Yesterday, NFL comissioner Roger Goodell floated the idea that the NFL competition committee would look at expanding the NFL playoff format to include 14 to 16 teams, instead of the current 12.
When I decided to write this article, I also decided to break down how the current playoff system works, and look at how expanding the playoffs would affect the teams that were left out.
The NFL is composed of two conferences, the NFC and NFC. Those are each composed of four divisions, the North, South, East, and West. There are four teams in each division.
Under the current system with twelve teams, each conference sends 6 teams to the playoffs. The four division winners from each conference automatically get a playoff berth, and the two teams with the best record from the remaining non-division winners get a wild card berth.
AFC
North
Baltimore Ravens 9-4
Pittsburgh Steelers 7-6
Cincinnati Bengals 7-6
Cleveland Browns 5-8
South
Houston Texans 11-2
Indianapolis Colts 9-4
Tennessee Titans 4-9
Jacksonville Jaguars 2-11
East
New England Patriots 10-3
New York Jets 6-7
Buffalo Bills 5-8
Miami Dolphins 5-8
West
Denver Broncos 10-3
San Diego Chargers 5-8
Oakland Raiders 3-10
Kansas City Chiefs 2-11
NFC
North
Green Bay Packers 9-4
Chicago Bears 8-5
Minnesota Vikings 7-6
Detroit Lions 4-9
South
Atlanta Falcons 11-2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-7
New Orleans Saints 5-8
Carolina Panthers 4-9
East
New York Giants 8-5
Washington Redskins 7-6
Dallas Cowboys 7-6
Philadelphia Eagles 4-9
West
San Francisco 49ers 9-3-1
Seattle Seahawks 8-5
St. Louis Rams 6-6-1
Arizona Cardinals 4-9
Right now, the teams in the AFC would be the winners of each conference, and Colts and Steelers would earn a wild card if the season ended today.
Same thing in the NFC, with the Seahawks and Bears getting wild card spots if the season ended today.
Just in the NFC, the Vikings, Redskins, and Cowboys, right now all with winning records, would sit at home. The Bengals would be left out in the AFC.
Gregg Rosenthal at NFL.com doesn't think expanding the playoffs is a good idea, saying:
"Making the NFL playoffs feel like a true accomplishment. Only the best of the best get in, and even with 12 teams, a mediocre squad or two usually makes it through (2010 Seattle Seahawks, anyone?)."
Rosenthal also goes on to state that the main benefit of expanding the playoffs would be increased revenue for the NFL through the television contracts.
Well, Rosenthal also stated the main reason, in my opinion, that playoff expansion would be a good idea, if it's done right.
When we look back to 2010, the Seattle Seahawks did win the NFC West with a 7-9 record, but what Rosenthal doesn't tell you is that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't make the playoffs with a 10-6 record. In fact, the New York Giants also missed the playoffs with a 10-6 record.
I believe the winner of each division should get into the playoffs, and under the current system, that means at times teams with better records sit at home. In 2010, the media made this a big issue, coming to the conclusion that division winners shouldn't get an automatic playoff berth. The six teams with the best records from each conference should get into the playoffs.
Sounds simple, right?
Sure, if we all forget that each team plays six division games, playing each opponent in their division twice each season. The schedule is set up to place more importance on division winners, not losers, ever if the NFC East Giants might have a better record than the NFC West Seahawks. The Seahawks won the games they needed to win in their division, and the Giants didn't in 2010. The Eagles won the NFC East with a record of 10-6, but had the better record in the division.
If we gave just the six teams with the best records from each conference a playoff spot, you'd better bet the scheduling system currently in place would need to change to place less importance on division games. You can also bet that rivalries between teams going back decades would be thrown into the trash.
If the NFL expands the playoffs to fourteen teams, each division winner from each conference and three wild card teams from each conference would get into the playoffs.
Mr. Rosenthal, look at 2010 again, please. That means that teams like the Giants and Buccaneers, each with ten wins, now get in. It doesn't mean that teams with weaker records would get in.
I am sure that would happen from time to time, but more often than not, this would give a team like the 2011 9-7 Titans a shot. The Broncos won their division and got into the playoffs with an 8-8 record, the 9-7 Titans sat at home.
Expanding to sixteen teams would probably let in more teams with poor records, something I am sure the league knows would only hurt fan interest, and have an impact on revenue.
I think expanding to fourteen playoff teams would add to fan interest, and help build the league for years to come. I think those 2010 Giants and Buccaneers fans would agree with me.
Just remember what would have to happen if we took away the automatic playoff berths from the division winners.
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