NFL playoffs should be seeded without regard to division championships

[Yadahell]

NFL playoffs should be seeded without regard to division championships | ProFootballTalk

Obviously, this would benefit the 49ers this year- so I like it.

 

[RoboticDreams]

 

[JDM]

No. Win your division. If you can't beat the division champion on the road are you really more deserving?

 

[supreme_clientele81]

No. Win your division. If you can't beat the division champion on the road are you really more deserving?

We technically did win our division. 49ers 5-1 Seahawks 4-2

 

[JDM]

No you didn't. If you won your division you would have won your division.

 

[Jim Rome is Flaming]

No you didn't. If you won your division you would have won your division.

Lol, I couldn't help but laugh at that. I do agree with the OP's point though. SF having to play a road game against an 8-7-1 team is a joke when they are 12-4

 

[JDM]

Then they should have won their division. If they're the clearly superior team they'll win on the road and problem solved.

 

[MHSL82]

This gave me an idea. Not saying that it's a good idea. Just an idea. But what they could do is have the best six records in the conference make the playoffs. Then, if there are two from the same division, the one who has the best record within the division would be seeded higher than the other. That actually rewards winning the division. And it keeps the best records in the playoffs.

The problem with this arrangement would be those in a really good division, would have a hard time having one of the six best records. If all four teams were equally as good as the other, each without have at least three losses. And then play the teams outside of their division.

 

[JDM]

The current system is the best any sport has ever done. Stop trying to change perfection.

 

[Yadahell]

Then they should have won their division. If they're the clearly superior team they'll win on the road and problem solved.

Easy to say when your division is mediocre to poor.

 

[RoboticDreams]

Easy to say when your division is mediocre to poor.

Their division is an abomination.

 

[JDM]

The division has a winning out of division record so I'm not sure how terrible they can be.

 

[LambeauLegs]

Please stop!

How many years ago was it where the NFC west was 7-9 in the playoffs. It is not like the NFC West has been a power conference for many years. Once the 49ers and Seahawks have to start paying a QB the rate most of the good teams pay QBs things will even out as well.

 

[SunsGiantsNiners]

Beating a dead horse we get it, there's NOTHING we can do about it stop whining about it.. the playoff format is what it is...

 

[jarrod49]

The division has a winning out of division record so I'm not sure how terrible they can be.

Your division was so great that combined all four teams were outscored by 58 pts on the season while the NFC west outscored there opponents by a combined 359 pts. please explain how your division is good???

 

[clyde_carbon]

The current system is the best any sport has ever done. Stop trying to change perfection.

Says a Patriots fan, who've had the benefit of playing in a division with 3 teams who've been dreaded with mediocrity for the last 15 years.

 

[clyde_carbon]

Please stop!

How many years ago was it where the NFC west was 7-9 in the playoffs. It is not like the NFC West has been a power conference for many years. Once the 49ers and Seahawks have to start paying a QB the rate most of the good teams pay QBs things will even out as well.

And it wasn't right then, either. It was an absolute sham that New Orleans had to go to play a 7-9 Seattle team on the road that year, and had the seedings been corrected, the path through the NFC playoffs could've been completely different.

I'll never support a system that:

1- Rewards teams for being a in bad division, and punishes teams for being in a strong division.

2- Sets the playoff threshold lower than it should be. All you have to do to make the playoffs is be better than the three teams in your division, not actually be one of the best teams in the your conference. You're divisional competition could have records of 4-12, 4-12 and 5-11, and all you'd have to do to make the playoffs is win 6 games out of 17.

3- Not only does it not get the teams right, it doesn't get the seeding right. Since 2002 teams with BETTER records have had to travel to play teams with WORSE records 15 times. That is in itself an absolute disgrace to the NFL.

 

[clyde_carbon]

Beating a dead horse we get it, there's NOTHING we can do about it stop whining about it.. the playoff format is what it is...

There are a lot of things we can't change. Doesn't mean it can't be discussed.

That said, I guarantee you that this WILL change. Give it time. More and more people are realizing how absolutely ludicrous this system is.

 

[BoBlake]

1- Rewards teams for being a in bad division, and punishes teams for being in a strong division.

You'd be punishing teams that play AGAINST a tough division. Next year the NFC East has to play the NFC West AND the AFC West. The winner in that division will be lucky to have an 8-8 season.

Only their division would have a similar schedule, so it's only fair to compare them to their own division.

 

[Arete Tzu]

Please stop!

How many years ago was it where the NFC west was 7-9 in the playoffs. It is not like the NFC West has been a power conference for many years. Once the 49ers and Seahawks have to start paying a QB the rate most of the good teams pay QBs things will even out as well.

There was plenty of people who post here that didn't like it then. Most here are making the case for a tough division rival to be in the playoffs over a weaker team, so it's not like we are asking for any favors.