Division/Wild Card situation for the Patriots

[Redz]

Ravens will win, Jets will lose.  That's tough for the Pats, particulatrly since (1) their season was basically decided by the coin flip at the end of regulation in the second Jets game, and (2) even decimated by injuries, the Pats are better than at least half of the teams that will make the playoffs.

Agreed...Gut feeling for me, as well.  Sometimes, it's just sad at the way playoffs are set up. For example, Denver or San Diego is heading to the playoffs.  Denver won't have more than 9 wins, should they be victorious this week, & San Diego can't top 8... They should give the 6 slots per conference to the top 6 teams overall. Then again, that would defeat the purpose of a divisional title..But, if I had to choose a format, that's how it would go.  It's, in a sense, unfair for a team to come out with potentially end up with 11 wins & still fall short, while there's a possibility a .500 club could get in.

I love the NFL's regular season format and playoff system.  It doesn't always work out that the best teams get in, but you get rewarded for winning your Division, and you should, since those are the teams you compete against twice a year, every year.  The divisional rivalries mean a lot in the NFL, and the Divisonal winners need to be rewarded, even in an off season for a Division.

[PaulPierce34G]

Ravens will win, Jets will lose.  That's tough for the Pats, particulatrly since (1) their season was basically decided by the coin flip at the end of regulation in the second Jets game, and (2) even decimated by injuries, the Pats are better than at least half of the teams that will make the playoffs.

Agreed...Gut feeling for me, as well.  Sometimes, it's just sad at the way playoffs are set up. For example, Denver or San Diego is heading to the playoffs.  Denver won't have more than 9 wins, should they be victorious this week, & San Diego can't top 8... They should give the 6 slots per conference to the top 6 teams overall. Then again, that would defeat the purpose of a divisional title..But, if I had to choose a format, that's how it would go.  It's, in a sense, unfair for a team to come out with potentially end up with 11 wins & still fall short, while there's a possibility a .500 club could get in.

I love the NFL's regular season format and playoff system.  It doesn't always work out that the best teams get in, but you get rewarded for winning your Division, and you should, since those are the teams you compete against twice a year, every year.  The divisional rivalries mean a lot in the NFL, and the Divisonal winners need to be rewarded, even in an off season for a Division.

I definitely see your point. There are pros & cons to everything. The divisional races do give the season that edge, or rather, an incentive for the teams to compete.  It just may be a drag that a potential 11 win team could miss out on the playoffs due to the structure of the playoffs, and an 8 or 9 win team will make it.  Its one of those situations where your best isn't good enough, even if it's better than someone else...Oh well, I guess, such is life.

[Brickowski]

Each conference(NFC and AFC) should have an Eastern divison and a Western divison.  The two division winners make the playoffs, along with the four teams in each divison with the best records.  The divison winners get first round byes.

That would eliminate the injustice that is occurring this year under the present system.

A mediocre team like Arizona should not be able to waltz into the playoffs just because the other teams in the NFC West are completely inept.

[Redz]

Each conference(NFC and AFC) should have an Eastern divison and a Western divison.  The two division winners make the playoffs, along with the four teams in each divison with the best records.  The divison winners get first round byes.

That would eliminate the injustice that is occurring this year under the present system.

That would make scheduling much more difficult however.

[Brickowski]

Each conference(NFC and AFC) should have an Eastern divison and a Western divison.  The two division winners make the playoffs, along with the four teams in each divison with the best records.  The divison winners get first round byes.

That would eliminate the injustice that is occurring this year under the present system.

That would make scheduling much more difficult however.

No it wouldn't.  You just use the current divisional structure to schedule and to preserve traditional rivalries like the Bears/Packers and Cowboys/Redskins. But winning the division would not guarantee a playoff berth.

[Redz]

Each conference(NFC and AFC) should have an Eastern divison and a Western divison.  The two division winners make the playoffs, along with the four teams in each divison with the best records.  The divison winners get first round byes.

That would eliminate the injustice that is occurring this year under the present system.

That would make scheduling much more difficult however.

No it wouldn't.  You just use the current divisional structure to schedule and to preserve traditional rivalries like the Bears/Packers and Cowboys/Redskins. But winning the division would not guarantee a playoff berth.

Right, but so much of the make up of Divisions have been predicated on the evenness of the schedule within them (home & away vs each team).  If you take that away you create an imbalance of schedules within the Division that would lead to an unfair advantage or disadvantage for teams playing for the same prize.

[Brickowski]

Sure, some teams will always have easier schedules.  A 12-4 team that had feasted on weak divisional opponents might make the playoffs by beating out a stronger team with a stronger schedule.

But an 8-8 team that had feasted on weak divisional opponents wouldn't make the playoffs.

In fact, as things stand now, a 6-10 team could make the playoffs by going 6-2 in its division.

[Redz]

Sure, some teams will always have easier schedules.  A 12-4 team that had feasted on weak divisional opponents might make the playoffs by beating out a stronger team with a stronger schedule.

But an 8-8 team that had feasted on weak divisional opponents wouldn't make the playoffs.

In fact, as things stand now, a 6-10 team could make the playoffs by going 6-2 in its division.

I hear your points, I just have a different view of the value of the Division  titles (even in a weak year for that Division).  I like the system.  If you're ina better Division, just play better.