18 game season or 14 team playoffs?

[Sicilian]

I think it's fair to say that the majority of fans are against both of these ideas. But I was curious which of these ideas was more palatable to you guys? If, gun to your head, you HAD to choose one of them, which would it be?

I'm torn on it. A 14 team playoffs format affects the integrity of the game a little bit IMO, watering down the playoffs and potentially causing a poor team to win the Super Bowl if they catch enough luck. While the 18 game season doesn't really change much from that perspective (muddies up the scheduling, but oh well), it seems to A) impact player safety, and B) diminishes slightly what makes Football so special to me: Every game has so much at stake.

So what do you think? Forced to choose, 18 game regular season, or 14 teams in the playoffs?

 

[FrodoBagginz]

If there was a gun to my head and was forced to choose I'd probably pick the 14 teams in the playoffs.

Health and safety of the players should come first before anything else. The 14 teams in the playoffs only adds a few extra games to the season for only 2 teams. The 18 games in a season adds 2 extra games for every team. More players will be injured and the playoff teams will be hugely affected including being more exhausted. This will affect contracts also. The league will definitely have to increase the cap room by quite a bit as well as increase the roster limit because of more injuries.

I don't like either option at all but it seems the 14 teams in the playoffs is the lesser of two evils.

 

[IllegalContact]

things are fine the way they are

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Where's the: It's perfect the way it is option?

As for sticking to the votes, I think more games leads to more injuries and we know all the guys are dinged up after 16 games. The game will have issues with a longer season. Older Vets won't have much left in the tank for post season and that means we'll need more youth (in general). Additionally, that will further dilute the talent and water down the game


Thus, I'd have to say 14 game post season.

 

[oldrover]

Status quo... but we are in all likelihood headed for both.

 

[strngplyr]

They're both awful options.

Why would anyone want nearly half of the league making the playoffs every season? Congratulate teams who weren't good enough last year?

If anything, you'd make the NFL more competitive by removing the 6th seed.

It kind of sucks that eventually everything comes down to money. More playoff teams = more games = more tickets sold = more television revenue

Money is going to ruin the sport as much as Goodell turning it into flag football will.

The only way I'd want more playoff teams is if we found another 4 or so teams to expand the league and make it so we're not sending something like 45% of the NFL into the post season.

And 18 game season is just stupid because teams are limping into the playoffs the way it stands at 16.

 

[Sicilian]

I included the first line of my post because I get it, the majority don't want either. In the interest of discussion I wanted to force people to choose one (or both, but I figured that would be a tiny minority). If I'd placed an option for "Things are fine the way they are", there would be no point to the poll from a discussion standpoint. It would just be a bunch of people patting each other on the back.

 

[strngplyr]

I included the first line of my post because I get it, the majority don't want either. In the interest of discussion I wanted to force people to choose one (or both, but I figured that would be a tiny minority). If I'd placed an option for "Things are fine the way they are", there would be no point to the poll from a discussion standpoint. It would just be a bunch of people patting each other on the back.

Nah, I think we all understand your intent, but your intent won't stop us from being grumpy about it!

However, as seems to be the popular opinion, I'd have to go with 14 teams, even if it's bad for competition (in my opinion), because like everyone else has said, teams are already limping into the playoffs and it doesnt make for the best football in the biggest games watching a bunch of depth players battle it out. You want star vs star under the spotlight.

 

[Sicilian]

Nah, I think we all understand your intent, but your intent won't stop us from being grumpy about it!

I should never be surprised by the dedication of grumps being grumps, and yet I always am I get it though, I'm the same way.

However, as seems to be the popular opinion, I'd have to go with 14 teams, even if it's bad for competition (in my opinion), because like everyone else has said, teams are already limping into the playoffs and it doesnt make for the best football in the biggest games watching a bunch of depth players battle it out. You want star vs star under the spotlight.

I won't be surprised if this is the clear winner too. It seems the NFLPA feels that way too, as they vehemently oppose 18 games but 14 playoff teams is likely to happen. Unless that's because they don't have the same kind of veto rights that they have for the 18 game option? Makes me wonder if the players in general are FOR more teams making the playoffs or against it (more players getting to showcase in the postseason would seem to be a boon for them).

 

[fxkane]

DONT VOTE!!! You should never vote if what you're voting for goes against your position--it depletes what little energy and control we have over our controlled lives.

DONT VOTE

 

[Sicilian]

DONT VOTE!!! You should never vote if what you're voting for goes against your position--it depletes what little energy and control we have over our controlled lives.

DONT VOTE

Well, there's no denying that these proposed changes have driven many fans completely bat****** crazy.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I'm okay with a 14 team playoff, because it makes the 1 seed more valuable - if you want a bye, you have to be top in your conference. I don't want it to happen, since for every 7th seed that 'deserves' to get in (2013 cardinals, 2008 pats), there's a 6 seed that probably doesn't deserve to be there. But at least this proposal actually has some upside, which is more than can be said for most of the rule changes being floated these days.

 

[Ivan]

I vote for watching more hockey.

 

[Ivan]

I'm okay with a 14 team playoff, because it makes the 1 seed more valuable - if you want a bye, you have to be top in your conference. I don't want it to happen, since for every 7th seed that 'deserves' to get in (2013 cardinals, 2008 pats), there's a 6 seed that probably doesn't deserve to be there. But at least this proposal actually has some upside, which is more than can be said for most of the rule changes being floated these days.

The number of undeserving teams that will get in far outstrips the number of deserving teams that will get in. Greedell sucks @ss.

 

[willdeespats]

I like the 18 game scenario if they get rid of the crazy intra-conference scheduling practice that results in all teams in the same division playing different opponents. What makes much more sense with an 18 game sked is for every team in a division to play every team in two of the three other divisions with an annual rotation of divisions. So then scheduling you would play each team in your division twice for 6 games, each team in two of your conference divisions once for 8 games, and each team in one division from the other conference for 4 games. The net result is that the two extra games are conference games.

 

[Deus Irae]

Do you prefer Hemlock or Belladonna?

 

[Sicilian]

Do you prefer Hemlock or Belladonna?

Belladonna please. I get hallucinations, plus it will dilate my pupils which will freak out anyone who finds me.

Wait, how did we get into this again? I'm gonna go lay down.

 

[Deus Irae]

Belladonna please. I get hallucinations, plus it will dilate my pupils which will freak out anyone who finds me.

Wait, how did we get into this again? I'm gonna go lay down.

Nothing wrong with your poll. I just wanted to have a little fun. It was either the poisons or Kobayashi Maru.

 

[oldrover]

The number of undeserving teams that will get in far outstrips the number of deserving teams that will get in. Greedell sucks @ss.

"Come on in, owners! The water's fine! LMAO!!!"

 

[Sicilian]

Nothing wrong with your poll. I just wanted to have a little fun. It was either the poisons or Kobayashi Maru.

Maybe we can find a way to cheat our way into the NFL not adopting either one?