NFL Playoffs

Posted: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 by Travis Cody in
20


I've seen some calls for a restructuring of the playoff format. Evidently, some question the fairness of a format that keeps a team with a record of 11-5 out of the playoffs while allowing a team to get in at 8-8.

Well...nuts to that.

While it's regrettable that the 8 teams that make up the AFC and NFC West divisions are so bad that the division winners are 8-8 (San Diego) and 9-7 (Arizona) respectively, it is what it is. You can say that mediocrity has been rewarded and you might be correct. But a division winning team, regardless of its won-loss record, should not be set aside in a favor of some other team with a better record that could not win its division.

This isn't the BCS. We don't decide who gets in the post season by polls. You win your division, you get in the tournament. And then we'll invite some wild card teams. That's your shot...win your division or be one of the two in each conference to qualify as "best of the rest".

So Wild Card Weekend features:


AFC

6 Baltimore (11-5) at 3 Miami (11-5)
5 Indianapolis (12-4) at 4 San Diego (8-8)

Bye: 1 Tennessee (13-3), 2 Pittsburgh (12-4)


NFC


6 Philadelphia (9-6-1) at 3 Minnesota (10-6)
5 Atlanta (11-5) at 4 Arizona (9-7)

Bye: 1 NY Giants (12-3), 2 Carolina (12-4)

20 comments:

  1. Akelamalu says:
    30 December, 2008 01:50

    HI!

  1. Anonymous says:
    30 December, 2008 03:01

    Oh, the TN Titans have a chance? see how much I follow Fooball?

  1. Desert Songbird says:
    30 December, 2008 06:59

    Yes, it is what it is, and the mediocre times will fall at as they should. The Cardinals have played abysmally the past several weeks, and their lack of a running game will out against the Falcons.

    Naturally, I'm more interested in the Colts/Chargers game. *big cheesy grin*

  1. Joely Sue Burkhart says:
    30 December, 2008 08:14

    It was a miserable year for us Raiders and Chiefs fans. Although I thought it was hilarious when San Diego beat Denver and knocked them out of the playoffs!

  1. Ivanhoe says:
    30 December, 2008 08:21

    Yep. It totally sucks that my boys did not get there with 11-5.
    There is always a next year and with a bit of good luck Brady will be back :o)

  1. Jeni says:
    30 December, 2008 09:31

    Happy New Year, Travis! Keep on keeping me somewhat up-to-date on the sports scene. That really does take some doing, but you do give it the old "college try" and for that, I am grateful!
    Peace.

  1. Cinnamon Girl says:
    30 December, 2008 10:53

    You realize that all of your commentary (which I agree with 100% by the way) is completely driven out of my mind by the sight of Atlanta in the playoffs :P

  1. Cherie says:
    30 December, 2008 11:55

    No matter what the system is, there will be some that will be able to capitalize on it. I really would have liked to see the Pats in the playoffs, but like you said, this is the system.

    We could just as easily be talking about mis-matched divisions where the Steelers & the Ravens are in the same division with the Bengals & the Browns. Doesn't that give the Steelers & Ravens an unfair advantage in the stats? At least the western divisions are more evenly competitive.

    Ah ... the playoffs. But I'm happy because my Vikings got in (even if I'm not quite sure they deserved it. lol ;)

  1. Vinny "Bond" Marini says:
    30 December, 2008 12:46

    screw NE...they had a chance and did not get it done...

    GO GIANTS

  1. Charles Gramlich says:
    30 December, 2008 15:09

    Good point. It's also possible that all the teams in the division are pretty good and trade off victories. It happened to some extent with Tampa Bay, Carolina, Atlanta, and the Saints.

  1. Jeff B says:
    30 December, 2008 17:24

    Nice to see a NFL post again. I've missed your weekly commentary of late.

    What no predictions?

  1. Desert Songbird says:
    30 December, 2008 18:15

    And who knew that Teflon eventually wears off? Bu-bye Shanahan!

  1. Cinnamon Girl says:
    30 December, 2008 18:16

    Ouch Desert :P

  1. laughingwolf says:
    31 December, 2008 06:35

    happy new year to you and yours, trav :D

  1. Durward Discussion says:
    31 December, 2008 10:41

    Happy Hogmanay and a full day of football, football, and more football.

  1. Kanani says:
    31 December, 2008 10:44

    I've left you an award on my blog! The Honest Scrap award!! Swing by my blog and read about it.

  1. maryt/theteach says:
    31 December, 2008 16:51

    Travis, Happy New Year and all the best in 2009! If I've said this to you already, Nevermind! :)

  1. Unknown says:
    01 January, 2009 03:07

    Happy New Year Trav!

  1. Unknown says:
    01 January, 2009 03:08

    Happy New Year Trav!

  1. katherine. says:
    02 January, 2009 19:55

    I have no idea who to cheer for...sigh...

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