OT: NFL considering major changes to playoff seeding

[TheRainMaker]

He’s stating there could be a situation where division winner goes 16-1 and is #1 seed and division runner up goes 15-2 and is the 5 seed. Let’s say other division winners go 13-4, 11-6, 10-7.

#1 seed gets the bye, and say the #5 seed 15-2 team beats the #4 seed 10-7 team. The other division winners win their playoff games.

Under current format, 16-1 top seed then hosts 15-2 #5 seed, and #2 seed 13-4 seed hosts #3 seed 11-6.

Under proposed format, #1 seed 16-1 would now host current #3 seed 11-6, and the wild card #5 seed 15-2 team would host the current #2 seed 13-4 seed.

That’s an extreme scenario, not sure if it’s happened before, but it could happen. The typical re-seeding scenario would involve the #5 seed having a better record than just the #3 seed, not both the #3 seed and #2 seeds. With just the #3 seed being involved, it doesn’t change the home teams. But this rare scenario would change the home team.

What I've read from Breer's article, they are doing this so teams don't take games off anymore. Also, It's seeds 2 through 7 that is based purely on record. The Lions are proposing the playoffs are like the NBA.

 

[Sect140]

He’s stating there could be a situation where division winner goes 16-1 and is #1 seed and division runner up goes 15-2 and is the 5 seed. Let’s say other division winners go 13-4, 11-6, 10-7.

#1 seed gets the bye, and say the #5 seed 15-2 team beats the #4 seed 10-7 team. The other division winners win their playoff games.

Under current format, 16-1 top seed then hosts 15-2 #5 seed, and #2 seed 13-4 seed hosts #3 seed 11-6.

Under proposed format, #1 seed 16-1 would now host current #3 seed 11-6, and the wild card #5 seed 15-2 team would host the current #2 seed 13-4 seed.

That’s an extreme scenario, not sure if it’s happened before, but it could happen. The typical re-seeding scenario would involve the #5 seed having a better record than just the #3 seed, not both the #3 seed and #2 seeds. With just the #3 seed being involved, it doesn’t change the home teams. But this rare scenario would change the home team.

I was confused at first because the NFL reseeds after each round but this explains it for me, thanks. I really think they are way over thinking this.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Not happening.

Lions withdraw proposal to change playoff seeding before vote

 

[ScottishPatriots]

Thank god, they should of never of changed from the old format and added the 7th seed they just added another crappy team who didn't belong as a money grab for an extra game in each conference.

This would of just been more watering down of the product by lessening the importance on the division.

 

[1960Pats]

They'll probably vote to make these changes, we'll get used to them over a span of a few years, some large market team will be on the outside looking in for whatever reason and then they'll tweak the system again, we'll get used to it and the cycle will begin again.

The NFL needs to realize that it doesn't matter how they structure the postseason because someone's going to be pissed every year no matter what.

Every owner/fan base thinks they're special and the league can't function without them.

My problems are mainly the completely lopsided schedules and rewarding teams with "division" titles because they have a better record than only 3 other teams. The best teams and their fans belong in the playoffs.

 

[maust]

 

[1960Pats]

I don't know. Call me old fashioned, but I like division winners being able to host a playoff game. I wouldn't mind the actual matchups being aligned as far as better record goes, but the division winner at least ought to be rewarded with a home game

What if that division winner has an 7-9 record and another team with a 10-6 record (and a win over the 7-9 team) but stayed home because their division had much stronger NYFL teams?

The teams should play as close to the same record as possible and the best records should make the playoffs, no matter what "division" they're in.

 

[1960Pats]

If you are a team that's down, the NFL charted a simple path for you- be the very best in your little neighborhood (division) and you will host a playoff game.

It seems like a big incentive to always invest in team-building and I would hate to see it go away. Even if we were on the short end of the stick. Divisions matter

Maybe we can look forward to having 16 two-team "divisions" and only the division winners will make the playoffs. Records will matter even less.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

What if that division winner has an 7-9 record and another team with a 10-6 record (and a win over the 7-9 team) but stayed home because their division had much stronger NYFL teams?

The teams should play as close to the same record as possible and the best records should make the playoffs, no matter what "division" they're in.

Honestly? Too bad lol. That kinda stuff evens out in the end in my opinion, and it's worth it to make divisional games meaningful when you're in the race for a playoff spot

 

[Huckleberry1]

There is no way a team that wins their division should be left out of the playoffs.

 

[stinkypete]

The playoff seeding problem was a function of the 8 division, 32 team alignment. The math worked, so they went all in. Everyone knew it would cause problems.

The solution will simple if you consider what the league wants: international expansion and/or an 18 game schedule. I suspect that the league is pushing playoff reseeding as a means to slip either or both changes into the fold.

If you expand to a 36 team league, you can realign the divisions back into the East/Central/West format with 6 teams per division. Nobody will complain about the winner of a 6 team division hosting a playoff game, and the likelihood of a below .500 team hosting a game drops substantially.

Now you can re-work the scheduling formula to create balance: 10 division games, one game from each remaining division based on previous year's seeding (for 5 total games), then 3 conference games on a four year, pre-determined rotating schedule that better balances travel. For example, on an A year we play could play Pittsburgh, Houston and Vegas, year B we could play Cleveland, Jacksonville and LA, etc.

The only remaining hurdle would be balancing travel for international road games to ensure that one division per conference does not face excess travel each year.

I am not advocating for this change, only speculating that this is the league owners' vision.

 

[Patsfan1645]

@stinkypete
league owners' vision

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

Pretty soon a rule change requiring the O to let the refs know what kind of play is being run whether running or passing, and letting the D know so they have less concussions due to not being prepared for contact….

 

[TommyD4207]

Pretty soon a rule change requiring the O to let the refs know what kind of play is being run whether running or passing, and letting the D know so they have less concussions due to not being prepared for contact….

This will never happen.
You think they want scoring to go down even more? Scoring's dropped to early 1990s levels. Because every throw's a checkdown, and there's only 1 or 2 LBs on the field, so if you can run block, you win games.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

This will never happen.
You think they want scoring to go down even more? Scoring's dropped to early 1990s levels. Because every throw's a checkdown, and there's only 1 or 2 LBs on the field, so if you can run block, you win games.

lol sarcasm my good man.

 

[Steve102]

I have half of an idea: Madrid, London, Berlin and Dublin get resident expansion teams, thus creating the Euro Division. They play each other for six games, host two stateside teams for a total 8 home games. Each Euro team plays the other 3 Euro teams on the road, they have 6 games stateside on possibly two extended road trips of 3 games each. 8 home and 9 away games = 17 games. What I can't see on my half assed idea is how to align them in a conference.

 

[maust]

I have half of an idea: Madrid, London, Berlin and Dublin get resident expansion teams...

Madrid, London, Berlin and Frankfurt then maybe you might be on to something workable...