Are there too many divisions in the NFL?

[PhilSimms11]

I've actually never been a huge fan of 8 divisions. Discuss at your leisure.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Nah. The Colts being in the AFC South never ceases to be annoying, however.

 

[DirtDirtDirt]

Yes, without a doubt

 

[jeffro151]

Yes, teams should have more common opponents throughout the season than just 3. Cut it down to 4 divisions, drop the preseason to 3 games, and add a 17th regular season game. That makes 14 games vs your division, 3 vs teams outside your division (I would do 2 vs other divison, 1 vs team from other conference).

 

[fordman84]

I don't think so.

Plus too much money to be made in "rivalry" games to do away with them.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

More likely we see more divisions made as expansions come along than anything.

 

[DirtDirtDirt]

I don't think so.

Plus too much money to be made in "rivalry" games to do away with them.

Most divisions have fluctuation and competitive balance, but we could call this the "Patriot" change, cause it's a bit silly that you can pencil them into the SB almost every season because the Dolphins/Jets and Bills are their main competition

 

[Sir Robin Of Camelot]

No. It's fine as it is.

 

[soxfan1468927]

Most divisions have fluctuation and competitive balance, but we could call this the "Patriot" change, cause it's a bit silly that you can pencil them into the SB almost every season because the Dolphins/Jets and Bills are their main competition

God that eats you alive doesn't it?

 

[DirtDirtDirt]

God that eats you alive doesn't it?

It does

 

[RP-29]

I like the existing divisional alignment and schedule format. However, there are three changes I would like to see:

• Divisional winners get an automatic playoff bid, but not an automatic home game. Seed 1-6 by overall record. If the Seahawks win the NFC West with a 7-9 record, it's lame they get to host the 11-5 Saints.
• Replace the 4th preseason game with a 17th regular season neutral site game against a non-conference opponent. That way, the NFL could still have a presence in places like London and Mexico City without teams losing a home game and would allow expanded presence to other foreign cities.
• Preseason week 1 should be played at neutral site university stadiums. Universities can bid to host games once the matchups are decided. Win for the universities (revenue, exposure, local fans), win for the NFL (revenue & exposure), win for the NFL players who are from the area or attended the university, win for NFL season ticket holders (have one less preseason game to pay full price for).

 

[jeffro151]

Yes, teams should have more common opponents throughout the season than just 3. Cut it down to 4 divisions, drop the preseason to 3 games, and add a 17th regular season game. That makes 14 games vs your division, 3 vs teams outside your division (I would do 2 vs other divison, 1 vs team from other conference).

For the game vs the other conference, I would make it a yearly thing vs a team close by to create a rivalry that is long lasting that provides 'regional' bragging rights.
BAL - WAS (30 miles)
BUF - DET (360 miles)
DAL - HOU (240 miles)
NYG - NYJ (0 miles)
PHI - PIT (300 miles)
MIN - CIN (700 miles)
GB - NE (1190 miles)
CAR - CLE (515 miles)
CHI - IND (180 miles)
LAR - LAC (0 miles)
SEA- OAK/LV (800/1100 miles)
DEN- SF (1250 miles)
ARI - KC (1200 miles)
ATL - TEN (250 miles)
NO - JAX (550 miles)
TB - MIA (270 miles)

 

[PhilSimms11]

Yes, teams should have more common opponents throughout the season than just 3. Cut it down to 4 divisions, drop the preseason to 3 games, and add a 17th regular season game. That makes 14 games vs your division, 3 vs teams outside your division (I would do 2 vs other division, 1 vs team from other conference).

I'm not sure what the hell we would call these divisions so I'll just give them a generic title.

Division 1 (8)--ARZ, DEN, KC, LAC, LAR, OAK, SEA, SF
Division 2 (8)--CHI, CIN, CLE, DET, GB, IND, MIN, TEN
Division 3 (8)--ATL, CAR, DAL, HOU, JAX, MIA, NO, TB
Division 4 (8)--BAL, BUF, NE, NYG, NYJ, PHI, PIT, WAS

What I like about this is the natural rivalries that would develop or get rekindled. CLE-DET met four times in the 1950's for the NFL Championship. In-state games would be great--DAL vs HOU, JAX/MIA/TB, NYG vs NYJ, PHI vs PIT, BAL vs WAS, etc. Many of the rivalries that exist now would be intact. I'm okay with NYG losing DAL. If given a choice, I'd rather have the games with PHI & WAS and start something with NYJ and the others in the region. DAL and HOU twice a year??? I'm not a fan of either team, but I would love that. Naysayers might claim that the DAL-NYG games bring in X amount of dollars and so on. Agreed, but wouldn't these local match-ups eventually exceed that? I think they would.

 

[PhilSimms11]

I like the existing divisional alignment and schedule format. However, there are three changes I would like to see:

• Divisional winners get an automatic playoff bid, but not an automatic home game. Seed 1-6 by overall record. If the Seahawks win the NFC West with a 7-9 record, it's lame they get to host the 11-5 Saints.
• Replace the 4th preseason game with a 17th regular season neutral site game against a non-conference opponent. That way, the NFL could still have a presence in places like London and Mexico City without teams losing a home game and would allow expanded presence to other foreign cities.
• Preseason week 1 should be played at neutral site university stadiums. Universities can bid to host games once the matchups are decided. Win for the universities (revenue, exposure, local fans), win for the NFL (revenue & exposure), win for the NFL players who are from the area or attended the university, win for NFL season ticket holders (have one less preseason game to pay full price for).

EXCELLENT IDEA. COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF.

 

[Manster7588]

Problem with 6 divisions is 32 can't be divided evenly do no SIX doesn't work. (Dumb Idea)

Problem with 4 divisions is if you keep the home and home format for divisions games it only gives you two games out of division.

 

[Balljim55]

Don't change - It seems to work pretty will now. Fewer divisions would dilute the rivalries.

 

[PhilSimms11]

Problem with 6 divisions is 32 can't be divided evenly do no SIX doesn't work. (Dumb Idea)

Problem with 4 divisions is if you keep the home and home format for divisions games it only gives you two games out of division.

True, 32 doesn't go evenly with 6, but is that so bad? You could have 4 divisions of 5 and 2 with 6. I'd be okay with that. Before 2002, the league had equal divisions from 1995-98 (30 teams). Before that, there were 28 teams with 14 teams and 3 divisions in each conference (5-5-4). Until the Bucs and Seahawks joined the NFL (1977) there were 26 teams with 13 in each conference. So, it can be done.

 

[flyerhawk]

Problem with 6 divisions is 32 can't be divided evenly do no SIX doesn't work. (Dumb Idea)

Problem with 4 divisions is if you keep the home and home format for divisions games it only gives you two games out of division.

4 divisions would require 8 playoff teams, since the NFL would never reduce the number of playoff games.

No more bye weeks.

 

[Manster7588]

True, 32 doesn't go evenly with 6, but is that so bad? You could have 4 divisions of 5 and 2 with 6. I'd be okay with that. Before 2002, the league had equal divisions from 1995-98 (30 teams). Before that, there were 28 teams with 14 teams and 3 divisions in each conference (5-5-4). Until the Bucs and Seahawks joined the NFL (1977) there were 26 teams with 13 in each conference. So, it can be done.

The schedule got better when the league went to its current 32 team format.

Here's an idea. Dont break something thats not broken.

 

[Manster7588]

4 divisions would require 8 playoff teams, since the NFL would never reduce the number of playoff games.

No more bye weeks.

1. 8 team playoffs are possible with the current 8 division format. I don't like it since it places too many weak teams in.

2. Why no more bye weeks? They don't need them now they just give an extra week of tv money. Bye weeks aren't going away.