i am not sure i like the recent changes the nfl made regarding the divisions...i understand something needed to be done because there are now 32 teams, but with parity, i think some modifications are still necessary...that is because if the playoffs started today(i know, we have only finished week 4, but bear with me) the bears, with a .333 win percentage would be in the playoffs by reason of being division champions, while one of 3 teams (eagles, giants, or falcons) with a .750 win percentage, would be at home watching...does anyone think it might be a good idea to get rid of playoff berths based on division and conference, and instead go with a record only system league wide?? in other words, don't have afc & nf playoffs, but instead have the top 12 teams from the regular season seeded according to their records??? it would have a march madness feel and we could still give the top 4 seeds a 1st round bye...
I don't think so. Only because the current schedule allows each team to play each of the other division teams twice a season. In theory, that helps decide who the best team is in each division. As crappy as the NFC North winner will be this year, they're still going to be the best team to come out of the division. That team deserves a shot...even if it's a remote one.
i understand that point, PA, but a team could, in theory, lose every single division game and yet win the division at 10-6...it made sense to have a division winner go to the playoffs when most teams had half of their games against division opponents...you had to win in your division to win the division...but that isn't true with the current arrangment...and besides, it would give us a better chance to see the two best teams in the super bowl...
Hey, I think it sucks, too. I'd be pissed off if I were a 10-6 or 11-5 team playing on the road to an 8-8 or 9-7 division winner, but it's happened. I don't think any system they implement will ever be perfect. The one they have has the potential to be flawed, but I think it works pretty well overall.
i think that if you won your divison with a losing record you should lose your playoff spot, but everything else is good
i like the system too, i mean everyone in that division plays basically the same team, it proves whos the best in the division as PA said. But think about it if they were to take the top 12 teams it wouldnt be as fair, because of the scheduele. The teams that arent in the top 12 will complain because they had a much harder schedule than some of the teams. They wouldnt be able to make it completely fair for all teams. Thats why its a good system now all the teams in the division have just about the same strength of scheduele so no one can complain or have any problems.
Haha exactly, but I don't think that if you have a losing record you lose your playoff spot. If you win the division, you get a playoff spot!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (crazybacon)</div><div class='quotemain'>i am not sure i like the recent changes the nfl made regarding the divisions...i understand something needed to be done because there are now 32 teams, but with parity, i think some modifications are still necessary...that is because if the playoffs started today(i know, we have only finished week 4, but bear with me) the bears, with a .333 win percentage would be in the playoffs by reason of being division champions, while one of 3 teams (eagles, giants, or falcons) with a .750 win percentage, would be at home watching...does anyone think it might be a good idea to get rid of playoff berths based on division and conference, and instead go with a record only system league wide?? in other words, don't have afc & nf playoffs, but instead have the top 12 teams from the regular season seeded according to their records??? it would have a march madness feel and we could still give the top 4 seeds a 1st round bye...</div> No every divsion as it's ups and downs. The North is on the down right now. Just 3 or 4 years ago the Bears were 13-3 and the Packers were 12-4. I think no change is needed to any divsion or playoff picture. NFL has the best and most exciting playoffs. A change would and could only make things worse. Unless they bring in 2 more teams to upgrade to 34 then I don't any change is needed. That probably won't happen though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (porky88)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (crazybacon)</div><div class='quotemain'>i am not sure i like the recent changes the nfl made regarding the divisions...i understand something needed to be done because there are now 32 teams, but with parity, i think some modifications are still necessary...that is because if the playoffs started today(i know, we have only finished week 4, but bear with me) the bears, with a .333 win percentage would be in the playoffs by reason of being division champions, while one of 3 teams (eagles, giants, or falcons) with a .750 win percentage, would be at home watching...does anyone think it might be a good idea to get rid of playoff berths based on division and conference, and instead go with a record only system league wide?? in other words, don't have afc & nf playoffs, but instead have the top 12 teams from the regular season seeded according to their records??? it would have a march madness feel and we could still give the top 4 seeds a 1st round bye...</div> No every divsion as it's ups and downs. The North is on the down right now. Just 3 or 4 years ago the Bears were 13-3 and the Packers were 12-4. I think no change is needed to any divsion or playoff picture. NFL has the best and most exciting playoffs. A change would and could only make things worse. Unless they bring in 2 more teams to upgrade to 34 then I don't any change is needed. That probably won't happen though.</div> Add 8 teams to the league and dont sell them, make them prize in contest
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (kcgsc)</div><div class='quotemain'>I am surprised NFC fans would contemplate this! </div> Well did the AFC ever drop I think it was 13 or 14 consective Super Bowls on the NFC. I don't think so....
it doesn't bother me so much, guys...the top 3 teams from each conference make the playoffs regardless...it just seems odd that the current playoff format is a traditional setup(aside from having wild cards), but most everything else traditional regarding the scheduling is out the window...there is interleague play, a longer season, more games outside the division than inside, a bye week, etc...why give a playoff berth to a team when they have basically stumbled into being the division winner, especially when another team has a better record???
If I was to make a change it wouldn't be to who gets in, it would be to the divisions themselves. When they went to 4 teams per I initially thought that was too small. As a result you have teams like Baltimore getting in with a .500 record. Instead of 8 divisions of 4 teams, I would have 4 divisions of 8. The problem with that is you'd only have 1 game against every opponent in your division(7). With 9 left over unless they decided to increase the regular season.
i like having the top 6 in the conference should get in, i like the divisons where they are at right now
