What if the NFL Eliminated the Playoffs?

[broncolee]

What if the NFL added two more teams, one to each conference, giving them 17 teams each?

Each team plays every team in their conference, this would mean eliminating the divisions.

That maintains the 16 game schedule.

If they want to eliminate the preseason games, they can have each team play 4 interconference games making for a 20 game schedule.

The two teams with the best record in their respective conferences play each other in the Super Bowl.

This would make every regular season game important and it would ensure that the best team from each conference play each other in the Super Bowl.

I don't think this would adversely affect the rivalries between certain teams. It might actually enhance the rivalries since each team would only have one chance per year to beat their rivals.

I think the NFL would make a lot of money and create a lot more interest in the game, if they switched to this format. What say the rest of you?

[stnzed]

And be the only major sport that doesn't have a play-off?

I'll pass!

[JWinn]

I think the rivalries would die honestly. Playing a team twice a year every year is what built them. Dropping them to once, along with everyone else, would only kill that.

You eliminate the divisions, you eliminate the rivalries.

And I like having different NFC teams to watch every year. Gives me a chance to see them live. With this idea, I would never see them ever.


I like the playoff system. I wish it was more like the other leagues with a multigame system, but understand why that's impossible. Even a two out of three series for each round, well, we probably wouldnt be to the Championship round yet, and the teams might be down to only backups. Injuries seem to happen more frequently in the playoffs, although I have no evidence at hand to prove that. Just seems that way to me.

I think the NFL as it is, is finally at a place that works really well. A decent balance of teams, all broken up into four team divisions. Mostly placed in like areas.


And at least this year, it seems the two best teams did make it to the Super Bowl.


Although that is certainly debatable, lol.

[squints]

Baseball had something like that. You see that they went to a playoff system. I like having a playoff.

[Ohio Broncos]

This smells similar to the BCS.

No thanks.

[SeeingRed]

I don't like it. I think the playoffs should be longer, if anything. The NFL season is too damn short. That's one of the things that I love, love, love about hockey...82 regular season games, no first round bye for the playoffs, four best of seven rounds to win the Cup.

[Bronco_f1]

No. Playoffs in the NFL are the best playoff system out of the 4 major leagues. (Only march madness would be better when it comes to playoff systems because it has more teams)

[SeeingRed]

No. Playoffs in the NFL are the best playoff system out of the 4 major leagues. (Only march madness would be better when it comes to playoff systems because it has more teams)

Uhhhh no. The NFL has the WORST playoff system of the big four.

[PatsCrowEater]

Uhhhh no. The NFL has the WORST playoff system of the big four.

Based on what???

The NBA has the worst playoff format. I can't stand the 2-3-2 or the fact that it takes two months for the playoffs to conclude.

[WhoDeyBengals]

Based on what???

The NBA has the worst playoff format. I can't stand the 2-3-2 or the fact that it takes two months for the playoffs to conclude.

And when you've got multiple teams with sub-.500 records getting into the playoffs, you know your system is a joke. I mean, aren't there 30 teams in the NBA, and 16 get in? Correct me if I'm wrong, because I don't really follow the NBA.

Yeesh, it's bad.

[Bronco_f1]

Uhhhh no. The NFL has the WORST playoff system of the big four.

No way. I love the NBA, but I hate how long do the playoffs last. Hockey is the same. Baseball has a decent system, but baseball is boring anyway. And having too many games is kinda boring.

[GridironChamp]

So too much is put into "Any Given Sunday" in this scenario, i'll take the playoffs.

[chargerlew]

I like the idea because that would have put San Diego in the Super Bowl this year

But honestly, I've thought about this before too...the playoffs can be flukey sometimes and it doesn't always assure the best team gets to the Super Bowl. I do think there would be something very appealing to having the two teams with the best regular season record from each conference play each other at the end of the season, and having that game's winner be the champion.

Of course, there's this thing called revenue, and I don't think the owners would want to miss out on the chance to extend their season by two or three extra playoff games. Also, it would bring an all-to-abrubt end to the season for many fans who enjoy watching a month of good playoff football.

Each system has it's ups and downs IMO...

[sneakers]

Wouldn't Marty have 5 championships by now?

[Medford Bronco]

What if the NFL added two more teams, one to each conference, giving them 17 teams each?

Each team plays every team in their conference, this would mean eliminating the divisions.

That maintains the 16 game schedule.

If they want to eliminate the preseason games, they can have each team play 4 interconference games making for a 20 game schedule.

The two teams with the best record in their respective conferences play each other in the Super Bowl.

This would make every regular season game important and it would ensure that the best team from each conference play each other in the Super Bowl.

I don't think this would adversely affect the rivalries between certain teams. It might actually enhance the rivalries since each team would only have one chance per year to beat their rivals.

I think the NFL would make a lot of money and create a lot more interest in the game, if they switched to this format. What say the rest of you?

i would rather not go for this scenario.
The playoffs are what make football special