Playoff seedings

clyde21 · Post #1 » by **clyde21** » Thu Nov 27, 2014 8:55 pm

Every year I bring up how the playoff seeding system is a complete sham, and every year I get a bunch of people arguing for it.

So, and this isn't hyperbole, it's completely possible that a 5-11 team makes the playoffs over a 12-4 team this year.

When will people be willing to admit that the system needs to be changed?

NinerSickness · Post #2 » by **NinerSickness** » Thu Nov 27, 2014 9:14 pm

I say team should have to be at least 8-8 to make it in (at the very minimum). I don't have a problem with a 10-6 division winner getting in over an 11-5 wildcard team, but you shouldn't be able to compete for a SB with a losing record.

clyde21 · Post #3 » by **clyde21** » Thu Nov 27, 2014 9:37 pm

NinerSickness wrote:I say team should have to be at least 8-8 to make it in (at the very minimum). I don't have a problem with a 10-6 division winner getting in over an 11-5 wildcard team, but you shouldn't be able to compete for a SB with a losing record.

Even if it's just a one game difference - why are you punishing the 11-5 wildcard team for being in a tougher division?

NinerSickness · Post #4 » by **NinerSickness** » Thu Nov 27, 2014 9:56 pm

clyde21 wrote:
NinerSickness wrote:I say team should have to be at least 8-8 to make it in (at the very minimum). I don't have a problem with a 10-6 division winner getting in over an 11-5 wildcard team, but you shouldn't be able to compete for a SB with a losing record.

Even if it's just a one game difference - why are you punishing the 11-5 wildcard team for being in a tougher division?

I don't consider it a punishment. The division isn't necessarily tougher because it has one really good opponent in it. The other 2 teams could be crap which amounts to 4 easy wins. Or that division may play another crap division that year. A tough division might not necessarily result w/ one team having an excellent record. When those two teams have so many differing teams they play, it's only really fair to compare records within a division not within a conference; all 4 teams in one division have a similar schedule.

That said, a losing team shouldn't make the postseason. 8-8 is even pushing it; it might be better to say 9-7 is the minimum to get a playoff birth. But at the very least it should be 8-8 IMO.

ChrisPozz · Post #5 » by **ChrisPozz** » Thu Nov 27, 2014 11:28 pm

NinerSickness wrote:I say team should have to be at least 8-8 to make it in (at the very minimum). I don't have a problem with a 10-6 division winner getting in over an 11-5 wildcard team, but you shouldn't be able to compete for a SB with a losing record.

I was thinking about this topic the other day and had the exact same thought. I'm not sure if something similar has actually been thrown out by the competition committee in the past or if there'd be a lot of opposition to it if seriously brought up.

I don't like the idea of going just by a team's record as a final solution to settle on but I'm not completely sure yet if there would be any potential flaws if they made the rule saying you at least have to be 8-8 or better than .500 to make the playoffs. I'd be curious to hear if anybody could think of any flaws if they made that tweak to the system.

49rangER · Post #6 » by **49rangER** » Thu Nov 27, 2014 11:37 pm

They should just have the 6 best teams make the playoffs regardless.

How can we honestly declare a super bowl champion if the best teams aren't in the playoffs?

Keep everything the same. This is the big leagues, who cares about strength of schedule in the NFL. This isn't college. The 6 best teams should be in and end of story.

(previously h0ckeysk83r)

Jikkle · Post #7 » by **Jikkle** » Fri Nov 28, 2014 1:10 am

clyde21 wrote:
NinerSickness wrote:I say team should have to be at least 8-8 to make it in (at the very minimum). I don't have a problem with a 10-6 division winner getting in over an 11-5 wildcard team, but you shouldn't be able to compete for a SB with a losing record.

Even if it's just a one game difference - why are you punishing the 11-5 wildcard team for being in a tougher division?

On the flip side it could be the 10-6 division winner that's in a tougher division though.

I mean the NFC West is a prime example in that you have 3 playoff worthy teams and one that can play like a world beater from time to time in the Rams.

Compared to a division where you could have two good teams that feast on two trash teams.

The NFL is never going to get rid of divisions so off the top of my head maybe the best solution is make seeding points based with wins being worth a certain number of points and winning the division nets you bonus points. That way there is still a reward for winning the division but if a division winner is bad enough and a non division team is good enough they could supplant them for a playoff spot.