I have held this opinion since the Seahawks made the playoffs with a 7-9 record back in 2010.
An 8-8 record should be a requirement for playoff eligibility. If a division champion does not have an 8-8 record a third wildcard spot should be opened. In 2010 that would have been the NY Giants.
There is still time for the Saints or Falcons to get to 8-8.
Thoughts?
Not a bad thought but didn’t Seattle beat New Orleans that year in the first game of the playoffs?
Though 7-9 feels much better than 6-10 which could be a possibility. The playoffs should just be the top 6 teams from each conference.
I don’t think divisions can go away. Division rivalries are way too important and they would have less significance if they were to go away.
I think the best teams should be in the playoffs. A 10-6 or 9-7 team sitting at home while a sub .500 team gets in just because they won their division is BS. If a division winner is 7-9, tough. The division just wasn’t good enough.
While on subject of rivalries and divisions, I have long held the belief that the NFL should operate like British soccer: you have to win to stay in. Bottom 3 teams dropped each year, top 3 from next level down get promoted. The age of NFL parity would disappear. With current 32 teams, you could run league with u20 of current and develop a “minor league” to play for promotion, also 20 teams, only need to develop 8 franchises, plenty if players that want to play
Two problems there, both money related. Billion dollar stadiums and the fact that the NFL operates as a socialist non-profit where profitable teams support less profitable teams for the better good of all involved. Owners are truly more like franchisees.
Nobody sucks forever. Many of the top teams of today were garbage in recent decades, and vice versa.
Edit - the NFL itself is a non-profit, teams are very much for profit.
Oh, I know it will never happen. They don’t have playoffs either, or a championship match! But in this format, I think my Clowns, I mean Browns, would have to put up or shut up. I think it’s an awesome format, but I don’t Own a team or a stadium. The best team over a season wins the championship, not the hot team, or the team that pulls a miracle in an away wild card game against defending champ, just the best overall team. The winner is almost never a fluke, they dominate, and there is really no question who is the best. The teams at the bottom play their hearts out to survive, instead of tanking for draft picks, etc. I know it will never happen, but I can dream, right? I guess not really if the NFL has anything to say about it…
Another thought is “do we need every MLB team to play 162 games plus playoffs to figure out which is the best team?” C’mon, it’s simply a money maker, not a game for entertainment purposes. Sorry to defame NFL and MLB is same thread, but more is not always better. 162, really?
I guess we can all be glad it’s not half the teams in the playoffs like the NBA and NHL.
I agree and I am a huge hockey fan. Same boat as MLB, don’t really need 82 games in hockey or basketball, but it makes money. I like the season schedule of the NFL, and the divisional rivalries. Everyone else in US is chasing the success of NFL, and really don’t come close. I love the drama of Stanley Cup playoffs, but 4 rounds of best of 7, where 7 games fill the tv bank accounts, is a heck of a lotta playoffs. At least in hockey, more than the last 5 minutes of the game matter(NBA) there I go again, NBA, NFL, MLB, and my beloved NHL all called out. Getting back to original post: as I said above, no playoffs in British Premier League soccer, you’re the best or you’re not. No make up, one bads, and no extended playoffs to wear teams down. He who puts the best performing team on the field all season longs gets the glory. So I agree that 7&9 teams should not be in the playoffs when a 10&6 team does not make it( this happened to my Brownies in the last 6/8 years, not sure when, but I was pissed!