Proposal: No Divisions
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I like the division set up as is.
Division winners should go into the playoffs, regardless of record.
Whether they should get home-field over a WC with a better record is the question...
I'm in a rut too, I don't like changing out of a division format. The NFL is obviously unique, as the 16 game schedule makes every game mean something. 3/8 of the schedule is in the division and heightens the importance. To me, games against Tennessee, Jacksonville, Miami for example just don't have any appeal, probably never will.
NBA, NHL, MLB have so many games that it does make some sense to eliminate divisions.
Nothing is ever going to be perfect- not even your suggestion Gip. I'm with Tour- if you have a losing record- you can never host a playoff game. Then again what happens if two division winners have losing records, and have to play each other in the playoffs?
I'm all for realigning the divisions- or conferences. That's certain to happen anyway assuming the market meisters have their way and relocate a team (or two) to La-La land. Kick the Ravens over to the AFC East- where they belong and add Indy or Buffalo. KC and Oakland have nothing in common geographically- other than a long standing fan hatred. Ditto the Cowboys and Redskins- blame Jerry Jones for that one.
LOL you could create a "Central division" with the Rams, Chiefs, Colts, and Cowboys. Jerrah might be old enough to remember the 'Pokes used to have a rivalry with the Chiefs.
Young 'Uns don't remember that the Browns and Giants used to have a long standing rivalry- that's so far in the past, I can't see it anymore.
I'm all for realigning the divisions- or conferences. That's certain to happen anyway assuming the market meisters have their way and relocate a team (or two) to La-La land. Kick the Ravens over to the AFC East- where they belong and add Indy or Buffalo. KC and Oakland have nothing in common geographically- other than a long standing fan hatred. Ditto the Cowboys and Redskins- blame Jerry Jones for that one.
LOL you could create a "Central division" with the Rams, Chiefs, Colts, and Cowboys. Jerrah might be old enough to remember the 'Pokes used to have a rivalry with the Chiefs.
Young 'Uns don't remember that the Browns and Giants used to have a long standing rivalry- that's so far in the past, I can't see it anymore.
It would be great if the Ratbirds were ousted out of the AFC North, but I bet the powers-that-be would site the Steelers/Ratbirds rivalry as a keeper, like Wash/Dallas.
The point of divisions is to reward a team for finishing on top. That shouldn't be mesed with- we Browns fans remember an 8-8 team winning the Central in 1985, only to blow a huge lead in Miami in the playoffs. Sorry Gipper, that's my opinion. Change for the sake of change is dumb IMHO. I also think the Broncos lost out on a playoff birth in the 80s and went 11-5; aberrations happen from time to time.
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I'm all for realigning the divisions- or conferences. That's certain to happen anyway assuming the market meisters have their way and relocate a team (or two) to La-La land. Kick the Ravens over to the AFC East- where they belong and add Indy or Buffalo. KC and Oakland have nothing in common geographically- other than a long standing fan hatred. Ditto the Cowboys and Redskins- blame Jerry Jones for that one.
LOL you could create a "Central division" with the Rams, Chiefs, Colts, and Cowboys. Jerrah might be old enough to remember the 'Pokes used to have a rivalry with the Chiefs.
Young 'Uns don't remember that the Browns and Giants used to have a long standing rivalry- that's so far in the past, I can't see it anymore.
It would be great if the Ratbirds were ousted out of the AFC North, but I bet the powers-that-be would site the Steelers/Ratbirds rivalry as a keeper, like Wash/Dallas.
The point of divisions is to reward a team for finishing on top. That shouldn't be mesed with- we Browns fans remember an 8-8 team winning the Central in 1985, only to blow a huge lead in Miami in the playoffs. Sorry Gipper, that's my opinion. Change for the sake of change is dumb IMHO. I also think the Broncos lost out on a playoff birth in the 80s and went 11-5; aberrations happen from time to time.
It would be great if the Ratbirds were ousted out of the AFC North, but I bet the powers-that-be would site the Steelers/Ratbirds rivalry as a keeper, like Wash/Dallas.
The point of divisions is to reward a team for finishing on top. That shouldn't be mesed with- we Browns fans remember an 8-8 team winning the Central in 1985, only to blow a huge lead in Miami in the playoffs. Sorry Gipper, that's my opinion. Change for the sake of change is dumb IMHO. I also think the Broncos lost out on a playoff birth in the 80s and went 11-5; aberrations happen from time to time.
I listed all the teams with lesser records getting in over teams with better records above.
But, yes, as a general rule I prefer this divisional setup.
But...the trend is for this to happen just about every year.....so it is not so much of an aberration any more...and if the trend continues....and teams with bad records continue to get in the playoffs over teams with better records....the NFL may do something about it.
Like I said, my proposal was just for shits and giggles......but NFL owners that put their money into teams and coaches and players who see their team getting squadoosh in terms of playoff appearances when they go 10-6 or 11-5 where 7-9 or 8-8 teams are making it on a regular basis....THEY are the ones that might want to rock the boat and change the system.
Imagine what the cry would be when a team from NYC stays home with a 10-6 record and a team from the flyover territory makes it at 7-9. The media there will go crazy. (if it happened the other way around....not so much)
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I know you kept the current conferences. I'm just wondering why since we could have this exact same issue. If you're going to scrap divisions, you might as well scrap the whole thing.
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I know you kept the current conferences. I'm just wondering why since we could have this exact same issue. If you're going to scrap divisions, you might as well scrap the whole thing.
I know you kept the current conferences. I'm just wondering why since we could have this exact same issue. If you're going to scrap divisions, you might as well scrap the whole thing.
Because you have to have some method of who plays in the Super Bowl.....though, perhaps you are right....lets look at that:
We could just have a 12 team, 1-12 seeded playoff.
Honestly, that would not be so bad. It is what the NCAA FCS, D-II and D-III do it.
How could this have perhaps worked last year:
Top 4 teams would get byes....so
Pats 12-4
Cowboys 12-4
Packers 12-4
Seahawks 12-4
Broncos 12-4
would vie for who gets the byes....some tie breaker system not based on Div/Conf record would have to be devised.
For argument sakes, lets put Denver as the loser of that discussion
Thus: Broncos plus 3 of these 4:
Steelers 11-5
Colts 11-5
Lions 11-5
Cardinals 11-5
would get home field for the first game against these:
Bengals 10-5-1
Ravens 10-6
Eagles 10-6.
And here is a random seed/game matchup:
#1 Pats/#2 Seahawks/#3 Packers/#4 Cowboys get byes
#5 Broncos vs.#12 Eagles
#6 Colts vs. #11 Ravens
#7 Steelers vs. #10 Bengals
#8 Lions vs. #9 Cardinals
And play it off that way...higher seed vs. lower seed on through.
Of course the questions remain: how to schedule properly. How to determine tie breakers for seeding and to determine who gets in?
From last year's results...All teams with double digit wins would make it above. Eagles get in.....Panthers with losing record is out.
No one with an equal record as another team would have been shut out.
I don't think we want to rely on "polling" or a Committee to determine seeding and inclusion the way the NCAA does it. That is the good thing about the current system....there are objective tie breakers.
And we don't want to go by "points" by any means. Could you imagine the fights/hard feelings that would happen if NFL teams tried to run up the score.
But, Yes....this could work interestingly if that scheduling/seeding issue could be addressed.
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