NFL Playoffs--doesn't this make more sense?

[Broncos6482]

The made up scenario was an extreme example.... regardless, a 12 win team shouldn't travel to an 8 win team... or an 11 win team travel to a 7 win team... winning the division ensures you make the playoffs, but it should not ensure a higher seed when your record sucks... I stand by that and I always will ... Even when the Saints had to travel to Seattle when we were 7-9 it felt wrong... I said it then, I'll say it now....

And that's what we were responding to, your made up scenario. There's no reason to change the format because of your made up scenario, which while hypothetically could happen, is extremely unlikely to ever happen.

But like myself and others are saying, if that 12 win wild card team is truly better than an 8 win division winner, beating them on the road shouldn't be a problem.

The goal is to win the division: if you can't do that, your path to the Super Bowl should be much harder.

 

[WizardHawk]

If you don't beat the other 3 teams in your own division, but are still a top tier team you deserve a spot in the playoffs. However, you didn't beat someone in your own division. You in no way, shape, or form deserve a home game. Period!

Everyone in a division has a similar path playing mostly common opponents. It's fair to compare them. It is NOT fair to directly compare win/loss across divisions with such a different path. Beating up on cupcakes in a shit division should not earn you a home game over a team that gritted it out in a tough division and won less games because of it.

The system as it stands right now is fair and balanced. WC teams that might be better than the div winners they are visiting need to simply win to prove it. That's it. You didn't win your division and now you have a tougher road and if you are worthy of a chance at going to the SB you simply need to go prove it. The weakest division winners have an extra game vs the top two. This means those winners of shit divisions that barely got in have to work harder to earn their way to the big game. The only teams with an easy road earned it with the top records in their conference.

There is zero ways in which this system is unfair. It is by far the best post season formula in all of sports IMO.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

I get where Stu's coming from, but I still think winning your division is an achievement no matter how "bad" the division is. It's really hard to sweep a team during a season, much less three of them. If you come out of the round robin with a better record when you've also had to face the same out-of-division competition, you've earned that home game.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Everyone in a division has a similar path playing mostly common opponents. It's fair to compare them. It is NOT fair to directly compare win/loss across divisions with such a different path. Beating up on cupcakes in a shit division should not earn you a home game over a team that gritted it out in a tough division and won less games because of it.

Well said. That's what I was trying to convey, as well.

 

[WizardHawk]

Two division winners get a free week off and have an easier road. That's the reward for dominating your conference. The other two have to play an extra week and would have to win at least one road game to get there. That's their reward/punishment. The other two were teams that were just behind a better team in their division, but they couldn't beat them. Giving them a slot in the playoffs makes sense, however they must travel every week and win out on the road. That's what they get for not winning their division.

There is no way that is unfair. Not even a little. Not a smidgen. Nope, not at all.

 

[Oldschool739]

AFC
(1)*DEN (12-4)
(2)*NE (12-4)

(6)*HOU (9-7) @ (3)*CIN (12-4)
(5)PIT (10-6) @ (4)KC (11-5)
----------
NFC
(1)*CAR (15-1)
(2)*ARZ (13-3)

(6)*WAS (9-7) @ (3)*MIN (11-5)
(5)SEA (10-6) @ (4)GB (10-6)
(*)division winner

I'm all for division champs getting an automatic playoff spot, but not an automatic home game.

I agree, but also No team should get a bye unless all teams get one, it's an unfair advantage.....
The best record should get the HF throughout but no bye...

 

[ATL96Steeler]

My opinion is shared by the masses, as the vote here shows that 75% of the voters like it just the way it is, and in this thread most people are saying to leave it alone.

It's the few whiners that can't get it in their heads that there's no reason to change and the system is perfectly fine the way it is, that's why we keep having threads like this pop up.

If you weren't good enough to win your division, you don't deserve a home playoff game. If you're so much better than a division winner, go beat them on the road and prove it.

The traditional argument wins over the if you weren't good enough... argument if I'm on the jury... but if the masses agree with you, those that don't are the squeaky wheel types I guess.

My position is the reward is outdated for the reasons I've stated, but at the same time it's not broken so why are we trying to fix it?

 

[Scooby-Doo]

100% false.

 

[johnson]

6 division games
8 games vs one division from the AFC and NFC

So no, I'm 100% correct.

He's probably a "12". They are just learning about football the past few years. Give him a break.

 

[WizardHawk]

I agree, but also No team should get a bye unless all teams get one, it's an unfair advantage.....
The best record should get the HF throughout but no bye...

Why?

The regular season in the NFL means so much more game by game than any other professional sports league. And a big part of that is the rewards/consequences of the playoff system. You can get into the dance being slightly above .500, but it's going to cost you. Likewise, putting it all out there and going for a perfect season has a lot more riding on it than simply just getting to the show.

Without those rewards you would 100% see more games with teams resting starters the last week or two and that makes for shitty football. Don't be in favor of shitty football.

 

[boogiewithstu2007]

And that's what we were responding to, your made up scenario. There's no reason to change the format because of your made up scenario, which while hypothetically could happen, is extremely unlikely to ever happen.

But like myself and others are saying, if that 12 win wild card team is truly better than an 8 win division winner, beating them on the road shouldn't be a problem.

The goal is to win the division: if you can't do that, your path to the Super Bowl should be much harder.

Dude , it's not about my made up scenario ... I just showed you 2 REAL examples... And your argument is a 12 win team should beat the 8 win team, sure they should, but being awarded home field HELPS that 8 win team, because we both know home field advantage is real in football ... Seeding should be based on record not simply from winning the division ... winning the division should only guarantee you a playoff spot... NFL is gonna change that ... watch...

 

[Broncos6482]

Dude , it's not about my made up scenario ... I just showed you 2 REAL examples... And your argument is a 12 win team should beat the 8 win team, sure they should, but being awarded home field HELPS that 8 win team, because we both know home field advantage is real in football ... Seeding should be based on record not simply from winning the division ... winning the division should only guarantee you a playoff spot... NFL is gonna change that ... watch...

Why should a team that failed to win their own division be rewarded with a home playoff game?

See, the problem is schedules are vastly different for teams in different divisions. The Redskins and Packers are a perfect example of this. The Redskins and Packers had 4 common opponents: the Bears, the Rams, the Cowboys, and the Panthers. Both teams went 3-2 in those games. So who's to say that the Packers deserve a home game over the Redskins simply because they won one more game? Maybe they had an easier schedule than the Redskins, that's why they got the extra win. Who knows?

It's cleaner, easier, and simpler to just let division winners have home games.

 

[WizardHawk]

Dude , it's not about my made up scenario ... I just showed you 2 REAL examples... And your argument is a 12 win team should beat the 8 win team, sure they should, but being awarded home field HELPS that 8 win team, because we both know home field advantage is real in football ... Seeding should be based on record not simply from winning the division ... winning the division should only guarantee you a playoff spot... NFL is gonna change that ... watch...

And I wish you too would stop being in favor of shitty football. Because that's what you are going to get.

Want a real world scenario? They moved the Carolina game to the late slot to force Arizona to actually at least play the first half of their last game. If they didn't have that carrot of HFA dangled in front of them both of those teams would have had backups in and the last game of the year is little more than a preseason game.

Do the same for seeding and that happens much more. A hot team in a crappy division can get an early lead and start resting players in the final weeks knowing they have a lead on the others.

The current playoff formula does the absolute best job possible of creating drama in week 17. There is something to play for far more than with any other seeding formula. We want great football and high drama going into weeks 16 and 17 and finish it off with intense on the edge of your seat playoffs and while the latter isn't always the case, it's far more likely with this formula.

Teams are driving to push for HFA so the teams at the top are still fighting hard. No reason to shut it down knowing they have crazy leads. The teams looking to be #3 and #4 are probably in tight races all the way to the wire. With at least one home game on the line they have so much to fight for. And those teams just looking to get in as a WC they already blew their chances at home games by not doing better against their division winner. At least they get the chance to prove they were worthy. Just go win.

It works. It's fair. It's balanced. And it gives us outstanding games to watch all the way right up to the very last game of the regular season and into the playoffs.

Stop trying to fix it if it isn't broken.

 

[GNG]

I think I prefer option 2, but this has been hashed, re-hashed, and hashed again on this board.

 

[ducky]

What? Dude, every team in the division plays each other twice. = 6 games.

No, no team plays themselves.

Example, Chargers and Raiders:

They each play each other TWICE - 2 common games
They each play the Chiefs TWICE - 2 more common games
They each play the Broncos TWICE - 2 more common games

2+2+2 = 6

They each play every team in one NFC division - 4 common games
They each play every team in one AFC division - 4 common games

4+4 = 8

6+8=14

See bolded.

When they are playing head to head it is not a common game because, again, the other team can't and doesn't play themselves. That's not a common game match up....its a head to head matchup.

When you look at tiebreakers, they are comparing 12 common games.

 

[boogiewithstu2007]

Why should a team that failed to win their own division be rewarded with a home playoff game?

See, the problem is schedules are vastly different for teams in different divisions. The Redskins and Packers are a perfect example of this. The Redskins and Packers had 4 common opponents: the Bears, the Rams, the Cowboys, and the Panthers. Both teams went 3-2 in those games. So who's to say that the Packers deserve a home game over the Redskins simply because they won one more game? Maybe they had an easier schedule than the Redskins, that's why they got the extra win. Who knows?

It's cleaner, easier, and simpler to just let division winners have home games.

Certain divisions are way tougher than other divisions on a given year ... When we won the division in 2013 the 49rs were right on our heels winning 12 games, the only reason the Niners had to travel was because our division at the time was tough as nails... Why should Green Bay get rewarded for winning 8 games in a weak division with a home playoff game ? If winning the division still ensured you a playoff game that still gives plenty of incentive to win the division... I will always feel seeding should be based on wins and loses....

 

[boogiewithstu2007]

And I wish you too would stop being in favor of shitty football. Because that's what you are going to get.

Want a real world scenario? They moved the Carolina game to the late slot to force Arizona to actually at least play the first half of their last game. If they didn't have that carrot of HFA dangled in front of them both of those teams would have had backups in and the last game of the year is little more than a preseason game.

Do the same for seeding and that happens much more. A hot team in a crappy division can get an early lead and start resting players in the final weeks knowing they have a lead on the others.

The current playoff formula does the absolute best job possible of creating drama in week 17. There is something to play for far more than with any other seeding formula. We want great football and high drama going into weeks 16 and 17 and finish it off with intense on the edge of your seat playoffs and while the latter isn't always the case, it's far more likely with this formula.

Teams are driving to push for HFA so the teams at the top are still fighting hard. No reason to shut it down knowing they have crazy leads. The teams looking to be #3 and #4 are probably in tight races all the way to the wire. With at least one home game on the line they have so much to fight for. And those teams just looking to get in as a WC they already blew their chances at home games by not doing better against their division winner. At least they get the chance to prove they were worthy. Just go win.

It works. It's fair. It's balanced. And it gives us outstanding games to watch all the way right up to the very last game of the regular season and into the playoffs.

Stop trying to fix it if it isn't broken.

WHY would you get shitty football ?.... How is making the seedings based on wins and losses shitty football ? I disagree bro ... You win your division you get in the playoffs, but seeding being based on record is fair ... It just is

 

[WizardHawk]

WHY would you get shitty football ?.... How is making the seedings based on wins and losses shitty football ? I disagree bro ... You win your division you get in the playoffs, but seeding being based on record is fair ... It just is

Not until every team plays every other that they are seeded against. Period.

 

[Broncos6482]

Certain divisions are way tougher than other divisions on a given year ... When we won the division in 2013 the 49rs were right on our heels winning 12 games, the only reason the Niners had to travel was because our division at the time was tough as nails... Why should Green Bay get rewarded for winning 8 games in a weak division with a home playoff game ? If winning the division still ensured you a playoff game that still gives plenty of incentive to win the division... I will always feel seeding should be based on wins and loses....

Yes, certain divisions are tougher than others in a given year, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY YOU CAN'T JUST SEED THEM BASED ON RECORD.

The 49ers went on the road because they didn't win their division. And you know what? They proved they were indeed the better team by winning. And good for them. But if they had wanted to start the playoffs at home, they should have won the division.

 

[WizardHawk]

Certain divisions are way tougher than other divisions on a given year ... When we won the division in 2013 the 49rs were right on our heels winning 12 games, the only reason the Niners had to travel was because our division at the time was tough as nails... Why should Green Bay get rewarded for winning 8 games in a weak division with a home playoff game ? If winning the division still ensured you a playoff game that still gives plenty of incentive to win the division... I will always feel seeding should be based on wins and loses....

They win a home playoff game and at the same time they are penalized by having to play in the wild card weekend games. It's totally fair.