Fear the Turtle Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 I started crunching the numbers for the Bills playoff hopes the rest of the season, and suddenly my head started to hurt. So then I took a peak at the NFL standings for the last umpteen years, and realized that it is difficult, nay, nearly impossible, to find a 10-6 team in either conference who failed to make the playoffs. If memory serves, it has indeed happened, and perhaps my number-crunching headache prevented me from seeing it, but I ask someone to show me the team(s) that have failed to make it with a 10-6 record. http://ww2.nfl.com/history/standings/1993.html Yes, I'm aware the AFC is disproportionately better than the NFC this year. And yes, I understand that this year may in fact be an aberration with perhaps an 8-8 team squeaking in over in the NFC, and a 10-6 team missing it in the AFC. Still, part of me wonders if things will equal out somewhat the rest of the way, at least enough so that this year's playoff participants don't buck the trend of recent history. If that's the case, and our Bills can somehow pull out the next four games, then we could indeed see them in the postseason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34-78-83 Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 Fins, last year..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fear the Turtle Posted December 6, 2004 Author Share Posted December 6, 2004 Fins, last year..... 147578[/snapback] so just the one team then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jester43 Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 i think there was one other team in history before the fish...maybe two. problem is, you will see it more often now that they went to that idiotic 8 division set-up with only 2 wildcards...that said, i am banking on history and the odds being on our side also...if we can somehow win out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 Yeah, history really is thrown out the window with the new alignment. You'll start seeing a lot of 10-6 teams missing the playoffs in the future. 11-5 is the new 10-6. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34-78-83 Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 49ers, in I think the mid to late eighties... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmac17 Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 11-5 is the new 10-6. yup, and white is the new black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 The list of 10-6 teams that didn't make the playoffs, since the league went to 6 playoff teams per conference: Miami, 2003 San Fran, 1991 From 1978-1989, there were only 5 playoff teams in each conference: Green Bay and Washington, 1989 NY Giants and New Orleans, 1988 Seattle and Cincinnati, 1986 Washington, 1985 Denver, 1981 New England, 1980 Washington, 1979 That takes us back to the beginning of the 16-game season in 1978. Something not pointed out yet: all the teams listed (with the exception of Miami 2003) played in a 28-team league. Four more teams = more games played leaguewide, fewer common opponents, and a better chance for more teams to have good records. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvermike Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 Also, teams don't come back from being down 3-0 in a baseball playoff, historically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fear the Turtle Posted December 6, 2004 Author Share Posted December 6, 2004 The list of 10-6 teams that didn't make the playoffs, since the league went to 6 playoff teams per conference:Miami, 2003 San Fran, 1991 From 1978-1989, there were only 5 playoff teams in each conference: Green Bay and Washington, 1989 NY Giants and New Orleans, 1988 Seattle and Cincinnati, 1986 Washington, 1985 Denver, 1981 New England, 1980 Washington, 1979 That takes us back to the beginning of the 16-game season in 1978. Something not pointed out yet: all the teams listed (with the exception of Miami 2003) played in a 28-team league. Four more teams = more games played leaguewide, fewer common opponents, and a better chance for more teams to have good records. 147635[/snapback] Great, thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 The problem this year is the inordinate disparity between the AFC and NFC. There could be a playoff team in the NFC that has a sub .500 record, while 10-6 may not be good enough in the AFC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 The problem this year is the inordinate disparity between the AFC and NFC. There could be a playoff team in the NFC that has a sub .500 record, while 10-6 may not be good enough in the AFC. 147644[/snapback] It actually wouldn't be the first time that's happened, although there were extenuating circumstances involved - the 4-5 Browns and Lions snuck into the strike-year "tournament" back in 1982. The 1991 Jets, 1990 Saints, and 1985 Browns (Central Division champs) were close - all made it in at 8-8. As mentioned elsewhere, the problem lies in the eight-division setup and concurrent loss of a wild-card slot. If there were still only three divisions in each conference, the 9-3 Falcons would be leading the NFC West. And if the current setup had been in place back in 1989, an 8-8 Colts team would have won the AFC South, while a 10-6 Washington team would still have been left out.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawnboy1977 Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 49ers, in I think the mid to late eighties... 147598[/snapback] Yea a I think it was 2 years after the 49ers won their last super bowl with Montana, they were 10-6 and missed the playoffs. I remember they lost the NFC title game to the giants, then missed the playoffs year after. Hey 10-6 would be a good record for the Bills, and from looking at the schedules of the Jags, Ravens and Broncos, they could all go 9-7. We lost to Balt and Jacksonville, so obviously we need to finish with a better record than them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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