Rejigger the Playoff Format

[MarcusRock]

I like it as is. A crappy division winner gets a home field boost against a more powerful team. Anything can happen plus the hope is it keeps the games more competitive which fans AND the NFL wants. As I said before, this format gave us the Beast Quake so I'm grateful for it.

 

[MarcusRock]

Gonna give you a like based solely on the use of “rejigger”
And I agree btw

Gettin' rejigger wit it.
Na na na na na na na

 

[Cowboy4ever]

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

Cool. I will call Rodger today

 

[joseephuss]

if winning the division is no big deal then why do folks get pissy when we dont.
or use not winning it as a talking point to crap on the qb...or hc...etc...etc...etc.

Can't it be somewhere in between? Winning the division should be an automatic playoff berth. That is a big deal. It shouldn't guarantee a home playoff game especially if the team has a losing record. Winning the division in today's era just doesn't have the same meaning as it did in the past. Only 6 of 17 games(35%) are played within the division. In the past there were 8 of 16 games(50%) played within the division. If you won every division game you were guaranteed a 0.500 record. The number of division games used to matter and just don't as much. Plus there are now more games within the conference than there used to be. It was once 8 division games and 4 NFC games outside the division. It is now 6 and 6. That diminishes the impact of the division. It doesn't render winning the division meaningless, but it surely shows it doesn't mean as much as it used to.

To those saying teams with a losing record winning a division is rare, I'd disagree. It really only started happening after the NFL went to the 32 team format. It didn't happen before then except in the 1982 strike fiasco of a season. It is becoming too common of an occurrence.

My stance isn't based on this 2022 season. It is based on the first time it happened a few years ago watching a team with a losing record host a playoff game. The issue just keeps repeating and I don't like it. Don't reward mediocrity.

 

[cowboyec]

Can't it be somewhere in between? Winning the division should be an automatic playoff berth. That is a big deal. It shouldn't guarantee a home playoff game especially if the team has a losing record. Winning the division in today's era just doesn't have the same meaning as it did in the past. Only 6 of 17 games(35%) are played within the division. In the past there were 8 of 16 games(50%) played within the division. If you won every division game you were guaranteed a 0.500 record. The number of division games used to matter and just don't as much. Plus there are now more games within the conference than there used to be. It was once 8 division games and 4 NFC games outside the division. It is now 6 and 6. That diminishes the impact of the division. It doesn't render winning the division meaningless, but it surely shows it doesn't mean as much as it used to.

To those saying teams with a losing record winning a division is rare, I'd disagree. It really only started happening after the NFL went to the 32 team format. It didn't happen before then except in the 1982 strike fiasco of a season. It is becoming too common of an occurrence.

My stance isn't based on this 2022 season. It is based on the first time it happened a few years ago watching a team with a losing record host a playoff game. The issue just keeps repeating and I don't like it. Don't reward mediocrity.

i always enjoy your posts.
i don't think it is mediocrity.
winning your division is tough.
your being rewarded for your success.
i hate it when a crappy record wins the division...but i have no problem with division champs get a home game.
i wouldn't if we had done that in mccarthy's first year.

 

[Bagman]

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.

Yeah, we know the rules. Its that the rules suck. They're stupid. They don't reward teams who bust their hump for an entire season. Forget this year. Forget about Dallas for a moment. How the heck can anyone reward a 7-10 team with a home game against a 14-3 team. Its not remotely fair. Whats the point of seeds if the seeding is flawed and records are not used.

 

[817Gill]

Yeah, we know the rules. Its that the rules suck. They're stupid. They don't reward teams who bust their hump for an entire season. Forget this year. Forget about Dallas for a moment. How the heck can anyone reward a 7-10 team with a home game against a 14-3 team. Its not remotely fair. Whats the point of seeds if the seeding is flawed and records are not used.

Just happens so rarely man, not gonna change a whole system when the negatives are such an anomaly. Also, you get games like the 7-9 Seahawks vs Saints when Marshawn went Beast Mode.

It happens so rarely and when it does there’s been some memorable moments. I don’t see any need at all to change it and neither does the league. If you’re 12-5 and can’t beat a 7-10 team that’s on you.

 

[Hoofbite]

Meh. Usually it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.

 

[rocknrobcowboy]

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

Win a Div under 500...LMAO

 

[MWH1967]

I think division titles are meaningless.

That and 2.30 will get you a cup of Joe.

NFC,AFC title game and the Super Bowl. Everything else is just position for next years draft.

 

[DUO_CORE]

Make it a 10 game season and then everyone makes the playoff:
1 plays 32
2 plays 31
3 plays 30 and so forth and so on.....all the way up to
16 plays 17
The following week starts "The Sweet 16" like college basketball

 

[Whyjerry]

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.

Roger loves your thinking.

 

[JustChip]

Nah, it's fine the way it is. It rare that a team with a losing record wins their division. It happens sometimes, but oh well

Agreed. Teams know the deal going into the season, just win your division.

The problem with just reseeding instead of rewarding Division winners is two-fold: 1) what’s the value in being a division winner then, and 2) all teams/divisions don’t play the same teams/schedule.

To that 2nd point, the NFC East has an advantage this year playing the AFC South as opposed to playing one of the other AFC divisions.

 

[cityochamps]

Actually, he's right.

Big deal. You beat 3 teams. Whoopty do.

Ok, If you say so.

 

[loublue22]

It also happens frequently in baseball where the best two teams are in the same division, neither League seems in a hurry to change it.