How would you change the format of NFL playoffs?
- Thread starter preacher_dawg
- Start date
Don’t make division winners automatically get a top four seed and host a game. The NFC South is such a schitty division and has been for years. It’s a shame that either the Bucs or Panthers will be either 8-9 or 9-8 and could host a Seahawks team that is 13-4. Seeding should be done based on record. Teams only play six division games out of 17 anyway, so it’s not like it’s a big part of the schedule.
That’s the only thing I would change. Winning your division gets you in and nothing more.
When someone uses 17 in a sentence as an actual number, I get confused. Thanks SixPack.
No re-seeding. The bracket is set and you play who you play.
not sure if that’s the right term but if the 7 seed upsets the 2, they shouldn’t have to go play the 1. They should just play the winner of the 3-6 matchup.
not sure if that’s the right term but if the 7 seed upsets the 2, they shouldn’t have to go play the 1. They should just play the winner of the 3-6 matchup.
I’d do a lot of things differently. Just for starters I would:
1. Eliminate the salary cap
2. Play all of the playoffs, except the 1st round, at neutral sites
3. Award playoff spots by committee instead of by record.
4. Give at least 1 bid to a CFL team, and maybe even 2 bids if the NFC South winner is sub .500.
5. Structure the entire playoff schedule around sunset at the SuperDome on MLK Day.
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35% is a pretty big part of the schedule. Plus if it's the year a team plays a bad conference, that team might have an inflated record. So conference schedule is important.
Play more games with every team eligible for the playoffs. Extend the season by 4 weeks. I don't watch but it will make it more fun for those that do. Have more talking heads hype the games. Bring in wrestlers that will argue for teams and have them rip their suits off and fight for the team of their choice. Have an AI show that breaks games down and recommendations on betting.
Boo. Downvote. This is what the NFL gets right. If you’re the 7-seed, you deserve a tough draw. Really you shouldn’t even be there.
Yeah I agree and also it can go both ways because you could have some really good teams that are wild cards and a reseeding may not be ideal depending on who won.
1. 4 8-team divisions. No AFC-NFC.
2. play everyone in your division. Your division plays 1 of the other 3 on a rotating basis. Play the 2 teams in the divisions you don’t play who finished in the same position you did last
3. 4 division winners are seeded 1-4 based on record
4. 8 wild cards are seeded 5-12 based on record.
5. In each round highest seed hosts lowest remaining seed, 2nd highest hosts 2nd lowest, etc.
2. play everyone in your division. Your division plays 1 of the other 3 on a rotating basis. Play the 2 teams in the divisions you don’t play who finished in the same position you did last
3. 4 division winners are seeded 1-4 based on record
4. 8 wild cards are seeded 5-12 based on record.
5. In each round highest seed hosts lowest remaining seed, 2nd highest hosts 2nd lowest, etc.
Yep, Patriots and Brady benefited from a terrible division over their entire SB run. I think maybe one or two teams won that division once over that time period. Other division foes barely made playoffs during that time. Gave the Patriots almost an automatic seed every year.
If Cowboys win against Giants next week they will be 5-1 in the division and no playoff. This is the first time the same team has won the East in back to back seasons in two decades.
Nothing. It's fine the way it is. There's a reason the NFL is so successful and considered one of the best postseasons in existence.
I don't even mind the divisions the way they are. It evens out over time, and gives hope to more teams.
I don't even mind the divisions the way they are. It evens out over time, and gives hope to more teams.
The way the NFL is set up with 8 4 team divisions in each conference is perfect. Why ruin it?
Because it’s not perfect. You get a lot of very mediocre division winners this way.
I think this is the answer for me too. NBA made that change in the mid 2000’s when the Spurs and Mavs were basically the two best teams in the West but in the same division so one of them was always getting bumped to the 4 seed.
