Football Should the NFL stop giving automatic home games to division winners? - Page 2

Deberg_1990 · 01-09-2012, 12:52 PM

For the record, ive always hated this since they went to from 3 divisions in each conference to 4.

The Broncos' win means for a second consecutive first round of the playoffs, a division champ with four fewer regular-season wins than its wild-card visitor has pulled a shocking upset. It's sure to re-ignite the debate of whether the NFL should grant an automatic home game to any team winning its division, even if its record is far worse than a wild-card team.

Last year, the 11-5 wild-card qualifying Saints were the No. 5 seed in the NFC, making them play at No. 4 NFC West champion Seattle (7-9) in the first round. The Seahawks won 41-36, despite being a 10-point home underdog.

This year it was Pittsburgh's turn to be heavily favored and yet on the short end of the homefield advantage issue. The Steelers went 12-4 in the regular season, but finished as the AFC's No. 5 seed because Baltimore (12-4) won the AFC North via its two-game series sweep of Pittsburgh. Denver went 8-8, lost its final three games in the regular season and still won the AFC West via tiebreakers over Oakland and San Diego (each went 8-8). Thus, the Broncos got the home game in the first round, and the Steelers hit the road.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1izLHMQMn

Amnorix · 01-09-2012, 01:35 PM

I would prefer a straight seeded tournament. That said, there's no overwhelming unfairness in the current system. You can see a situation where, for example, a team is in 2nd in its division with a 12-4 record unfairly gets homefield over a division winner with an 11-5 record.

Why? Because the team with the 11-5 record was in a divison with two other 11-5 teams and an 8-8 team. The 12-4 team had one team that won its division at 13-3, and two teams that were 5-11. It also faced a crappy division in the other conference, so it's schedule was much weaker, blah, blah, blah.

Yeah, not going to get excited about this either way.

**Predarat** · 01-09-2012, 01:46 PM

I would like to see a rule where 8-8 division winners go on the road if there is a wildcard team with 10 or more wins. Also a 7-9 division winner gets sent to the golf course if there is a 9-7 or better team that would miss the playoffs.

**TimeForWasp** · 01-09-2012, 01:46 PM

I don't think any team should get a bye in the playoffs.

Dr. Johnny Fever · 01-09-2012, 01:48 PM

Another no

Dayze · 01-09-2012, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

Win the division, get a home game.

Remove this and winning the division becomes completely pointless. Why even have divisions?

that

**RealSNR** · 01-09-2012, 01:51 PM

Remember in baseball when you either won your division or you got the **** out?

The point of wildcard teams is to give some teams a second chance when they failed to win their division during the regular season. It's proven to be a good model when a team like Green Bay last year just needed some time to get their shit together what with all the injuries and rape they sustained during the regular season.

That does NOT mean the wild card team in entitled to the benefits of a division winner. Don't want to play on the road? Then win your division. Had a bunch of injuries and couldn't make up the games? Then suck it up and beat the so-called "shitty" team on the road.

ClevelandBronco · 01-09-2012, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

Win the division, get a home game.

Remove this and winning the division becomes completely pointless. Why even have divisions?

I guess so an 8-8 team can go to the playoffs at all.

**BigMeatballDave** · 01-09-2012, 01:56 PM

Im fine with it how it is.

Denver won their division and Pitt did not.

Teams with losing records(Seattle)should not qualify for post-season.

**RealSNR** · 01-09-2012, 01:59 PM

Also, 8-8 teams in the playoffs are a whopping 5-9.

That's not great at all, but it's a pretty damn good record for teams that supposedly have no chance.

**Bane** · 01-09-2012, 02:01 PM

**** no.

vailpass · 01-09-2012, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

Remember in baseball when you either won your division or you got the **** out?

The point of wildcard teams is to give some teams a second chance when they failed to win their division during the regular season. It's proven to be a good model when a team like Green Bay last year just needed some time to get their shit together what with all the injuries and rape they sustained during the regular season.

That does NOT mean the wild card team in entitled to the benefits of a division winner. Don't want to play on the road? Then win your division. Had a bunch of injuries and couldn't make up the games? Then suck it up and beat the so-called "shitty" team on the road.

There.

**Renegade** · 01-09-2012, 02:58 PM

I think we should settle this question BCS style. Random teams will play for championships and big payouts. Seems to work for College football.

And no things should not change. Win your division for home field. Don't make the rules different from year to year depending on who is in. Last year we had a home game because we won our division, even though we hosted a team with a better record.

**Rain Man** · 01-09-2012, 03:11 PM

I'm fine with the home field thing. However, I think there should be a rule that division winners get into the playoffs only if there's no team staying home with 2 more wins.

So if you win the division at 8-8 and some other team is 10-6 and misses a playoff spot, they're in as a third wild card and you're out. Same if you're 9-7 and another team is 11-5, and so on.

01-09-2012, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm fine with the home field thing. However, I think there should be a rule that division winners get into the playoffs only if there's no team staying home with 2 more wins.

So if you win the division at 8-8 and some other team is 10-6 and misses a playoff spot, they're in as a third wild card and you're out. Same if you're 9-7 and another team is 11-5, and so on.

I like this idea.

Dayze · 01-09-2012, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm fine with the home field thing. However, I think there should be a rule that division winners get into the playoffs only if there's no team staying home with 2 more wins.

So if you win the division at 8-8 and some other team is 10-6 and misses a playoff spot, they're in as a third wild card and you're out. Same if you're 9-7 and another team is 11-5, and so on.

I don't like this idea at all. / Carl & Clark

01-09-2012, 12:52 PM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $304454	Should the NFL stop giving automatic home games to division winners? For the record, ive always hated this since they went to from 3 divisions in each conference to 4. The Broncos' win means for a second consecutive first round of the playoffs, a division champ with four fewer regular-season wins than its wild-card visitor has pulled a shocking upset. It's sure to re-ignite the debate of whether the NFL should grant an automatic home game to any team winning its division, even if its record is far worse than a wild-card team. Last year, the 11-5 wild-card qualifying Saints were the No. 5 seed in the NFC, making them play at No. 4 NFC West champion Seattle (7-9) in the first round. The Seahawks won 41-36, despite being a 10-point home underdog. This year it was Pittsburgh's turn to be heavily favored and yet on the short end of the homefield advantage issue. The Steelers went 12-4 in the regular season, but finished as the AFC's No. 5 seed because Baltimore (12-4) won the AFC North via its two-game series sweep of Pittsburgh. Denver went 8-8, lost its final three games in the regular season and still won the AFC West via tiebreakers over Oakland and San Diego (each went 8-8). Thus, the Broncos got the home game in the first round, and the Steelers hit the road. Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1izLHMQMn
Posts: 68,435

01-09-2012, 01:35 PM	#16
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	I would prefer a straight seeded tournament. That said, there's no overwhelming unfairness in the current system. You can see a situation where, for example, a team is in 2nd in its division with a 12-4 record unfairly gets homefield over a division winner with an 11-5 record. Why? Because the team with the 11-5 record was in a divison with two other 11-5 teams and an 8-8 team. The 12-4 team had one team that won its division at 13-3, and two teams that were 5-11. It also faced a crappy division in the other conference, so it's schedule was much weaker, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, not going to get excited about this either way. __________________ "I love signature blocks on the Internet. I get to put whatever the hell I want in quotes, pick a pretend author, and bang, it's like he really said it." George Washington
Posts: 43,125

01-09-2012, 01:46 PM	#17
Predarat Run Chiefs fans, run!! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Casino cash: $9963863	I would like to see a rule where 8-8 division winners go on the road if there is a wildcard team with 10 or more wins. Also a 7-9 division winner gets sent to the golf course if there is a 9-7 or better team that would miss the playoffs.
Posts: 10,776

01-09-2012, 01:46 PM	#18
TimeForWasp Sprinkle in some Mahomes Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Butte Montana Casino cash: $7658507	I don't think any team should get a bye in the playoffs. __________________ Posted via Slingshot using Rocks eBay sniper
Posts: 8,271

01-09-2012, 01:48 PM	#19
Dr. Johnny Fever stax of wax Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $10004900	Another no __________________ courtesy of BoneKrusher "Baseball? It's just a game. As simple as a ball and bat, yet as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. It's a sport, a business and sometimes a religion." Ernie Harwell
Posts: 34,865

01-09-2012, 01:56 PM	#23
BigMeatballDave GBM 8-12-15 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Dayton, Oh. Casino cash: $10052154	Im fine with it how it is. Denver won their division and Pitt did not. Teams with losing records(Seattle)should not qualify for post-season.
Posts: 59,997

01-09-2012, 02:01 PM	#25
Bane C.H.I.E.F.S Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: **** your face Casino cash: $10005055	**** no.
Posts: 12,621

01-09-2012, 02:58 PM	#27
Renegade Just Lurking Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ozark Mountain Country Casino cash: $-1772096	I think we should settle this question BCS style. Random teams will play for championships and big payouts. Seems to work for College football. And no things should not change. Win your division for home field. Don't make the rules different from year to year depending on who is in. Last year we had a home game because we won our division, even though we hosted a team with a better record.
Posts: 2,119

01-09-2012, 03:11 PM	#28
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-482449 VARSITY	I'm fine with the home field thing. However, I think there should be a rule that division winners get into the playoffs only if there's no team staying home with 2 more wins. So if you win the division at 8-8 and some other team is 10-6 and misses a playoff spot, they're in as a third wild card and you're out. Same if you're 9-7 and another team is 11-5, and so on. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,278

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