Wildcard weekend lineup proves need for playoff changes

TheOak · 01-03-2011, 07:49 AM

Winning a division does get you something. Banner and different T-Shirts, that plus a guaranteed playoff spot is all it needs to mean.

In my honest opinion, best record or best conference record should host period. This will also add meaning to some of the late season games. As tight as things are for playoff spots and 1 and 2 seeds getting bye weeks, at least make them play their last games with meaning. Division champs only means you played well in 6 games against 3 teams. That does not mean you earned anything outside of your division

exile · 01-03-2011, 08:46 AM

I understand the argument but the reason that conference record doesn't mean beans compared to division is because all the teams in a conference cannot possibly play all of the other teams in a conference. Then we would be having the "yeah they had a good record but look who they played" conversation.

Let's please never ever ever ever bring "strength of schedule" in the mix.

Euphoria · 01-03-2011, 08:52 AM

It is fine the way it is.

If it isn't broke don't fix it. I haven't been convinced that there is anything wrong with the system. Everything isn't perfect and any changes made someone isn't going to be happy.

I could careless who hosts a damn Wild-Card Game. Win the Division, finish with the best record you host through-out the playoffs. Anything short of that it just doesn't matter. Flip a coin for all I care.

The most important thing is that we make the play-offs.

spkb25 · 01-03-2011, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Euphoria

It is fine the way it is.

If it isn't broke don't fix it. I haven't been convinced that there is anything wrong with the system. Everything isn't perfect and any changes made someone isn't going to be happy.

I could careless who hosts a damn Wild-Card Game. Win the Division, finish with the best record you host through-out the playoffs. Anything short of that it just doesn't matter. Flip a coin for all I care.

The most important thing is that we make the play-offs.

It is broke

arsaint · 01-03-2011, 09:29 AM

As I said in another thread, if it were me...

Top 2 seeds (based on records and tiebreakers, not on division winners) get byes.

Other 4 seeded by record, but keep the division winners in the playoffs no matter their record is. Also use head-head on teams tied (ie Philly - GB) instead of seeding the division winner higher...

For this year it would be:

#1 Falcons 13-3
#2 Saints 11-5 (9-3 in NFC)
#3 Bears 11-5 (8-4 in NFC)
#4 Packers 10-6 (beat Eagles)
#5 Eagles 10-6
#6 NFC West winner

spkb25 · 01-03-2011, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by arsaint

As I said in another thread, if it were me...

Top 2 seeds (based on records and tiebreakers, not on division winners) get byes.

Other 4 seeded by record, but keep the division winners in the playoffs no matter their record is. Also use head-head on teams tied (ie Philly - GB) instead of seeding the division winner higher...

For this year it would be:

#1 Falcons 13-3
#2 Saints 11-5 (9-3 in NFC)
#3 Bears 11-5 (8-4 in NFC)
#4 Packers 10-6 (beat Eagles)
#5 Eagles 10-6
#6 NFC West winner

I agree- division winners should make playoffs. if not then you ruin the importance of the divisions, but they should reseat

neugey · 01-05-2011, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by arsaint

As I said in another thread, if it were me...

Top 2 seeds (based on records and tiebreakers, not on division winners) get byes.

Other 4 seeded by record, but keep the division winners in the playoffs no matter their record is. Also use head-head on teams tied (ie Philly - GB) instead of seeding the division winner higher...

For this year it would be:

#1 Falcons 13-3
#2 Saints 11-5 (9-3 in NFC)
#3 Bears 11-5 (8-4 in NFC)
#4 Packers 10-6 (beat Eagles)
#5 Eagles 10-6
#6 NFC West winner

Agreed. This is exactly how it should be done.

skymike · 01-05-2011, 06:02 PM

Noog, what in the hell is that thing?

Euphoria · 01-03-2011, 10:11 AM

It isn't broke...

You win your division or shut up. Unless you want to do away with division's all together and I don't see that happening... NFL has a system of creating rivals with the division. That adds a certain element to it. If you re-seed then Divisions mean nothing. 40 years don't count they had it all wrong. C'mon.

We could then start a season much like the NCAA basketball tournement. Everyone is in at the start of the season. So everyone has a 'fair chance'. Nothing is broke, if one says it is broke that means for the past

spkb25 · 01-03-2011, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Euphoria

It isn't broke...

You win your division or shut up. Unless you want to do away with division's all together and I don't see that happening... NFL has a system of creating rivals with the division. That adds a certain element to it. If you re-seed then Divisions mean nothing. 40 years don't count they had it all wrong. C'mon.

We could then start a season much like the NCAA basketball tournement. Everyone is in at the start of the season. So everyone has a 'fair chance'. Nothing is broke, if one says it is broke that means for the past

That doesn't make any sense. I already said that the division winner should make the playoffs. So Tampa still would not have made it this year.

If it was you win your division or shut up then you wouldn't have wild card teams. You would have 4 teams and 4 teams only. All I said is that they should reseat before the first playoff game. There should be no extra benefit of winning your division beside making the playoffs.

If the NFL wants every game to be competitive, and if they want teams to play every week- well this is one way to accomplish this.

01-05-2011, 10:57 AM	#7
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,879 Blog Entries: 13	Originally Posted by arsaint As I said in another thread, if it were me... Top 2 seeds (based on records and tiebreakers, not on division winners) get byes. Other 4 seeded by record, but keep the division winners in the playoffs no matter their record is. Also use head-head on teams tied (ie Philly - GB) instead of seeding the division winner higher... For this year it would be: #1 Falcons 13-3 #2 Saints 11-5 (9-3 in NFC) #3 Bears 11-5 (8-4 in NFC) #4 Packers 10-6 (beat Eagles) #5 Eagles 10-6 #6 NFC West winner Agreed. This is exactly how it should be done.

01-03-2011, 10:11 AM	#9
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	It isn't broke... You win your division or shut up. Unless you want to do away with division's all together and I don't see that happening... NFL has a system of creating rivals with the division. That adds a certain element to it. If you re-seed then Divisions mean nothing. 40 years don't count they had it all wrong. C'mon. We could then start a season much like the NCAA basketball tournement. Everyone is in at the start of the season. So everyone has a 'fair chance'. Nothing is broke, if one says it is broke that means for the past
	E U P H O R I A

01-03-2011, 10:17 AM	#10
spkb25 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 13,145	Originally Posted by Euphoria It isn't broke... You win your division or shut up. Unless you want to do away with division's all together and I don't see that happening... NFL has a system of creating rivals with the division. That adds a certain element to it. If you re-seed then Divisions mean nothing. 40 years don't count they had it all wrong. C'mon. We could then start a season much like the NCAA basketball tournement. Everyone is in at the start of the season. So everyone has a 'fair chance'. Nothing is broke, if one says it is broke that means for the past That doesn't make any sense. I already said that the division winner should make the playoffs. So Tampa still would not have made it this year. If it was you win your division or shut up then you wouldn't have wild card teams. You would have 4 teams and 4 teams only. All I said is that they should reseat before the first playoff game. There should be no extra benefit of winning your division beside making the playoffs. If the NFL wants every game to be competitive, and if they want teams to play every week- well this is one way to accomplish this.
	Your team stinks

01-03-2011, 07:49 AM	#1
TheOak 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cypress Tx. Posts: 19,055	Winning a division does get you something. Banner and different T-Shirts, that plus a guaranteed playoff spot is all it needs to mean. In my honest opinion, best record or best conference record should host period. This will also add meaning to some of the late season games. As tight as things are for playoff spots and 1 and 2 seeds getting bye weeks, at least make them play their last games with meaning. Division champs only means you played well in 6 games against 3 teams. That does not mean you earned anything outside of your division

01-03-2011, 08:46 AM	#2
exile Cake or Death? Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,608	I understand the argument but the reason that conference record doesn't mean beans compared to division is because all the teams in a conference cannot possibly play all of the other teams in a conference. Then we would be having the "yeah they had a good record but look who they played" conversation. Let's please never ever ever ever bring "strength of schedule" in the mix.
exile Cake or Death? Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,608

01-03-2011, 08:52 AM	#3
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	It is fine the way it is. If it isn't broke don't fix it. I haven't been convinced that there is anything wrong with the system. Everything isn't perfect and any changes made someone isn't going to be happy. I could careless who hosts a damn Wild-Card Game. Win the Division, finish with the best record you host through-out the playoffs. Anything short of that it just doesn't matter. Flip a coin for all I care. The most important thing is that we make the play-offs.

01-03-2011, 09:49 AM	#4
spkb25 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 13,145	Originally Posted by Euphoria It is fine the way it is. If it isn't broke don't fix it. I haven't been convinced that there is anything wrong with the system. Everything isn't perfect and any changes made someone isn't going to be happy. I could careless who hosts a damn Wild-Card Game. Win the Division, finish with the best record you host through-out the playoffs. Anything short of that it just doesn't matter. Flip a coin for all I care. The most important thing is that we make the play-offs. It is broke

01-03-2011, 09:29 AM	#5
arsaint Saint Historian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: deep in the bowels of a hidden bunker, somewhere under the brick & steel of a nondescript building.. Posts: 2,744	As I said in another thread, if it were me... Top 2 seeds (based on records and tiebreakers, not on division winners) get byes. Other 4 seeded by record, but keep the division winners in the playoffs no matter their record is. Also use head-head on teams tied (ie Philly - GB) instead of seeding the division winner higher... For this year it would be: #1 Falcons 13-3 #2 Saints 11-5 (9-3 in NFC) #3 Bears 11-5 (8-4 in NFC) #4 Packers 10-6 (beat Eagles) #5 Eagles 10-6 #6 NFC West winner

01-03-2011, 09:56 AM	#6
spkb25 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 13,145	Originally Posted by arsaint As I said in another thread, if it were me... Top 2 seeds (based on records and tiebreakers, not on division winners) get byes. Other 4 seeded by record, but keep the division winners in the playoffs no matter their record is. Also use head-head on teams tied (ie Philly - GB) instead of seeding the division winner higher... For this year it would be: #1 Falcons 13-3 #2 Saints 11-5 (9-3 in NFC) #3 Bears 11-5 (8-4 in NFC) #4 Packers 10-6 (beat Eagles) #5 Eagles 10-6 #6 NFC West winner I agree- division winners should make playoffs. if not then you ruin the importance of the divisions, but they should reseat

01-05-2011, 06:02 PM	#8
skymike E. Side Cholo Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Barrio, H-town Posts: 6,089	Noog, what in the hell is that thing?