Does extending the playoffs strength or weaken the regular season?

[Cave_Johnson]

in all honesty, its 1 more team per conference. its really not that much. im not in favor of it....

but 37.5% got in before, 43.75 get in now. they added 6.25%.

Most of the time they're going to be adding more 9 and 8 win teams. That just waters stuff down.

But it's all for the $ so it's not going to stop. I wouldn't be shocked if we're at an 18 game season with 8 teams per conference getting in with the next 15 years.

 

[SteelersPride]

Most of the time they're going to be adding more 9 and 8 win teams. That just waters stuff down.

But it's all for the $ so it's not going to stop. I wouldn't be shocked if we're at an 18 game season with 8 teams per conference getting in with the next 15 years.

oh i agree.....like i said i dont agree with it........i dont like it

 

[RB Bills]

I think it makes the regular season better!

 

[fastforward]

They should have just kept it as is with 6 playoff teams and the top 2 seeds in each conference getting a bye.

I'm sure there were people who would have said to leave the NFL as it was with 28 teams and 5 teams making the playoffs from each conference.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

My opinion is it waters it down.
Only reason they do this is for money & ratings.
Anytime a sport does this it is watering it down.
it allows more teams the possibility of getting into the playoffs longer. Keeping people more interested.
It isnt warranted to add a lesser team that wouldnt have made the playoffs into the playoffs so the NFL can make more money. Whether people like these ideas or not is irrelevant. It waters down the sport.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

I'm sure there were people who would have said to leave the NFL as it was with 28 teams and 5 teams making the playoffs from each conference.

Honestly that was perfect.
All the division winners got a bye. (equals) The wild card teams were the only ones with an extra playoff week. (as it should be)
The higher seeds advantage was to play the weakest seed. It was never meant to give #1 (or #2) seed a huge advantage in playoffs to make the superbowl. the #1 seeds advantage back then was they got to play the wild card team (who didnt have a week off)

 

[Gatorchip]

Makes it weaker, I don't like the change. There are too many teams out there to cut the byes in half.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Well, I think it makes it a lot better if you're seeds 1,5,6, or obviously 7; but 2,3, 4 really get screwed over. As a fan, I am cool with more football but I can understand why players might be a bit grumpy about a 17 game schedule. I think they're probably fine with an expanded playoffs.

It really just depends where you think your team is positioned come playoff time. Like, the 7 seed will not necessarily be a cupcake this year in the AFC. Real football team. NFC you could have an 8-8 team with minimal chance of giving a good game to a healthy Saints team if that is the 2 seed.

 

[CaptainStubing]

It will keep more teams/fan bases interested because more will be in the playoff hunt but, personally, I think 12 is enough

 

[Dude]

The bigger question is can 7th seed run the table in Playoffs. I think there have been some instances where a Wildcard or low-seeded team goes all the way SB. Could be wrong.

 

[SteelersPride]

The bigger question is can 7th seed run the table in Playoffs. I think there have been some instances where a Wildcard or low-seeded team goes all the way SB. Could be wrong.

Steelers won it as a WC. Someone did after them too

 

[Schmoopy1000]

Steelers won it as a WC. Someone did after them too

not so concerned with a 7th seed winning a superbowl, but....
A. if they win their game, just gives that #1 seed with the only Bye an even bigger advantage of playing a team that shouldnt be in the playoffs.
&
B. Looking at any given Sunday. They pull off the 7-9 Seahawks & take out the #2 seed. kinda fucks up the stability of the playoffs. Which will water down the playoffs even more.

Yeah yeah yeah. I know. then they should have won, but again I go back to any given sunday thought process. (especially if they are division rivals who always play each other tough even if one sucks) Now those wild card teams that made it to the Superbowl. Earned it because that is 3 weekends in a row.

I think having a 7th seed sucks ass.

 

[molsaniceman]

Steelers won it as a WC. Someone did after them too

only time rodgers got a ring 2010 vs steelers

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Steelers won it as a WC. Someone did after them too

only time rodgers got a ring 2010 vs steelers

The 2000 Ravens ( although they were 12-4) , 05 Steelers, and of course, the 07 Giants spoiling the perfect season for the Pats and the 2010 Packers. None since and the past few years all #1&2 seeds. I wouldn't mind seeing a Cinderella story once in a while.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

I think a lot of people misunderstood the question.

 

[molsaniceman]

The 2000 Ravens ( although they were 12-4) , 05 Steelers, and of course, the 07 Giants spoiling the perfect season for the Pats and the 2010 Packers. None since and the past few years all #1&2 seeds. I wouldn't mind seeing a Cinderella story once in a while.

we were refering to the 6th seed ravens were 4th and giants were 5th

History of the Wild Card | Pro Football Hall of Fame

The road to the Super Bowl is much longer for wild card teams. The 2010 Packers were just the third wild card team to win three games on the road and the Super Bowl.

www.profootballhof.com

 

[Dude]

I think a lot of people misunderstood the question.

Maybe because the question is poorly structured? It is somewhat messy and confusing.

 

[Podunkparte]

I think it enhances the regular season race, but if you're a real contender, I think it's a detriment in the playoffs.

Off the top of my head, getting the 1 or 2 seed and a bye week seems to weigh heavily on a team's chances to make the Super Bowl. Now there are half the teams getting that advantage, which tips the balance more in the favor of just 1 team per conference.

We'll see how it plays out this year, but unless you're a fan of the clear #1, I think you'd have to prefer having a chance at another bye in a one and done tournament.

 

[boogiewithstu2007]

As we all know, the NFL added two more teams to their playoff. It's now 14 contenders rather than 12 contenders. 44% of NFL teams make the playoffs. That's a 6% increase for playoff participation. The big change is that the #2 seed in the conference no longer gets a bye week.

Do you think this enhances the regular season or waters it down? For week 17, some teams rest their players and give their backups the opportunity to get some reps.

My vote goes to enhance. It creates competition between the top 2 seeds and increases the relevance of week 17. In other words, there's more playoff clinching scenarios happening.

I don’t like it ... 12 teams qualifying is enough... Getting the number 1 or 2 seed in your conference was always a huge thing... Now only the 1 seed gets the bye ? That’s stupid .. I’m so sick and tired of the constant attempt to alter this once great game ... I still like football, but it’s not the great game it once was.... The last 5 years have gotten really bad ....

 

[boogiewithstu2007]

The NFL season/league structure was basically as perfect as you can get up until they went to a 14 team playoff. Adding more 8 and 9 win teams to the playoffs is just an unnecessary money grab by the league. The reduction to 1 bye in each conference is interesting but again unnecessary.

Not sure this changes the regular season much. There's more competition for the #1 seed but it's also easier to lock in a playoff spot when almost half the league gets in.

League only cares about money, sadly ... Money would always be there regardless, that’s the sad part.. but they want to fleece the fans ...