A big fix for the NFL

neugey · 06-22-2023, 01:20 PM

Small four-team divisions are becoming a big problem in the NFL. Sending every division winner into the playoffs with a home game is pathetic.

Simple solution: 2 8-team divisions in each league. You play every team in your division once, but the home/away team alternates every other year. Welcome to your new NFL. Winning a division still leads to top 2 playoff seeds and a first-round bye. But winning a division pennant is now a real achievement.

AFC Shula Division:
Miami
Buffalo
NY Jets
New England
Indianapolis
Jacksonville
Houston
Tennessee

AFC Noll Division:
Cleveland
Pittsburg
Cincinnati
Baltimore
LA Chargers
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Denver

NFC Landry Division:
Washington
Philadelphia
Dallas
NY Giants
New Orleans
Tampa Bay
Atlanta
Carolina

NFC Walsh Division:
Minnesota
Green Bay
Detroit
Chicago
Seattle
San Francisco
Arizona
LA Rams

leilung · 06-22-2023, 01:48 PM

Looks interesting from a fan standpoint, but how will the owners make all that loot from playoff rounds?

What do the playoffs even look like?

SmashMouth · 06-22-2023, 02:42 PM

Love the names... But RG can't have none of dat...it makes too much sense!

AsylumGuido · 06-22-2023, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by leilung

Looks interesting from a fan standpoint, but how will the owners make all that loot from playoff rounds?

What do the playoffs even look like?

There's no chance in hell the owners would do anything to reduce the number of playoff games. That is a given. If anything I think an 18 game regular season is coming soon, and a 16 team playoff with no byes won't be far behind.

As for restructuring the league, eight divisional championships give individual fanbases more hope and is another layer of definition in the overall structure which relates to more money in marketing (NFC South Champion shirts, AFC West Champion hats, NFC East Champion huggies, etcetera). I really don't see any scenario where the NFL would move from that.

neugey · 06-22-2023, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

There's no chance in hell the owners would do anything to reduce the number of playoff games. That is a given. If anything I think an 18 game regular season is coming soon, and a 16 team playoff with no byes won't be far behind.

As for restructuring the league, eight divisional championships give individual fanbases more hope and is another layer of definition in the overall structure which relates to more money in marketing (NFC South Champion shirts, AFC West Champion hats, NFC East Champion huggies, etcetera). I really don't see any scenario where the NFL would move from that.

Actually, I misspoke on the playoff structure and forgot it was 7 teams per conference now. I'd keep the playoff structure the same, for revenue purposes and to keep the drama of clinching the #1 seed.

Here is the existing structure per conference:

No. 1 seed (division winner; first-round bye)
No. 2 seed (division winner)
No. 3 seed (division winner)
No. 4 seed (division winner)
No. 5 seed (Wild Card team)
No. 6 seed (Wild Card team)
No. 7 seed (Wild Card team)

Here is my altered structure per conference with the 8-team divisions:

No. 1 seed (division winner; first-round bye)
No. 2 seed (division winner)
No. 3 seed (Wild Card team)
No. 4 seed (Wild Card team)
No. 5 seed (Wild Card team)
No. 6 seed (Wild Card team)
No. 7 seed (Wild Card team)

In fact, I would argue that my proposal will make the NFL MORE money. These would be some key new annual match-ups guaranteed to happen with the 8-team divisions with big market/interest teams: Pittsburg/Kansas City, Green Bay/San Francisco, among some others. You'd also get cool new semi-regional rivalries like Miami/Jacksonville, Dallas/New Orleans.

This would also end the scheduling stupidity of divisional games clumping together - like if we have to play the Falcons twice over a course of 2-4 weeks. IMO not having repeat games will create more fan engagement.

BakoSaint · 06-22-2023, 09:39 PM

The current structure works better to give fans like our the illusion that because we can contend in a weak division and might get a home playoff game we are glorious contenders for a ring. Combine the nfc south and east and that illusion begins to fade. And suddenly Bucs fans cant come in with grandeose notions that because they are division champs everyone has to go through them. Its more likely the nfl would consider two team divisions to give every bears vs lions and colts vs texans matchup major paper flag implications.

Rugby Saint II · 06-23-2023, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

There's no chance in hell the owners would do anything to reduce the number of playoff games. That is a given. If anything I think an 18 game regular season is coming soon, and a 16 team playoff with no byes won't be far behind.

As for restructuring the league, eight divisional championships give individual fanbases more hope and is another layer of definition in the overall structure which relates to more money in marketing (NFC South Champion shirts, AFC West Champion hats, NFC East Champion huggies, etcetera). I really don't see any scenario where the NFL would move from that.

That's right. The NFL is a corporation built on capitalism and greed! There's absolutely no way in Hell that they take less money than they can squeeze out of the fans.

AsylumGuido · 06-23-2023, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II

That's right. The NFL is a corporation built on capitalism and greed! There's absolutely no way in Hell that they take less money than they can squeeze out of the fans.

This is America. The whole country was built and based upon capitalism. The day we lose that completely is the day we lose the country.

MatthewT · 06-23-2023, 01:33 PM

Nothing wrong with capitalism, the greed part will bite you in the butt. Mark Cuban may have missed a bit on the timeline but I do agree his prediction will eventually come true.

BakoSaint · 06-23-2023, 06:54 PM

Here is the alternative I think is more likely for 2 team divisions so the NFL can promote more games as meaningful and more teams as relevant every year:

AFC New York:
Buffalo
NY Jets

AFC Atlantic:
Miami
New England

AFC Southeast:
Jacksonville
Houston

AFC Central:
Indianapolis
Tennessee

AFC Ohio:
Cleveland
Cincinnati

AFC Colonial:
Pittsburgh
Baltimore

AFC Southwest:
LA Chargers
Las Vegas

AFC Great Plains:
Kansas City
Denver

NFC Lone Star:
Dallas (Cowboys guaranteed a playoff game every year for ratings).

NFC East:
Washington
Philadelphia
NY Giants

NFC Gulf South:
New Orleans
Tampa Bay

NFC Southeast:
Atlanta
Carolina

NFC North:
Minnesota
Green Bay

NFC Rust Belt:
Detroit
Chicago

NFC Northwest:
Seattle
San Francisco

NFC Southwest:
Arizona
LA Rams

06-22-2023, 01:48 PM	#2
leilung Booty Bandit Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Wastelands that are NJ Posts: 1,360	Re: A big fix for the NFL Looks interesting from a fan standpoint, but how will the owners make all that loot from playoff rounds? What do the playoffs even look like? Rugby Saint II likes this.

06-22-2023, 02:42 PM	#3
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,085 Blog Entries: 29	Re: A big fix for the NFL Love the names... But RG can't have none of dat...it makes too much sense! Rugby Saint II and stickman like this.

06-22-2023, 02:44 PM	#4
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,074	Re: A big fix for the NFL Originally Posted by leilung Looks interesting from a fan standpoint, but how will the owners make all that loot from playoff rounds? What do the playoffs even look like? There's no chance in hell the owners would do anything to reduce the number of playoff games. That is a given. If anything I think an 18 game regular season is coming soon, and a 16 team playoff with no byes won't be far behind. As for restructuring the league, eight divisional championships give individual fanbases more hope and is another layer of definition in the overall structure which relates to more money in marketing (NFC South Champion shirts, AFC West Champion hats, NFC East Champion huggies, etcetera). I really don't see any scenario where the NFL would move from that.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

06-22-2023, 07:05 PM	#5
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,687 Blog Entries: 13	Re: A big fix for the NFL Originally Posted by AsylumGuido There's no chance in hell the owners would do anything to reduce the number of playoff games. That is a given. If anything I think an 18 game regular season is coming soon, and a 16 team playoff with no byes won't be far behind. As for restructuring the league, eight divisional championships give individual fanbases more hope and is another layer of definition in the overall structure which relates to more money in marketing (NFC South Champion shirts, AFC West Champion hats, NFC East Champion huggies, etcetera). I really don't see any scenario where the NFL would move from that. Actually, I misspoke on the playoff structure and forgot it was 7 teams per conference now. I'd keep the playoff structure the same, for revenue purposes and to keep the drama of clinching the #1 seed. Here is the existing structure per conference: No. 1 seed (division winner; first-round bye) No. 2 seed (division winner) No. 3 seed (division winner) No. 4 seed (division winner) No. 5 seed (Wild Card team) No. 6 seed (Wild Card team) No. 7 seed (Wild Card team) Here is my altered structure per conference with the 8-team divisions: No. 1 seed (division winner; first-round bye) No. 2 seed (division winner) No. 3 seed (Wild Card team) No. 4 seed (Wild Card team) No. 5 seed (Wild Card team) No. 6 seed (Wild Card team) No. 7 seed (Wild Card team) In fact, I would argue that my proposal will make the NFL MORE money. These would be some key new annual match-ups guaranteed to happen with the 8-team divisions with big market/interest teams: Pittsburg/Kansas City, Green Bay/San Francisco, among some others. You'd also get cool new semi-regional rivalries like Miami/Jacksonville, Dallas/New Orleans. This would also end the scheduling stupidity of divisional games clumping together - like if we have to play the Falcons twice over a course of 2-4 weeks. IMO not having repeat games will create more fan engagement.

06-22-2023, 09:39 PM	#6
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,118	Re: A big fix for the NFL The current structure works better to give fans like our the illusion that because we can contend in a weak division and might get a home playoff game we are glorious contenders for a ring. Combine the nfc south and east and that illusion begins to fade. And suddenly Bucs fans cant come in with grandeose notions that because they are division champs everyone has to go through them. Its more likely the nfl would consider two team divisions to give every bears vs lions and colts vs texans matchup major paper flag implications.
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,118

06-22-2023, 01:20 PM	#1
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,687 Blog Entries: 13	A big fix for the NFL Small four-team divisions are becoming a big problem in the NFL. Sending every division winner into the playoffs with a home game is pathetic. Simple solution: 2 8-team divisions in each league. You play every team in your division once, but the home/away team alternates every other year. Welcome to your new NFL. Winning a division still leads to top 2 playoff seeds and a first-round bye. But winning a division pennant is now a real achievement. AFC Shula Division: Miami Buffalo NY Jets New England Indianapolis Jacksonville Houston Tennessee AFC Noll Division: Cleveland Pittsburg Cincinnati Baltimore LA Chargers Kansas City Las Vegas Denver NFC Landry Division: Washington Philadelphia Dallas NY Giants New Orleans Tampa Bay Atlanta Carolina NFC Walsh Division: Minnesota Green Bay Detroit Chicago Seattle San Francisco Arizona LA Rams turbo_dog, leilung, SmashMouth and 1 others like this.

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06-23-2023, 10:27 AM	#7
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,043	Re: A big fix for the NFL Originally Posted by AsylumGuido There's no chance in hell the owners would do anything to reduce the number of playoff games. That is a given. If anything I think an 18 game regular season is coming soon, and a 16 team playoff with no byes won't be far behind. As for restructuring the league, eight divisional championships give individual fanbases more hope and is another layer of definition in the overall structure which relates to more money in marketing (NFC South Champion shirts, AFC West Champion hats, NFC East Champion huggies, etcetera). I really don't see any scenario where the NFL would move from that. That's right. The NFL is a corporation built on capitalism and greed! There's absolutely no way in Hell that they take less money than they can squeeze out of the fans.

06-23-2023, 12:46 PM	#8
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,074	Re: A big fix for the NFL Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II That's right. The NFL is a corporation built on capitalism and greed! There's absolutely no way in Hell that they take less money than they can squeeze out of the fans. This is America. The whole country was built and based upon capitalism. The day we lose that completely is the day we lose the country.

06-23-2023, 01:33 PM	#9
MatthewT 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,729	Re: A big fix for the NFL Nothing wrong with capitalism, the greed part will bite you in the butt. Mark Cuban may have missed a bit on the timeline but I do agree his prediction will eventually come true.

06-23-2023, 06:54 PM	#10
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,118	Re: A big fix for the NFL Here is the alternative I think is more likely for 2 team divisions so the NFL can promote more games as meaningful and more teams as relevant every year: AFC New York: Buffalo NY Jets AFC Atlantic: Miami New England AFC Southeast: Jacksonville Houston AFC Central: Indianapolis Tennessee AFC Ohio: Cleveland Cincinnati AFC Colonial: Pittsburgh Baltimore AFC Southwest: LA Chargers Las Vegas AFC Great Plains: Kansas City Denver NFC Lone Star: Dallas (Cowboys guaranteed a playoff game every year for ratings). NFC East: Washington Philadelphia NY Giants NFC Gulf South: New Orleans Tampa Bay NFC Southeast: Atlanta Carolina NFC North: Minnesota Green Bay NFC Rust Belt: Detroit Chicago NFC Northwest: Seattle San Francisco NFC Southwest: Arizona LA Rams SmashMouth likes this.
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,118