PFT: Week 16 playoff scenarios - Cowboys can clinch

[townsend]

I would see no reason to have divisions in that case. Let's just have two 16 team conferences with the top 6 going to the playoffs. I'm sure they could come up with some other scheduling.

Division rivalry's a decent draw. Winning a division should be the primary path to playoff success. But 7-9 teams don't deserve the opportunity. Giving away the division crown to another team because no one within that division could grab the brass ring seems appropriate.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I would see no reason to have divisions in that case. Let's just have two 16 team conferences with the top 6 going to the playoffs. I'm sure they could come up with some other scheduling.

You could always do 4 divisions comprised of 8 teams. Give the top team out of each a first round bye. Then split up the remaining spots with the teams with the next best record. It would maintain the whole "win your division" history while basically eliminating the possibility that a sub .500 team makes the playoffs.

 

[Smitty]

Nah, I like keeping it like is.

I like the preserved history of keeping the traditional divisions. Plus mostly speaking, they are geographically close, to cut back on travel.

If you aren't the best team in your division, you don't necessarily deserve to advance. The playoffs should consist of the best teams to come from each division; I'd rather do away with the concept of wildcards than to start ruling out division winners.

Ie, if the Cowboys don't finish ahead of the Eagles in the regular season, they don't get a shot to get to the Super Bowl. That is the privilege afforded a division winner. If you aren't good enough to do that, you aren't good enough to win the Super Bowl anyway, because someone else was better than you over the course of 16 games.

Yes, historically speaking, a couple of wild card teams have won the Super Bowl, but it's hardly more common than a division-winning team with a losing record.

I just don't see how it's some huge problem. If you are ultra concerned that a team who didn't win their division might be able to get on a hot streak and knock off all the other division winners and somehow that should trump the 16 weeks that they weren't the best team in their division, just make the playoffs a 32 team tournament with the last team standing the champ, then everyone gets a shot.

Otherwise there is no point in having divisions.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I like the preserved history of keeping the traditional divisions. Plus mostly speaking, they are geographically close, to cut back on travel.

By that you mean a 12 year history? Prior to that divisions were much different. I don't know if I'd call 12 years "traditional."

To me the playoffs are about getting the best teams competing against the best teams. Not sure what the point of a playoffs system that rewards teams for having a weak division. Basically saying we don't care how good a team is when it comes to the playoffs. We only care how weak the other teams in their division are.

 

[Clay_Allison]

@ anyone who wants a re-do of the playoff system.

Just

It's only a deal because oh noes, the Cowboys are screwed.

Well, you know what, beat the Redskins and this shit is a moot point at this stage, fagmos.

I don't agree. It doesn't matter if the Cowboys got into the playoffs or not. If the Cowboys were 6-9 with a chance to win the division, I wouldn't change sides.

 

[Texas Ace]

Yeah screw any NFL team that can't at least go 12-4, they are all fags.

The Jags went 12-4 a while back and lost in the wild card round.

The qualification process is fine how it is. Only the seeding needs tweaking.

 

[Clay_Allison]

Division rivalry's a decent draw. Winning a division should be the primary path to playoff success. But 7-9 teams don't deserve the opportunity. Giving away the division crown to another team because no one within that division could grab the brass ring seems appropriate.

The NFL is a draw on its own. I'd dissolve the divisions and the conferences if it was up to me.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

The Jags went 12-4 a while back and lost in the wild card round.

The qualification process is fine how it is. Only the seeding needs tweaking.

We will just have to disagree then. I think it's a shame to have a 7-9 team in the playoffs with a 11-5 team sitting at home strictly because everyone in a division blows. I prefer my playoffs to include the 12 best teams in the NFL. Not 11 of the best teams and the 23rd best team. Makes no logical sense.

 

[boozeman]

I don't agree. It doesn't matter if the Cowboys got into the playoffs or not. If the Cowboys were 6-9 with a chance to win the division, I wouldn't change sides.

You likely wouldn't be talking about it at all.

 

[boozeman]

We will just have to disagree then. I think it's a shame to have a 7-9 team in the playoffs with a 11-5 team sitting at home strictly because everyone in a division blows. I prefer my playoffs to include the 12 best teams in the NFL. Not 11 of the best teams and the 23rd best team. Makes no logical sense.

And think of the current system. Is Arizona truly one of the best teams right now? They might have the first-third best record but who the eff thinks they make the Super Bowl with their QB situation?

It cuts both ways.

This idea that the "best teams" make the playoffs eliminates the recent trend where slow starting teams have been able to win titles.

Honestly, I don't see a big issue. This kind of thing happens once a decade and it just seems like a big deal now because it affects the Cowboys.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

And think of the current system. Is Arizona truly one of the best teams right now? They might have the first-third best record but who the eff thinks they make the Super Bowl with their QB situation?

It cuts both ways.

This idea that the "best teams" make the playoffs eliminates the recent trend where slow starting teams have been able to win titles.

Honestly, I don't see a big issue. This kind of thing happens once a decade and it just seems like a big deal now because it affects the Cowboys.

It was a big deal when Seattle did it 4 years ago. It's not a once a decade thing. This has nothing to do with the Cowboys. If it had something to do with the Cowboys we would be talking about changing it before playoffs this year. That's obviously not going to happen. Long term it is an issue though and it will probably come up again in the near future when another shit team is looking to make the playoffs because they play in a shit conference.

 

[Jiggyfly]

Shit happens, this is a fluke not ready to blow up everything because of this.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Shit happens, this is a fluke not ready to blow up everything because of this.

I think there are enough teams and that will feel the same way as Dallas fans. They will feel like there needs to be revisions because a team with an inferior record got in ahead. I wouldn't be surprised at all if it isn't part of the owners agenda in the off season.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Shit happens, this is a fluke not ready to blow up everything because of this.

I'm still not sure why people are talking about this like it never happens. It just happened 4 years ago. It's also why I'm totally against playoff expansion which has been talked about in the past. If you expand the playoffs Dallas makes it far more often but I think it dilutes the playoffs and I hate the idea of it. Just like letting a 7-9 team win a division and make the playoffs.

 

[Jiggyfly]

I'm still not sure why people are talking about this like it never happens. It just happened 4 years ago. It's also why I'm totally against playoff expansion which has been talked about in the past. If you expand the playoffs Dallas makes it far more often but I think it dilutes the playoffs and I hate the idea of it. Just like letting a 7-9 team win a division and make the playoffs.

And before 4 years ago how many times?

This is not a trend its a anomaly, heck its rare for a 8-8 team to win a division.

 

[Jiggyfly]

I think there are enough teams and that will feel the same way as Dallas fans. They will feel like there needs to be revisions because a team with an inferior record got in ahead. I wouldn't be surprised at all if it isn't part of the owners agenda in the off season.

Sour grapes, stuff like this just fuels more attention and talk.

Its totally possible the Saints go 8-8 anyway.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Sour grapes, stuff like this just fuels more attention and talk.

Its totally possible the Saints go 8-8 anyway.

Not sour grapes with me. I am saying what I think will happen.

 

[data]

Just have any team with double digit wins enter the tournament.

If 20 teams end up qualifying, we could have playoff games on Thursday night, three games Sat, and a fourth Sunday game 9am EST in London with Monday night as a buffer.

Goodwill says, 'wassup!!!'

 

[Cowboysrock55]

And before 4 years ago how many times?

This is not a trend its a anomaly, heck its rare for a 8-8 team to win a division.

We have only had this playoff setup for 12 years. Prior to that we had a playoff setup that made it far less likely for a losing team to win a division.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Just have any team with double digit wins enter the tournament.

If 20 teams end up qualifying, we could have playoff games on Thursday night, three games Sat, and a fourth Sunday game 9am EST in London with Monday night as a buffer.

Goodwill says, 'wassup!!!'

Hell why not 32 teams with double digit wins.

Oh wait because that's statistically impossible. Much like 20 teams with double digit wins.