Big Blue Huddle

QuoteDetroit's proposal would be for the four division champions and three wild cards in each conference to make the playoffs. Those seven teams would then be seeded strictly by record, rather than assigning the top seeds to the division winners (which is how it's been done since the merger), with the wild cards to follow. If teams have the same record, being a division champion would be the first tiebreaker—regardless of head-to-head record.


A change in Detroit's proposal from March is for the teams then to be reseeded after the first round. So, in this case, the No. 1 seed would play the lowest-remaining seed in the conference, rather than automatically facing the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup, with the other two remaining teams playing in the other divisional round game.

This has a good chance of passing.  The reason behind the change is not because the Vikings were 14-3 and had to go on the road for their first playoff game.  Rather, the idea is that with this new seeding, teams would be less likely to rest players in the final game or two because they have locked up or at least greatly narrowed their seeding in the playoffs (by virtue of their division champion status).  With the NFL trying to market more games, this was the slide that got them interested:

Quote• In the current system, the Houston Texans went into Week 18 locked into the fourth seed. In the adjusted system, seed Nos. 4, 5, 6 or 7 would've been possibilities at that point.

• The Los Angeles Rams went into Week 18 knowing they'd be Nos. 3 or 4 in the NFC. In the adjusted system, they could've been Nos. 4, 5, 6 or 7.

• The Philadelphia Eagles went into Week 18 set as the No. 2 seed. In the adjusted system, they could've fallen to No. 3 with a loss.

https://www.si.com/nfl/nfl-owners-rules-proposals-playoff-seeding-tush-push

That's an interesting one.  I get their logic but at the same time feel it somewhat diminishes a division title, which has always been each teams primary goal. 

Almost feel like if the record is going to be the determining factor completely, then get rid of divisions and play the 15 other teams in your conference once each and then two from the other conference. 

Quote from: uconnjack8 on May 16, 2025, 01:25:24 PMThat's an interesting one.  I get their logic but at the same time feel it somewhat diminishes a division title, which has always been each teams primary goal. 

Almost feel like if the record is going to be the determining factor completely, then get rid of divisions and play the 15 other teams in your conference once each and then two from the other conference. 

uconn: Another problem with the first part of the proposed change is that it fails to account for divisions that are "extra-weak" or "extra-strong." However, the other half of the proposed rule (don't determine in advance who plays who until the first round is over) makes sense to me. If I had a vote, I'd vote for that part of it.  All in all, though, I believe like Rich that the rule will pass.  Bob

I like it.  The not resting the last week of the season stuff doesn't bother nearly as much as a 14-3 team going on the road to face an 8-9 team because the latter happened to play in a lousy division.  I'm fine with an 8-9 division winner making the playoffs while a 10-7 is out if they need to make the division winner get something but make that team go on the road at least.

Absolutely horrible if I am reading correctly, the value of winning your division will be greatly diminished.

I like it. I think winning a division title and the appropriate rewards is somewhat a relic of the past. And as we know the quality of a division can swing pretty wildly in a pretty short amount of time nowadays.

If I understand this, it is not denying a team that wins its division a playoff spot, just maybe a home game.

Quote from: LennG on May 16, 2025, 03:32:11 PMIf I understand this, it is not denying a team that wins its division a playoff spot, just maybe a home game.

That is correct

Possibly related or maybe not is there has been some smoke about an NFL lottery system.

How is it related?

The NFL wants constant interest in every single game on the schedule. They don't want teams playing backups at the end of the year. Usually when these rule changes come up, right or wrong it's sour grapes. Just imho.

In every sport, your goal is to win the division. Of course everyone wants to be champion. But you start off at winning the pennant, division, league whatever it is in any sport. There should always be a reward for that. There is never going to be a perfect system. Sometimes you get an outlier. Poster above was correct, just make it like basketball and do two divisions and seed them if thats the case. 

Quote from: Crypto Fareez on May 16, 2025, 03:42:52 PMPossibly related or maybe not is there has been some smoke about an NFL lottery system.

How is it related?

The NFL wants constant interest in every single game on the schedule. They don't want teams playing backups at the end of the year. Usually when these rule changes come up, right or wrong it's sour grapes. Just imho.

In every sport, your goal is to win the division. Of course everyone wants to be champion. But you start off at winning the pennant, division, league whatever it is in any sport. There should always be a reward for that. There is never going to be a perfect system. Sometimes you get an outlier. Poster above was correct, just make it like basketball and do two divisions and seed them if thats the case. 

I would have to think Dallas winning the last NBA draft lottery eliminated any idea that the NFL should adopt a lottery system.

My understanding of the proposal is that every Division winner still gets a home game in the first round. The reseeding based on record occurs in the second round

Quote from: Rosehill Jimmy on May 16, 2025, 05:44:01 PMMy understanding of the proposal is that every Division winner still gets a home game in the first round. The reseeding based on record occurs in the second round

No, the rule says the wild card round is seeded by record.  The reward for winning a division now is making the playoffs.  Home playoff game is no longer a guarantee

Quote from: uconnjack8 on May 16, 2025, 06:37:19 PMNo, the rule says the wild card round is seeded by record.  The reward for winning a division now is making the playoffs.  Home playoff game is no longer a guarantee

From the article in the Athletic

"Owners will vote on the Detroit Lions proposal to re-seed playoff teams in the second round based on record rather than strictly awarding homefield advantage to divisional winners...once the second round is reached, the #1 seed would host the lowest remaining seed and the re-seeding would take place.
The proposal would continue to include 4 divisional champions and 3 wild card teams in each conference and allow divisional champions to still host a first round playoff game "

Quote from: Rosehill Jimmy on May 16, 2025, 07:27:38 PMFrom the article in the Athletic

"Owners will vote on the Detroit Lions proposal to re-seed playoff teams in the second round based on record rather than strictly awarding homefield advantage to divisional winners...once the second round is reached, the #1 seed would host the lowest remaining seed and the re-seeding would take place.
The proposal would continue to include 4 divisional champions and 3 wild card teams in each conference and allow divisional champions to still host a first round playoff game "

"Detroit's proposal would be for the four division champions and three wild cards in each conference to make the playoffs. Those seven teams would then be seeded strictly by record, rather than assigning the top seeds to the division winners (which is how it's been done since the merger), with the wild cards to follow. If teams have the same record, being a division champion would be the first tiebreaker—regardless of head-to-head record."

https://www.si.com/nfl/nfl-owners-rules-proposals-playoff-seeding-tush-push

Quote from: Rosehill Jimmy on May 16, 2025, 05:44:01 PMMy understanding of the proposal is that every Division winner still gets a home game in the first round. The reseeding based on record occurs in the second round

I believe the key point is the seeding.  Seeding determines home-field advantage.  The current system seeds division winners higher, despite their record.  The new system would seed based on record only (with division champ being the tie breaker)

The reseeding means the highest seed would always see the remaining team with the worst record (improving the reward of a good record)