division play and sometimes they beat up on each other.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

You won't be crying for this when we were 8-8 and got into playoff.

No, I’d be laughing we got into the postseason with a middling team.

 

[cowboyec]

no.
division titles matter.
to the victor go the spoils.
they keep screwin around...everybody will get in.
i like the format from the 70s 80s.
but division titles matter.

 

[JoeKing]

You don’t have many years left do you?

There you go proving my point about your tolerance.

I feel fortunate to be seeing the end of the year. What's your point?

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Frankly, our fanbase has gotten so used to being a middling franchise and not actually contending for Super Bowls, the value and importance of division titles has been overstated because we haven’t had anything to point to in 27 years.

 

[cowboyec]

No, I’d be laughing we got into the postseason with a middling team.

thats what they said about arizona...and they went all the way to the super bowl.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

There you go proving my point about your tolerance.

I feel fortunate to be seeing the end of the year. What's your point?

Joe, it explains everything. Happy New Year.