Does extending the playoffs strength or weaken the regular season?

[fastforward]

4 years on and i'm curious as to whether opinions have changed. I wanted the #7 seed change and I think it has been beneficial to the league.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Personally I think the NFL should offer 2 bye weeks these days. So what if it pushes the SBOWL another week?

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

4 years on and i'm curious as to whether opinions have changed. I wanted the #7 seed change and I think it has been beneficial to the league.

It has made the end of the regular season great, imo. That 7 seed is often not known until the final whistle of the last game which is fantastic from a fan perspective. It usually meant the 7 seed was over-matched by the 2 seed but Green Bay bucked that trend last year so now the chase for the 1 seed becomes even more meaningful.

 

[Moab]

Personally I think the NFL should offer 2 bye weeks these days. So what if it pushes the SBOWL another week?

I'm all for a 2nd bye week and to make it level, not spread out through 10 weeks of the season or whatever it is. Also all for getting rid of 1 of the preseason games

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

I'm all for a 2nd bye week and to make it level, not spread out through 10 weeks of the season or whatever it is. Also all for getting rid of 1 of the preseason games

Yah I was talking to my Dad about that yesterday. It would be awesome if there was two bye weeks, and EVERYONE had a bye at the same time. But that would NEVER happen (too much lost revenue). But it would be nice if they clumped them together more closely - again prob. will never happen.

Either way, a start would be add another bye week. And frankly, the NFL will profit off that. Nobody cares if the SBOWL is a week later, but they do care that star players are injured and the product on the field isn't as good. More rest would allow a better product on the field which should increase viewership = More $$$. And the players will of course love this, owners should be all for it too because that means their MASSIVE contracted guaranteed players are more likely to be performing at a high level or recover from injuries.

 

[Moab]

Yah I was talking to my Dad about that yesterday. It would be awesome if there was two bye weeks, and EVERYONE had a bye at the same time. But that would NEVER happen (too much lost revenue). But it would be nice if they clumped them together more closely - again prob. will never happen.

Either way, a start would be add another bye week. And frankly, the NFL will profit off that. Nobody cares if the SBOWL is a week later, but they do care that star players are injured and the product on the field isn't as good. More rest would allow a better product on the field which should increase viewership = More $$$. And the players will of course love this, owners should be all for it too because that means their MASSIVE contracted guaranteed players are more likely to be performing at a high level or recover from injuries.

It wouldn't be that hard...give 4 divisions or 1 conference all a bye on the same week.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

It wouldn't be that hard...give 4 divisions or 1 conference all a bye on the same week.

Yah true, I'm sure there's a way to make it work.

Still, let's start with 2 bye weeks at least.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

It wouldn't be that hard...give 4 divisions or 1 conference all a bye on the same week.

I think you could easily spread the byes over a 3 week span and still have plenty of games played. Start with weeks 4-6. 12-10-10 teams off. Then repeat it maybe weeks 12-14. The unevenness of the way it is now just doesn't work, imo.

 

[Tainthappening]

4 years on and i'm curious as to whether opinions have changed. I wanted the #7 seed change and I think it has been beneficial to the league.

I do not have strong opinion either way, no change from before.

Pros:

• More football to watch
• For the league, 2 more playoff game revenue
• Appears a 7 seed can win on the road with Packers doing it last year
• "Appears" that at end of season, more teams with opportunities to still make playoffs in last couple of week of season that brings some more excitement for those hopeful teams

Cons:

• Really liked #1 and #2 seeds having a bye and the "best" teams during regular season getting a reward
• 7 seeds only 1-7 in playoffs... wildcards that are barely 500 getting in the playoffs

Do think eventually an 8th team in each conference will be added to playoffs and even the #1 seed will not have a bye.... unsure when, but that is more money with 2 more games and more revenue for league.

Do prefer a 2nd bye during the regular season.