Fix the NFL playoffs

[WizardHawk]

Again... talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

I acknowledged that it'll never change and that makes my opinion irrelevant in reality. I acknowledged that you had your points, but that I had my reasons to disagree with them. I outlined a what I would consider a pretty reasonable compromise between the two schools of though, and you and 90% of the stubborn old farts on here berated me for it to no end.

We disagree on how it should work, but less so than you think. In any case, you'll continue to get your way, and I can live with it even though I disagree with it. Yet you're insinuating that I'm being some childish nut case about all this. My apologies for having a different opinion than yourself about football, damn.

So pointing out what we don't like is berating, but outright calling people stupid, get fucked, etc that's a different thing. That's the part where you clearly seem quite angry.

Already said the system isn't ideal/perfect and we all get why a few of you are upset. Isn't that enough?

Since you never brought up the point, I will, but they already do use win/loss to sort. How do we know the 1 seed is really better than the 2 seed when they are both on very different schedules? It's already not perfect. Literally the only things they do know is the winner of each division earned it. While not 1000% perfect (some play home while others away on common opponents not from the div etc) it's pretty darned close given the number of games in common.

The seeding is already less than ideal. However, the way they handle the 6 teams, each group of 2 in their own mini group, kind of eases that IMO. It's just an opinion man. The top two get their bye, the second two have to play on week 1, and the two best division runner ups/losers at least have a path, albeit tougher. It's all a compromise as is.

Don't love it, don't hate it, but don't really see a need to change it either.

 

[Manster7588]

It's happened twice in the past 9 years.............

Ooooohh, and how many times since the NFL has gone to current format?

 

[GhostOfPoverty]

Ooooohh, and how many times since the NFL has gone to current format?

Well it's looking like it'll be 3 times in 9 years this season, or 1/3rd of the season in the past decade. Seems like a big enough issue to address based on recent events.

Again, can any of you explain how my idea is so insane? You're acting like I'm calling for a complete shut down to divisions and division titles mattering at all. I'm still placing a pretty heavy emphasis on division titles by guaranteeing a playoff spot to any 6-10 (it's possible) division winner over potentially 12 win (again, it's possible) potential wildcard teams. How is that unfair to the division winners of chit divisions? lol come on.

 

[PhilSimms11]

This would be awesomer (2018):
(1)*KC (12-4)--division record vs LAC
(2)LAC (12-4)
(3)*NE (11-5)--HTH vs HOU
(4)*HOU (11-5)
(5)*BAL (10-6)--conference record vs IND
(6)IND (10-6)
-----
(1)*NO (13-3)--HTH vs LAR
(2)*LAR (13-3)
(3)*CHI (12-4)
(4)SEA (10-6)--HTH vs DAL
(5)*DAL (10-6)
(6)PHI (9-7)
*division winner

 

[WizardHawk]

Because it's already dicey they are using win/loss to seed as much as they are. Relying even more on it doesn't fit what makes most sense at least to me. And I love the drama of two teams going to the wire with one getting a high seed and the other looking down the barrel of a 5 seed.

As was pointed out before though, what most of you think is so bad is one game. Even if you create some arbitrary filter to toggle a rule for WC's to get a home game against a division winner, if they win that game they are right back to the road for round 2.

I don't understand why it's so bad to believe a worthy high win 5 seed should be expected to win on the road against those 'chit' teams. They will still be on the road again either way.

 

[Myles]

Because it's already dicey they are using win/loss to seed as much as they are. Relying even more on it doesn't fit what makes most sense at least to me. And I love the drama of two teams going to the wire with one getting a high seed and the other looking down the barrel of a 5 seed.

I love the current format. I don't care that once in a while an 8-8 or 9-7 team may get to host a playoff game. Big fucking deal. Win your division if you want to host a playoff game.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

And we were fine with a 9-7 Ravens hosting a 12-4 Chargers just last year. The Chargers went to Baltimore and took care of their business. Almost every year, this shit comes up and it's a load of crap. If Seattle or San Fran can't go into one of those NFCE teams' house and beat them, then they don't deserve any credit or sympathy because they had a good regular season.

Nobody should be fine with that, not even a Ravens fan base.

A team with a losing record should not be in the playoffs over a team with a winning record. In your example, none of those teams are a losing team. However, it has happened in the past. 6 best from each conference should go, seed based off record, away we go.

 

[Cedrique]

Nobody should be fine with that, not even a Ravens fan base.

A team with a losing record should not be in the playoffs over a team with a winning record. In your example, none of those teams are a losing team. However, it has happened in the past. 6 best from each conference should go, seed based off record, away we go.

You could do that, but at that point the divisions are obsolete and you would want to stop scheduling teams to play 3 other teams twice in the same season. I can see them maybe considering that if they start going more global and adding teams in Europe and some other places.
Although it would be funny if some expansion team in Beijing won their division at 6-10 and got to host a playoff game.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

You could do that, but at that point the divisions are obsolete and you would want to stop scheduling teams to play 3 other teams twice in the same season. I can see them maybe considering that if they start going more global and adding teams in Europe and some other places.
Although it would be funny if some expansion team in Beijing won their division at 6-10 and got to host a playoff game.

You can cure that by eliminating 1 season game, bump it down to 15, and you just play all 15 of your conference rivals. Top 6 go. Seeding based on record. NFC and AFC meet in the SB only.

If you want 8 home and 8 away, you can add two more teams, one to each conference. Then you can have your London and Mexico teams, or whoever.

16 games, 6 playoff teams in each conference. 6 best go. Best record in match up is always the host team.

 

[Cedrique]

You can cure that by eliminating 1 season game, bump it down to 15, and you just play all 15 of your conference rivals. Top 6 go. Seeding based on record. NFC and AFC meet in the SB only.

If you want 8 home and 8 away, you can add two more teams, one to each conference. Then you can have your London and Mexico teams, or whoever.

16 games, 6 playoff teams in each conference. 6 best go. Best record in match up is always the host team.

Yeah that would be interesting. I think expansions to those markets will happen eventually.

 

[Myles]

Yeah that would be interesting. I think expansions to those markets will happen eventually.

I do to, but I continue to hope not. I'd be fine with Toronto and Mexico City I guess. I really like the current set up though. 4 teams in each division. I like the schedule rotation. I like the division rivalries. I like the division winners reward of hosting a playoff game.

Don't change a thing.

 

[skinzfan]

NFC East teams are 3-20 against opponents with winning records, the division’s worst such mark at this point of the season since the NFL expanded to 32 teams and realigned into eight divisions in 2002. None of them belong in the playoffs.

 

[Myles]

NFC East teams are 3-20 against opponents with winning records, the division’s worst such mark at this point of the season since the NFL expanded to 32 teams and realigned into eight divisions in 2002. None of them belong in the playoffs.

The division winner does.

 

[Money]

I love the current format. I don't care that once in a while an 8-8 or 9-7 team may get to host a playoff game. Big fucking deal. Win your division if you want to host a playoff game.

As a fan, I don't like an 8-8 division winner hosting a 12-4 team in the playoffs, but I don't lose sleep over it. The bottom line is every single owner in this league wants to know that IF they win their division, they will get a home playoff game and the money that goes along with it. There is no way this will ever be changed.

 

[handicappers]

NFC East teams are 3-20 against opponents with winning records, the division’s worst such mark at this point of the season since the NFL expanded to 32 teams and realigned into eight divisions in 2002. None of them belong in the playoffs.

wrong.

 

[PhilSimms11]

Broncos coach Vic Fangio believes NFL should get rid of divisions altogether, suggests new playoff format.
-------------------------------------------------------------
In just a few short weeks, we'll have the winner of the NFC East hosting one of the wild card teams to open up the playoffs. On its face, there's nothing wrong here, as that's been the format for years. This year, however, highlights how this playoff system is broken, to a degree.

As things stand heading into Week 15, both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are 6-7 on the year and vying for first place in the NFC East. Whichever team wins that division will host a game on Wild Card Weekend. For a team that will finish with possibly a .500 record, it seems odd rewarding what feels like a division winner by default a home playoff game. For teams like either Seattle (10-3) or San Francisco (11-2) -- one of which will play on Wild Card Weekend -- it feels like one will get a raw deal.

So, how do we fix that? Well, Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio believes the NFL could take a page out of the NBA's book and simply rid themselves of divisions altogether, rolling with the six best teams in each conference .

"Since the league went to 32 teams, which was when the Texans came in in 2002, my ideal suggestion -- which has never been put forth in front of anybody important -- I don't think there should be divisions," Fangio told reporters Wednesday during his press conference. "I think you've got 16 [teams] in each conference, everybody should play each other once. That's 15 games. If you want a 16th game, you play a natural rival from the other conference. You know, Jets and Giants play every year. Eagles-Steelers, Texans-Cowboys, etc. play every year and keep it at 16 games.

"You'll avoid the problem which is going to happen this year where probably an 8-8 team is hosting a 12-4 team. You're going to get the six best teams in each conference and the divisions always flow. There are some that are easy some year, there are some that have a bunch of good teams. That switches back and forth every couple years. I just think it'd be a good way to avoid it."


Fangio does make an interesting point here. If this was the way that the NFL handled their playoffs, you'd rid yourself of the mediocre teams in the NFC East and substitute them in the playoff race for the Los Angeles Rams (8-5) and Chicago Bears (7-6), two clubs that have been surging as of late, but have a much tougher road to the postseason because of the divisions they're in.

"I just don't think divisions are going to get you the best six every year," Fangio said of the current system. "You want the best six? Do it like they do in college: You play everybody once."

Of course, you can't ignore the elephant in the room that the NFC East -- specifically the Dallas Cowboys -- brings massive TV ratings whenever they play, so the league won't exactly lose much revenue if Dallas makes it in. In fact, they'll gain ratings because of it. That's not the conversation, however. It's more about getting the best teams in and, under the current format, that's not happening this year.

Unfortunately for Fagnio, it doesn't look like change is around the corner. While speaking to reporters at the NFL owners meeting, commissioner Roger Goodell noted that re-seeding the playoffs hasn't been a subject they've covered.


"This is not the first time this conversation has occurred or this situation's occurred," Goodell said, via NFL.com. "Teams go into the season with the first objective is to win the division. That's what they work on -- we win the division and get into the playoffs. That is something we've considered over the years. I have not heard that this year and I don't anticipate hearing it again. It's been discussed in the past but I don't see that as an issue. If it comes up we'll certainly have a conversation. I don't anticipate it."

Fangio made some logical points and highlighted a key flaw in the current playoff format in the NFL. While he may have suggested a pretty sound substitution, the league seems pretty content where things are, for better or worse.

 

[Cedrique]

Broncos coach Vic Fangio believes NFL should get rid of divisions altogether, suggests new playoff format.
-------------------------------------------------------------
In just a few short weeks, we'll have the winner of the NFC East hosting one of the wild card teams to open up the playoffs. On its face, there's nothing wrong here, as that's been the format for years. This year, however, highlights how this playoff system is broken, to a degree.

As things stand heading into Week 15, both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are 6-7 on the year and vying for first place in the NFC East. Whichever team wins that division will host a game on Wild Card Weekend. For a team that will finish with possibly a .500 record, it seems odd rewarding what feels like a division winner by default a home playoff game. For teams like either Seattle (10-3) or San Francisco (11-2) -- one of which will play on Wild Card Weekend -- it feels like one will get a raw deal.

So, how do we fix that? Well, Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio believes the NFL could take a page out of the NBA's book and simply rid themselves of divisions altogether, rolling with the six best teams in each conference .

"Since the league went to 32 teams, which was when the Texans came in in 2002, my ideal suggestion -- which has never been put forth in front of anybody important -- I don't think there should be divisions," Fangio told reporters Wednesday during his press conference. "I think you've got 16 [teams] in each conference, everybody should play each other once. That's 15 games. If you want a 16th game, you play a natural rival from the other conference. You know, Jets and Giants play every year. Eagles-Steelers, Texans-Cowboys, etc. play every year and keep it at 16 games.

"You'll avoid the problem which is going to happen this year where probably an 8-8 team is hosting a 12-4 team. You're going to get the six best teams in each conference and the divisions always flow. There are some that are easy some year, there are some that have a bunch of good teams. That switches back and forth every couple years. I just think it'd be a good way to avoid it."


Fangio does make an interesting point here. If this was the way that the NFL handled their playoffs, you'd rid yourself of the mediocre teams in the NFC East and substitute them in the playoff race for the Los Angeles Rams (8-5) and Chicago Bears (7-6), two clubs that have been surging as of late, but have a much tougher road to the postseason because of the divisions they're in.

"I just don't think divisions are going to get you the best six every year," Fangio said of the current system. "You want the best six? Do it like they do in college: You play everybody once."

Of course, you can't ignore the elephant in the room that the NFC East -- specifically the Dallas Cowboys -- brings massive TV ratings whenever they play, so the league won't exactly lose much revenue if Dallas makes it in. In fact, they'll gain ratings because of it. That's not the conversation, however. It's more about getting the best teams in and, under the current format, that's not happening this year.

Unfortunately for Fagnio, it doesn't look like change is around the corner. While speaking to reporters at the NFL owners meeting, commissioner Roger Goodell noted that re-seeding the playoffs hasn't been a subject they've covered.


"This is not the first time this conversation has occurred or this situation's occurred," Goodell said, via NFL.com. "Teams go into the season with the first objective is to win the division. That's what they work on -- we win the division and get into the playoffs. That is something we've considered over the years. I have not heard that this year and I don't anticipate hearing it again. It's been discussed in the past but I don't see that as an issue. If it comes up we'll certainly have a conversation. I don't anticipate it."

Fangio made some logical points and highlighted a key flaw in the current playoff format in the NFL. While he may have suggested a pretty sound substitution, the league seems pretty content where things are, for better or worse.

I think the guy that wrote this article was late for a deadline so he just read this 15 page thread and came up with this. Then at the last minute he decided he needed to give it credibility so he picked the most obscure coach and threw his name on it. He was like "Nick Fangio! Perfect, no one is going to question that"

 

[NFL-Solomon]

Democrats: There shouldn't be any playoffs. Every team should get a Super Bowl Trophy every year.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

they are never getting rid of divisions, because that would get rid of all the rivalries. Like Bears & Packers & many others.

 

[WizardHawk]

Broncos coach Vic Fangio believes NFL should get rid of divisions altogether, suggests new playoff format.
-------------------------------------------------------------
In just a few short weeks, we'll have the winner of the NFC East hosting one of the wild card teams to open up the playoffs. On its face, there's nothing wrong here, as that's been the format for years. This year, however, highlights how this playoff system is broken, to a degree.

As things stand heading into Week 15, both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are 6-7 on the year and vying for first place in the NFC East. Whichever team wins that division will host a game on Wild Card Weekend. For a team that will finish with possibly a .500 record, it seems odd rewarding what feels like a division winner by default a home playoff game. For teams like either Seattle (10-3) or San Francisco (11-2) -- one of which will play on Wild Card Weekend -- it feels like one will get a raw deal.

So, how do we fix that? Well, Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio believes the NFL could take a page out of the NBA's book and simply rid themselves of divisions altogether, rolling with the six best teams in each conference .

"Since the league went to 32 teams, which was when the Texans came in in 2002, my ideal suggestion -- which has never been put forth in front of anybody important -- I don't think there should be divisions," Fangio told reporters Wednesday during his press conference. "I think you've got 16 [teams] in each conference, everybody should play each other once. That's 15 games. If you want a 16th game, you play a natural rival from the other conference. You know, Jets and Giants play every year. Eagles-Steelers, Texans-Cowboys, etc. play every year and keep it at 16 games.

"You'll avoid the problem which is going to happen this year where probably an 8-8 team is hosting a 12-4 team. You're going to get the six best teams in each conference and the divisions always flow. There are some that are easy some year, there are some that have a bunch of good teams. That switches back and forth every couple years. I just think it'd be a good way to avoid it."


Fangio does make an interesting point here. If this was the way that the NFL handled their playoffs, you'd rid yourself of the mediocre teams in the NFC East and substitute them in the playoff race for the Los Angeles Rams (8-5) and Chicago Bears (7-6), two clubs that have been surging as of late, but have a much tougher road to the postseason because of the divisions they're in.

"I just don't think divisions are going to get you the best six every year," Fangio said of the current system. "You want the best six? Do it like they do in college: You play everybody once."

Of course, you can't ignore the elephant in the room that the NFC East -- specifically the Dallas Cowboys -- brings massive TV ratings whenever they play, so the league won't exactly lose much revenue if Dallas makes it in. In fact, they'll gain ratings because of it. That's not the conversation, however. It's more about getting the best teams in and, under the current format, that's not happening this year.

Unfortunately for Fagnio, it doesn't look like change is around the corner. While speaking to reporters at the NFL owners meeting, commissioner Roger Goodell noted that re-seeding the playoffs hasn't been a subject they've covered.


"This is not the first time this conversation has occurred or this situation's occurred," Goodell said, via NFL.com. "Teams go into the season with the first objective is to win the division. That's what they work on -- we win the division and get into the playoffs. That is something we've considered over the years. I have not heard that this year and I don't anticipate hearing it again. It's been discussed in the past but I don't see that as an issue. If it comes up we'll certainly have a conversation. I don't anticipate it."

Fangio made some logical points and highlighted a key flaw in the current playoff format in the NFL. While he may have suggested a pretty sound substitution, the league seems pretty content where things are, for better or worse.

Nope, Won't happen. Why? The current NFL scheduling guarantees you play every single team in the league from both conferences no less than once every 4 years.

This proposed change actually just goes back to the way it was in the early days of pro ball when there were two leagues that faced off. Progress by going backward.

The owners love the drama of rivalries that mean everything. They also love playing every team in the regular season and as owners, traveling to see their teams in every stadium in the league.

It's been a formula that has added to the boom of football. They aren't messing with a formula that brings in this much money because a few fans, and a bad head coach, don't get it.