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

[PhilSimms11]

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. Last season would've looked like this...
AFC (no change)
(1)*NE (12-4)
(2)*DEN (12-4)

(6)BAL (10-6) @ (3)*PIT (11-5)
(5)CIN (10-5-1) @ (4)*IND (11-5)
----------
NFC
(1)*SEA (12-4)
(2)*GB (12-4)

(6)*CAR (7-8-1) @ (3)*DAL (12-4)
(5)DET (11-5) @ (4)ARZ (11-5)

 

[JMR]

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

 

[boltfan72]

Do we have to go through this every year?

Each team in a 4 team division has 14 common games.

Teams in another division have as few as 1 common game.

38% of your schedule is division games.

Win your division - you get a home game. Don't win your division, get a WC and go on the road.

It ain't broke. No need to fix it.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

It does but it's beating a dead horse now imo.

What DIV winning owner is going to give up a home game? A 99% sold out gate, concessions, parking etc. It's just not going to happen...the votes will never be there imo.

 

[Broncos6482]

Again?

It's perfectly fine the way it is. You want a home playoff game? Go win your division.

 

[JMR]

Each team in a 4 team division has 14 common games.

100% false.

 

[boltfan72]

100% false.

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

So no, I'm 100% correct.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Again?

It's perfectly fine the way it is. You want a home playoff game? Go win your division.

Idt it's perfectly fine, winning the DIV when DIV games don't makeup the lionshare of the schedule anymore probably should no longer carry a home game...but, it's a pipe dream to change it.

 

[dkmightyhammer]

I dislike option 3 the most. If you have the luxury of playing in a crap division like the Pats have for over a decade then you have a huge advantage over teams in a tougher division. Records are not all equal since every team plays different schedules. The way the playoffs are seeded now may have some warts but it still works. Win your division and you're in. If not you need to be among the 2 best remaining teams of the non-division winners. It's fine.

 

[handicappers]

100% false.

how?

 

[SonnyCID]

Div winners should get a home game. It's easy to pick on them when they have a sub-.500 record and 4 or 5 wins less than the guy ahead of them. But what if it's only the difference of one win, and the 9-7 div winner played a tougher schedule than the 10-6 wc?

 

[dkmightyhammer]

Div winners should get a home game. It's easy to pick on them when they have a sub-.500 record and 4 or 5 wins less than the guy ahead of them. But what if it's only the difference of one win, and the 9-7 div winner played a tougher schedule than the 10-6 wc?

Egg Zachary

 

[Ewa PGH Fan]

The only way it should change is if they change the number of divisions or WC teams too. Maybe go down to two division per conference and have 4 WC teams per conference. So after the division winners, the next 4 teams with the best records per conference get into the playoffs regardless of division.

 

[Ewa PGH Fan]

The only way it should change is if they change the number of divisions or WC teams too. Maybe go down to two division per conference and have 4 WC teams per conference. So after the division winners, the next 4 teams with the best records per conference get into the playoffs regardless of division.

The big drawlback to a 2 Division format is if you keep the home and home against the other 7 teams in a division that takes up 14 games of a 16 game schedule and I don't favor increasing the number of regular season games to allow for more at large games.

 

[molsaniceman]

NO

 

[ducky]

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

So no, I'm 100% correct.

50% false?

The Chargers don't have a home and away matchup against themselves.

So teams in a division have 12 common games. 2 head to head games. And 2 different games.

 

[ducky]

Want a home playoff game? Win your division. No need to change that.

 

[SonnyCID]

The system is obviously broken. Just check the ratings.

 

[Broncos6482]

Idt it's perfectly fine, winning the DIV when DIV games don't makeup the lionshare of the schedule anymore probably should no longer carry a home game...but, it's a pipe dream to change it.

No, it is perfectly fine and there's absolutely no need to change it. The reward for winning the division is a home playoff game. The reward for a good team that wasn't good enough to win their division is a second chance to prove themselves in the playoffs. That's exactly how it should be.

If you're such a great wild card team, prove it: go out and beat the crappy division winners on the road.

 

[boltfan72]

50% false?

The Chargers don't have a home and away matchup against themselves.

So teams in a division have 12 common games. 2 head to head games. And 2 different games.

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