Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylvanfan
Now I sound like an absolute moron.... 
I don't like the idea of Division winners getting 67% of the playoff berths when only 38% of the schedule is based on Division play. I'm okay with the schedule the way it is, but would rather see the top 6 teams get the playoff berths. Essentiall if a team is in a strong Division they still would have 10 games outside of their Division to prove their mettle.
When the NFL only had 3 Divisions in each conference and half of a teams schedule was based on Division play than it was okay as it was 50% of the playoff teams based on 50% of the schedule. It gave the second place team in any Division a shot at the playoffs or a Division with 3 good teams had a chance to have two Wild Card teams. Now it does seem like there is a chance where a team like the Patriots will be held out of the playoffs due to having a 4th Division. Although this is the first year where it's probably been this much of a discrepancy between a playoff team and non playoff team's record. |
LOL
While I think AZ getting in and another and probably much better, team missing out isn't a "good" thing, I don't want to see the playoff teams changed as a knee jerk result of one year.
Some teams play weaker teams. Some teams play teams on short weeks, and some teams suffer injuries. It happens and over the course of a few seasons I think it will all even out.
But you do have interesting ideas with % of playoff spots vs % of divisional play. But I can't see the NFL wanting more playoff teams. There is talk about expanding the schedule, perhaps that would allow more teams to play more non-divisional opponents and smooth out these issues.