Time to change playoffs

[Sgt Schultz]

22 minutes ago, Happy Panther said:

The problem with the NFL is there are very few common games outside of a division. So it is difficult to say definitively that the Seahawks are better than the Cowboys because they have almost no common opponents.

The NFL's schedule ensures that the record can be used as a neutral barometer to judge teams within a division.  I think they have 12 games against common opponents and 2 against each other, leaving only 2 that are not common, and based on how they finished the year before.  Once you get outside of the division, that commonality goes out the window. 

So, the debate is between people judging teams based solely on their record vs. a formula that accounts for strength of schedule and tries to balance that out.  With a 16 (or even 18) game schedule, it is hard to come up with a formula that balances the strength of schedule among 16 teams in a conference.  It could be done, but divisions would have to be completely out the window.  Otherwise, you can see what the NFL thinks just by looking at the tiebreaking procedures. 

IMO, the playoffs and scheduling are the one thing Goodell and the competition committee have not managed to screw up yet.  Why do we want to give them the chance?  Even something like maintaining the current format but changing the way the home team is determined (by record rather than seed) just invites them to do something incredibly stupid.  And we know from experience, they don't need an invitation.

[Sgt Schultz]

4 minutes ago, thefuzz said:

Tom Brady and Bill have won a total of 4 road playoff games over their careers together, and I don't think have ever won a title when going on the road except for last season.

They struggle when they have to play away from home in the playoffs.

They beat the Steelers in the AFCC in Pittsburgh in 2001 and 2004.  Three of their four road playoff wins (I think they are 4-4) are in AFCC games.

Denver was their kryptonite, just as they were the Steelers kryptonite back then.

[joeyxfresco]

It’s perfectly fine the way it is. 

[thefuzz]

2 minutes ago, Sgt Schultz said:

They beat the Steelers in the AFCC in Pittsburgh in 2001 and 2004.  Three of their four road playoff wins (I think they are 4-4) are in AFCC games.

Denver was their kryptonite, just as they were the Steelers kryptonite back then.

You are correct, my bad, didn't remember those two marches for them.

Whew that was a long time ago....

[Sgt Schultz]

Just now, thefuzz said:

You are correct, my bad, didn't remember those two marches for them.

Whew that was a long time ago....

Loooong ago.  I feel old remembering watching them!  They were really in the Steelers' heads in those days.

[thefuzz]

1 minute ago, joeyxfresco said:

It’s perfectly fine the way it is. 

I don't like the idea of the 7-8-1 Panthers hosting a playoff game, nor the fact that the Chargers had to go to Foxboro last season because the Pats beat the Jets, Bills, and Dolphins twice each.

[thefuzz]

Just now, Sgt Schultz said:

Loooong ago.  I feel old remembering watching them!  They were really in the Steelers' heads in those days.

I think it was more of a Sean Payton vs. Ron Rivera thing.

Cowher was the hard nosed, pound it down your throat, rah rah guy......Bill was just really smart.

I'll take smarter, not harder, every time.

[Sgt Schultz]

Just now, thefuzz said:

I think it was more of a Sean Payton vs. Ron Rivera thing.

Cowher was the hard nosed, pound it down your throat, rah rah guy......Bill was just really smart.

I'll take smarter, not harder, every time.

I agree with that assessment.  It shows the advantage of having a coach who looks at film (legally obtained or not!) and game plans for that specific opponent that specific week.  As opposed to "here we go again, guys.  Same game plan, game is at 4pm this week, see you then.  I think our opponents are the Saints this week.  Somebody check that for me."

[thefuzz]

Just now, Sgt Schultz said:

I agree with that assessment.  It shows the advantage of having a coach who looks at film (legally obtained or not!) and game plans for that specific opponent that specific week.  As opposed to "here we go again, guys.  Same game plan, game is at 4pm this week, see you then.  I think our opponents are the Saints this week.  Somebody check that for me."

This is how I have felt about the Rivera coached teams for some time now.

We are going to do it "OUR WAY" weather it works or not.....

[mc52beast]

If I’m Pete Carroll I’m not worried about going to Philly in the playoffs. They should beat them easily, if they don’t it’s not because they played in Philly.

[Mr. Scot]

Saw a recent comment from an NFL insider saying that despite how the NFC East looks, tthere's "no steam" for any changes to the playoff system.

[jumpman910]

It's happened plenty of times over the years and will never change.

It helps the NFL from the parity perspective and it keeps those fanbases still engaged. 

Honestly, everyone knows the rules. IF the panthers would ever go 11-5 and miss the playoffs because of it, so be it. They should've won the division

[jumpman910]

32 minutes ago, mc52beast said:

If I’m Pete Carroll I’m not worried about going to Philly in the playoffs. They should beat them easily, if they don’t it’s not because they played in Philly.

This is how I feel. If you lose to a team on the road your supposed to be better than, then oh well.

But anyone could lose if it snows during January in Philly. But that's one of those competitive advantages in sports that you gotta deal with. 

[Peon Awesome]

I wouldn't get rid of the division winners being guaranteed a playoff spot but reseeding based on record is a reasonable proposal. But even that could be exposed in certain situations. Let's imagine the following scenario:

Team A: Plays in a division with 4 equally tough teams that beat up on each other. Won the division last year so has to play the division winners from the rest of the teams in their conference. Is matched up with the toughest division in the other conference. End up with the hardest strength of schedule. Finishes 8-8 ( other 3 teams finish 8-8, 7-9, 7-9 and they advance on tiebreakers).

Team B: Plays in a division with 1 superior team plus the 2 worst teams in the NFL. Finished last year in 4th place so they play the 4th placed teams from the rest of the divisions. Everyone in their division is scheduled to play the worst division in the other conference. End up with the easiest strength of schedule in the league. They finish second with a 9-7 record (remainder of the division is 10-6, 1-15 and 0-16).

Obviously I picked the extremes to illustrate a point but it doesn't have to even be that bad to think team A is getting screwed a bit if they seed by record only.