nfl to increase # of wildcard spots in the playoffs

[PhillyB]

i'm not a fan of the idea, but i would be if it helped the panthers

[Anybodyhome]

the way it is now (seeding wise), is the way it should be. If you want to host a home playoff game, win your division. Besides, the 12-4 9ers should be able to take care of an 8-8 team regardless of where they play, if they are in fact the "Better" team. Winning your division needs to count for something. 

 

I know what you're saying, but I also feel like a team with a better record shouldn't have to go on the road (disadvantage) to face a mediocre team at home just because a division stinks.

 

Not paying any attention or caring about any of the teams, SF and NO both had better records, but had to go on the road to face teams with worse records in crummy divisions.

 

Not to mention recent history when the 7-9 Seahawks were hosting a playoff game not that long ago...

[Fox007]

The only way this makes sense or would be good is if they dropped the division rankings and just went with Conference rankings.

 

For example the top 7 teams in the NFC would get into the playoffs regardless of if they won their division or not, and this would put the #1 seeds as the only ones with a bye.

 

They could also drop the cross Conference games and just play all 16 games in conference.

 

 

[davos]

Top two teams get two weeks off?

 

That's a legitimate problem but you could turn it around and have those 2 play-in games on a Tues or Thurs on NFL Network.  That way, the league can make extra $$ off it and it wouldn't be a full 2 weeks.  And it gives the winner less time to gameplan for the WC round.  

[carolina-chuck]

Im guessing only the no.1 team gets the bye then?

 

I dont mind it at all.

 

I like it more than messing up the ranking of the seed bc if you do that it would affect the division play.

[Mother Grabber]

me no likey...half the teams getting into the playoffs?  lame.  It's awesome the way that it is.  So much drama with just two wildcard spots, even down to the last game.  But just like everything else, they will ruin it because more games = more $$$

[g5jamz]

I like it.  Only one team gets a bye and it's still the same number of playoff weeks.  Still adjust due to seedings for week 2.  Also would like to see situations where if divisional winners' record is less than the seed they'd face...they lose home field advantage.  For instance, Colts would've been playing in KC this weekend. 

 

We did this in fantasy football when we had a 14 teamer.  I liked it.  Would mean that we would've had to play whoever the 7th seed would have been this past weekend.  Would've been the Cardinals.

[TheRed]

It's really only a matter of when, not if, in regards to them changing the current playoff format.

[SgtJoo]

Responding to Dan Patrick's suggestion that the league plans to expand from 12 to 14 squads, a league spokesman told NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport on Monday that "no such decision" has been made about adding a wild-card team to each conference.

 

"It would require a vote of the clubs and it has not yet been taken up with them," the spokesman said.

 

Rapoport noted that a vote on the matter might take place at the next owners meeting in March.

 

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said last week that "multiple" adjustments to the playoff system are in play.

 

"Every scenario has been discussed, ranging from reseeding to one extra game, expanding from 12 to 14 teams," McCarthy said. "Think of a scenario, it's been discussed and remains in play."

 

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000309870/article/nfl-says-no-decision-made-on-playoff-expansion

[WarDamnPanthers]

no please!

[Hammerin'Cameron34]

Stupid as fug

[shelbypanther]

Rotten idea.

[b-nukle]

Good idea. Hope they remove a pre-season game since this adds to the season. 

[lightsout]

 

It's a start.  There is no reason a team that finishes 11-5 should miss the playoffs while a team at 9-7 or worse makes the playoffs as a Division winner.

 

If that's your gripe, then I'd rather them realign the divisions to make it where a team with a less than 10 win record won't make it in, but don't add an extra playoff slot so the Cowgirls have a chance at making it in. That's ridiculous.