Rusty's Playoff Fix

AbeBeta · Jan 4, 2023

RustyBourneHorse said:
I think that it's ridiculous that the Bucs are going to host a playoff game despite, at best, playing with a 9-8 record. I know that this happens from time to time, but I think I may have a solution.

In my scenario, the division winners still gets into the playoffs. However, the team hosting the playoff game is determined instead by record. Whoever has the better record gets the home playoff game. In my view, if you have the better record, then you deserve the home game.

If the NFL is a meritocracy, then the home playoff game should be determined by merit. Plus, this would encourage better play because, if you want a home game in the playoffs, then have a better record.

What say you all?

how is it meritocracy with two terrible teams (e.g., AFC South, NFC West). That is not competitive balance in any manner since teams play more games against their division.

RustyBourneHorse · Jan 4, 2023

AbeBeta said:
how is it meritocracy with two terrible teams (e.g., AFC South, NFC West). That is not competitive balance in any manner since teams play more games against their division.

That's kinda my point. It's not a competitive balance. I understand hard divisions, but if it's a joke of a division like the NFC South, then they should not be hosting a playoff game.

Pantone282C · Jan 4, 2023

RustyBourneHorse said:
I think that it's ridiculous that the Bucs are going to host a playoff game despite, at best, playing with a 9-8 record. I know that this happens from time to time, but I think I may have a solution.

In my scenario, the division winners still gets into the playoffs. However, the team hosting the playoff game is determined instead by record. Whoever has the better record gets the home playoff game. In my view, if you have the better record, then you deserve the home game.

If the NFL is a meritocracy, then the home playoff game should be determined by merit. Plus, this would encourage better play because, if you want a home game in the playoffs, then have a better record.

What say you all?

Absolutely!

Bagman · Jan 4, 2023

NotForLong said:
Terrible idea

Excellent idea. Hater.

Bagman · Jan 4, 2023

Jake said:
I think if the roles were reversed we'd have threads justifying the division champion hosting a wild card team, despite their W/L records.

No not really. Thats your imagination.

Jake · Jan 4, 2023

Bagman said:
No not really. Thats your imagination.

Right, because objective opinions when it comes to the Cowboys are so common here.

Captain43Crash · Jan 4, 2023

The Quest for Six said:
Tampa bay was determined on the merit, they won their division...

You think there is more merit in winning a weak division, with 8 wins, than taking 2nd in a very good division, with 12 wins. When there are only 4 teams in a division it is not a great accomplishment to win a division! Very often there is a wildcard team that has a better record than a division winner.

You should be allowed in the playoffs because you win a division, but you should not get a home game unless you are one of the top 4 teams record wise.

Captain43Crash · Jan 5, 2023

The Quest for Six said:
Tampa bay was determined on the merit, they won their division...

I apologize, but that just sounds dumb.

TB has merit! They won 8 games!

Creeper · Jan 5, 2023

Wasn't it just a coupe of years ago when Washington won the NFCE with a 7-9 record and people were saying the same thing because the NFC East was such a bad division? I understood the rationale then as I do now but there is no easy fix. Perhaps the fix is to reduce the divisions to 2 and have 5 Wild Card teams. I never really like the idea of divisions with only 4 teams. It makes it more likely that we will see some mediocre teams get into the playoffs as division winners.

The Quest for Six · Jan 5, 2023

Captain43Crash said:
I apologize, but that just sounds dumb.

TB has merit! They won 8 games!

They won their division the way the league set it up making winning your division more important, hence the reason why they have divisions, end of story,

Doomsday101 · Jan 5, 2023

Captain43Crash said:
But should it be the way it is? If you say no, then let’s fix it.

Don’t settle, try to make things better.

I don't think so, it has never been an issue in the past why is it an issue now.

Pantone282C · Jan 5, 2023

Jake said:
Right, because objective opinions when it comes to the Cowboys are so common here.

LOL!

NotForLong · Jan 5, 2023

Bagman said:
Excellent idea. Hater.

Yup I hate you

MarionBarberThe4th · Jan 5, 2023

Reality said:
The NFL has already considered a re-seeding process in the past, but there is a problem with it.

If you reseed without any advantage for winning your division, playing in a tough division, playing in an easy division, etc. then you are giving an inherent advantage and disadvantage to some teams every year.

Winning a division has to mean something or else there is little reason to have divisions.

To me the best way to reward division winners while being fair would be to do this ..

Select four (4) wildcard teams (instead of 3) and make the wildcard week of playoff games only include the wildcard teams so every division winner gets a BYE week as a reward for winning their division.

Then, once wildcard games produce their two (2) winning teams, they could reseed all teams in each conference based on win-loss record.

That would still provide a reward for teams winning their division (getting a BYE week) while being fair to teams with great records that happened to play in a division with other teams that had even better records.

Wouldn’t this leave you with 6 teams for divisional round?

Davidlee1973 · Jan 5, 2023

Reality said:
The NFL has already considered a re-seeding process in the past, but there is a problem with it.

If you reseed without any advantage for winning your division, playing in a tough division, playing in an easy division, etc. then you are giving an inherent advantage and disadvantage to some teams every year.

Winning a division has to mean something or else there is little reason to have divisions.

To me the best way to reward division winners while being fair would be to do this ..

Select four (4) wildcard teams (instead of 3) and make the wildcard week of playoff games only include the wildcard teams so every division winner gets a BYE week as a reward for winning their division.

Then, once wildcard games produce their two (2) winning teams, they could reseed all teams in each conference based on win-loss record.

That would still provide a reward for teams winning their division (getting a BYE week) while being fair to teams with great records that happened to play in a division with other teams that had even better records.

Ok but you would then still have six teams left. What’s you solution for that

Captain43Crash · Jan 5, 2023

Creeper said:
Wasn't it just a coupe of years ago when Washington won the NFCE with a 7-9 record and people were saying the same thing because the NFC East was such a bad division? I understood the rationale then as I do now but there is no easy fix. Perhaps the fix is to reduce the divisions to 2 and have 5 Wild Card teams. I never really like the idea of divisions with only 4 teams. It makes it more likely that we will see some mediocre teams get into the playoffs as division winners.

Pretty simple actually.
1.Top team per division makes the playoffs. Making the playoffs is your reward for winning a shitt_ division. Winning 8 games should not be rewarded with a home playoff game.

2. Teams are seeded in the playoffs by most wins!

Captain43Crash · Jan 5, 2023

Doomsday101 said:
I don't think so, it has never been an issue in the past why is it an issue now.

Are you kidding?
This issue is talked about every time a division winner gets a home playoff game, but has a worse record than a wildcard team. It happens all the time with only 4 teams in a division.

Captain43Crash · Jan 5, 2023

The Quest for Six said:
They won their division the way the league set it up making winning your division more important, hence the reason why they have divisions, end of story,

LOL!

Sorry again, but it still sounds stupid to say TB won their division on merit.

We do reward mediocrity in America today. Is that why so many fans are okay keeping a stupid rule that rewards, gives merit, to mediocrity?

Doomsday101 · Jan 5, 2023

Captain43Crash said:
Are you kidding?
This issue is talked about every time a division winner gets a home playoff game, but has a worse record than a wildcard team. It happens all the time with only 4 teams in a division.

No not kidding it is how it is you win your division and you get home field. NFL is not changing the rule because the Cowboys will go into the post season with 12 wins or better vs likely Tampa Bay with a worse record. I love the Cowboys but it is how it is and has been. You want to change it? write to the league otherwise all the crying in the world is not changing a damn thing.

Captain43Crash · Jan 5, 2023

Jake said:
Right, because objective opinions when it comes to the Cowboys are so common here.

You can be a Dallas fan, and still say, Dallas would not deserve a home game, if they won their division, but had one of the worst records of all the teams making the playoffs.

That’s really not hard! Is it hard for you?

Rusty's Playoff Fix

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