NFL considering expanding playoffs to from 14-16 teams

Benevolent One

Benevolent One

Team Owner
Joined
Jan 1, 2007
Messages
13,871
Points
583
Location
NE Ohio
Reportedly, the NFL is considering expanding playoffs from the current 12 team format to either 14 or 16 teams.

My first thought is that I just don't like the idea. They seem to have pretty much a perfect playoff system right now. If they expand it any more, you could have teams with a .500 record or even losing records make the playoffs. That doesn't make any sense at all. That would be like the NBA or the NHL where it's kinda like "well yeah we suck, but not as bad as some other teams". All of that diminishes the importance of the regular season. It would be kinda like what the "chase" has done to NASCAR.

However, the proposal I heard for a 14 team system seems to have some positives to it. In that system, only the top seed in each conference gets a bye in the first round. That could really make the better teams play harder for the whole season instead of sort of coasting once they get in a top two spot. In addition, like baseball adding a second wild card team last year, several more teams have the excitement of being in the hunt for a playoff spot for longer. So, expanding to 14 might not be the worst idea ever (I think the "chase" is still the leader in that area).
 
I don't like the idea of it at all. I can certainly understand the motive behind the decision but it would be a further watering down of the field of elite teams. Like you said, it is reminiscent of the NASCAR chase.

Look at it this way. My beloved Steelers are blowing chunks this season, yet they are two wins away from being in the playoffs. That's ridiculous. If they win out they'll be a 9-7 team. How can that possibly be considered a playoff worthy team?
 
I like the idea of them taking 2 pre-season games to do this though.Those games are worthless to watch but I agree that this seems to put just about anybody in the playoffs.
 
Stupid move, IMO. Baseball did the same thing, and it wattered down the playoffs. Loke you said, it would just put teams that otherwise have no place into the playoffs.
 
VaDirt said:
Stupid move, IMO. Baseball did the same thing, and it wattered down the playoffs. Loke you said, it would just put teams that otherwise have no place into the playoffs.
Click to expand...

Yep. The only good series in the MLB playoffs was the Orioles/Yankees series even though I hate the Yanks.

This is a horrible idea.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom