NFL Playoff Bracket Pairing Rationale

[ramblinman_rivals165935]

It has been so long since the Bears were in the playoffs, I freely admit to not caring as much about them in previous years as I do this year.

Looking at the brackets, can anyone explain the following?

Each side of the bracket has six seeds. In the first round, 1 and 2 have byes. 3 plays 6, and 4 plays 5. In the second round, the 1 seed plays the previous week's winner of 3 vs. 6, while the 2 seed plays the winner of 4 vs 5.

What is the rationale of pairing the 1 seed in the half of the bracket that contains the 3 seed which, supposedly, should be the favorite over the 6 seed and which, supposedly, is a better team than the 4 seed? As a reward for being #1, wouldn't it make more sense to pair them with the supposed first round favorite that has a worse seed?

 

[UlbKA91]

The #1 plays the lowest remaining/surviving seed, the #2 plays the higher surviving seed. If the #6 seed upsets, then yes #6 will play #1, but if the #3 wins, #3 will play #2. The matchups are not tied to a specific bracket.

 

[ramblinman_rivals165935]

The #1 plays the lowest remaining/surviving seed, the #2 plays the higher surviving seed. If the #6 seed upsets, then yes #6 will play #1, but if the #3 wins, #3 will play #2. The matchups are not tied to a specific bracket.

So you are saying the Bears will play the Rams for sure? Okay, that's what I thought it should be. I was confused by this bracket image I saw on the web:

Now that I look at it more closely, I see they way they set it up is the way you described it. Gotta admit, though, it doesn't look that way at first glance.

 

[Snetsrak61]

So you are saying the Bears will play the Rams for sure? Okay, that's what I thought it should be. I was confused by this bracket image I saw on the web:

Now that I look at it more closely, I see they way they set it up is the way you described it. Gotta admit, though, it doesn't look that way at first glance.

No clean way to show it though since it's not a fixed bracket.

 

[LakeCtyNewt]

The NFL is one of the few leagues that get it right.

Based ok what I “think” will happen this weekend.

Bears vs Rams
Seahawks vs Saints

Chargers vs Chiefs
Texans vs Patriots

 

[Cross Bones]

Hoping the Ravens pull it out.

 

[LTHSALUM76]

The NFL is one of the few leagues that get it right.

Based ok what I “think” will happen this weekend.

Bears vs Rams
Seahawks vs Saints

Chargers vs Chiefs
Texans vs Patriots

In my opinion the NFL doesn't get it right. I have said this in the past several times. The NBA is the only league that gets the playoffs right because they seed 1-8 based on record...period. That is how all leagues should seed. I think it's BS that winning a division automatically not only gets a team in the playoffs but guarantees a home game as well.

I also said in the past that Seattle won their division with a 7-9 record, got into the playoffs and got a home game too. Bullsh*t.

The NFC is close this year in true seeding except Seattle and Dallas should be flip-flopped with Seattle getting the home game because they had the same record but Seattle beat Dallas in week 3 this year giving them the tie-breaker. But since Dallas won their division they get the home game. Bullsh*t.

You look at the AFC and the Chargers really got screwed because of bullsh*t rules. They had the second best record in the AFC but fell all the way to the 5th seed because of bullsh*t rules. Now, they have to go on the road for at least two weeks in a row and most likely three if they continue to win. Total bullsh*t.

The NFL playoffs are a simple case of geographical representation over the best teams playing in the post season. I have never liked the current set up no matter how it affects the Bears. If one team has won more games than they team they face, the team with more wins should be playing at home every time. Tie breakers can come into play when two teams of identical records meet. That is the most fair way to run a playoff system.

 

[LTHSALUM76]

No ramblinman. The Bears won't play LA for sure unless they win.

 

[Corey90]

In my opinion the NFL doesn't get it right. I have said this in the past several times. The NBA is the only league that gets the playoffs right because they seed 1-8 based on record...period. That is how all leagues should seed. I think it's BS that winning a division automatically not only gets a team in the playoffs but guarantees a home game as well.

I also said in the past that Seattle won their division with a 7-9 record, got into the playoffs and got a home game too. Bullsh*t.

The NFC is close this year in true seeding except Seattle and Dallas should be flip-flopped with Seattle getting the home game because they had the same record but Seattle beat Dallas in week 3 this year giving them the tie-breaker. But since Dallas won their division they get the home game. Bullsh*t.

You look at the AFC and the Chargers really got screwed because of bullsh*t rules. They had the second best record in the AFC but fell all the way to the 5th seed because of bullsh*t rules. Now, they have to go on the road for at least two weeks in a row and most likely three if they continue to win. Total bullsh*t.

The NFL playoffs are a simple case of geographical representation over the best teams playing in the post season. I have never liked the current set up no matter how it affects the Bears. If one team has won more games than they team they face, the team with more wins should be playing at home every time. Tie breakers can come into play when two teams of identical records meet. That is the most fair way to run a playoff system.

See LWE should of had home field advantage throughout the playoffs regardless of what transpired in 2004 since they had a chance to make it right 14 years later. Lol

 

[JCHillmen]

In my opinion the NFL doesn't get it right. I have said this in the past several times. The NBA is the only league that gets the playoffs right because they seed 1-8 based on record...period. That is how all leagues should seed. I think it's BS that winning a division automatically not only gets a team in the playoffs but guarantees a home game as well.

I also said in the past that Seattle won their division with a 7-9 record, got into the playoffs and got a home game too. Bullsh*t.

The NFC is close this year in true seeding except Seattle and Dallas should be flip-flopped with Seattle getting the home game because they had the same record but Seattle beat Dallas in week 3 this year giving them the tie-breaker. But since Dallas won their division they get the home game. Bullsh*t.

You look at the AFC and the Chargers really got screwed because of bullsh*t rules. They had the second best record in the AFC but fell all the way to the 5th seed because of bullsh*t rules. Now, they have to go on the road for at least two weeks in a row and most likely three if they continue to win. Total bullsh*t.

The NFL playoffs are a simple case of geographical representation over the best teams playing in the post season. I have never liked the current set up no matter how it affects the Bears. If one team has won more games than they team they face, the team with more wins should be playing at home every time. Tie breakers can come into play when two teams of identical records meet. That is the most fair way to run a playoff system.

I haven't followed in a few years, but just a couple years ago the NBA rules said any division winner was guaranteed a top 4 seed and therefore home court advantage even if they had a lesser record. That change in the last year or two?

Also can't stand that they take 2.5 weeks to play a 7 game series.

 

[anon_4vszfu35bv677]

It has been so long since the Bears were in the playoffs, I freely admit to not caring as much about them in previous years as I do this year.

Looking at the brackets, can anyone explain the following?

Each side of the bracket has six seeds. In the first round, 1 and 2 have byes. 3 plays 6, and 4 plays 5. In the second round, the 1 seed plays the previous week's winner of 3 vs. 6, while the 2 seed plays the winner of 4 vs 5.

What is the rationale of pairing the 1 seed in the half of the bracket that contains the 3 seed which, supposedly, should be the favorite over the 6 seed and which, supposedly, is a better team than the 4 seed? As a reward for being #1, wouldn't it make more sense to pair them with the supposed first round favorite that has a worse seed?

Got to win them all anyway so what the hell...

 

[LTHSALUM76]

I haven't followed in a few years, but just a couple years ago the NBA rules said any division winner was guaranteed a top 4 seed and therefore home court advantage even if they had a lesser record. That change in the last year or two?

Also can't stand that they take 2.5 weeks to play a 7 game series.

If that did change I was unaware of it. But I know at one time, that was how it was done.