HOUSE Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Vic Fangio wants to see NFL drop divisions format By Kevin Patra Around the NFL Writer Published: Dec. 12, 2019 at 09:14 a.m. Every few years when a division is won by a team with a less-than-sterling record, eating up a playoff spot while a better team sits at home during the postseason, reconstruction comes to the forefront of the NFL. The year is particularly noteworthy with the TV-magnet NFC East, once the league's crown jewel, cratering like a lump of coal tossed into a pit of sadness. The gloomy division has a current combined record of 17-35. Dallas and Philadelphia sit at 6-7 atop the division. The best either could do is 9-7. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001087008/article/vic-fangio-wants-to-see-nfl-drop-divisions-format 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfanmiami(oh) Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Well if Vic Fangio wants it, who are we to stand in his way. 1 15 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDH Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Yeah, I've had this opinion for a long time. I'd love to get rid of the divisions format as well. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
416BillsFan Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 If Fangio really wanted a change, this would be the year to keep his mouth shut. They would never change as a direct result of an NFCE team getting more TV exposure. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBillies Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 (edited) One fairly small change that might appease some would be to keep the division format, but then seed playoff teams by record. So Dallas (or Philly) would still get in, but would be the 6th seed (and no home game) vs being the 4 seed. Edited December 12, 2019 by BuffaloBillies 11 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcampbell104 Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 im all for it. let the best teams make the playoffs 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDH Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 2 minutes ago, tcampbell104 said: im all for it. let the best teams make the playoffs Get rid of divisions and you could also make it so teams have almost identical schedules. My preference would be play every team in your conference once plus one out of conference game against the team that finished in the same place in the other conference the previous year. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProcessYaDigg Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 6 minutes ago, BuffaloBillies said: One fairly small change that might appease some would be to keep the division format, but then seed playoff teams by record. So Dallas (or Philly) would still get in, but would be the 6th seed (and no home game) vs being the 4 seed. Even with this, a better team in the conference will still be watching instead of playing. If they keep the division format, they should definitely seed based on record. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden*Wheels Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 It's not gonna happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLTbills Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 10 minutes ago, BuffaloBillies said: One fairly small change that might appease some would be to keep the division format, but then seed playoff teams by record. So Dallas (or Philly) would still get in, but would be the 6th seed (and no home game) vs being the 4 seed. Agree with this. Just give the home game to the team with the better record. They can even stay the 4 seed, just give the team with the better record the home game... But if SF or SEA is a wildcard at 12-4, there is no damn reason they should have to fly to Dallas or Philly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobot Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 I would propose that you only get a home game from winning the division if you also reach 9-wins. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProcessYaDigg Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 4 minutes ago, MDH said: Get rid of divisions and you could also make it so teams have almost identical schedules. My preference would be play every team in your conference once plus one out of conference game against the team that finished in the same place in the other conference the previous year. We'll never get away from division format. With this logic, you would be playing the same 15 teams every year and then potentially never playing a team from the other conference or you would rotate a team to play from the other conference every year. Thus playing the same team from the other conference every 16 years. This would just be horrible. I think they should just keep the same format/rotation, however, simply the 6 best teams from each conference gets into the playoffs. You can earn brownie point for being the best in your division, but you shouldn't be allowed to participate in the playoffs if 6 other teams has a better record. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aristocrat Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 bring it up to 7 teams and only the 1 seed gets the bye week. 3 games first weekend each side so you have an extra game to watch the first weekend. solved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bookie Man Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 2 divisions per conference would work the best imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSE Posted December 12, 2019 Author Share Posted December 12, 2019 Free beer would help everyone 4 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDH Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Circlethewagon8404 said: We'll never get away from division format. With this logic, you would be playing the same 15 teams every year and then potentially never playing a team from the other conference or you would rotate a team to play from the other conference every year. Thus playing the same team from the other conference every 16 years. This would just be horrible. I think they should just keep the same format/rotation, however, simply the 6 best teams from each conference gets into the playoffs. You can earn brownie point for being the best in your division, but you shouldn't be allowed to participate in the playoffs if 6 other teams has a better record. Yeah, I don't care that much about not seeing teams from the other conference that much, it doesn't bother me at all. Getting stuck in a division with the greatest dynasty the NFL has seen for 20 years and watching crap teams win other divisions time and time again, that has jaded me to the division format. Obviously life isn’t fair but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to make it as fair as possible particularly when talking about competitions. The current system is crap. Edited December 12, 2019 by MDH 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 There's two wild card spots in each conference. That's so a 12-4 team who finishes in 2nd place in their division will still get into the playoffs. If a team isn't good enough to snag one of the wild card spots, they don't deserve to be in the playoffs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProcessYaDigg Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 4 minutes ago, aristocrat said: bring it up to 7 teams and only the 1 seed gets the bye week. 3 games first weekend each side so you have an extra game to watch the first weekend. solved You know, that could work. It's usually one team that gets screwed over, so why not bring them in and give only one team a bye. 4 minutes ago, NC Book said: 2 divisions per conference would work the best imo. So, I'm assuming that 7 games would be played within the division, how would you do the other 9 games? Alternate each year with playing all 8 teams from another division (including the opposite conference) and then one extra game from another division? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albany,n.y. Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Fangio wins 2 games in a row with a rookie QB & he thinks he's Don Shula. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 30 minutes ago, MDH said: Get rid of divisions and you could also make it so teams have almost identical schedules. My preference would be play every team in your conference once plus one out of conference game against the team that finished in the same place in the other conference the previous year. the NHL did it in the 80s with everyone playing 2 home and away against each other 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Cubed Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 24 minutes ago, Circlethewagon8404 said: We'll never get away from division format. With this logic, you would be playing the same 15 teams every year and then potentially never playing a team from the other conference or you would rotate a team to play from the other conference every year. Thus playing the same team from the other conference every 16 years. This would just be horrible. I think they should just keep the same format/rotation, however, simply the 6 best teams from each conference gets into the playoffs. You can earn brownie point for being the best in your division, but you shouldn't be allowed to participate in the playoffs if 6 other teams has a better record. Why does that matter? Why would it be horrible? Do the Bills have any team in the NFC that are considered rivals? No. If you are saying that top 6 teams make the playoff there is no reason for divisions. What keep it so teams that are located somewhat close geographically in a division that doesn't matter if you win or not to determine if you make the playoffs? I think that would actually be worse and would only benefit teams in easy divisions or hurt teams with more competitive divisions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan in Cleveland Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 100% agree. I hate playing the same teams twice and only getting to play NFC teams every four years. I would still leave the conferences but just take top 6 teams by record. If the format was top 12 teams regardless of conference there would be a huge issue ranking teams 4-10 where they would all be 10-6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 45 minutes ago, aristocrat said: bring it up to 7 teams and only the 1 seed gets the bye week. 3 games first weekend each side so you have an extra game to watch the first weekend. solved Yeah, this is the format Pat Kirwan has been hyping on SiriusXM as well...makes sense. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProcessYaDigg Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 5 minutes ago, Wayne Cubed said: Why does that matter? Why would it be horrible? Do the Bills have any team in the NFC that are considered rivals? No. If you are saying that top 6 teams make the playoff there is no reason for divisions. What keep it so teams that are located somewhat close geographically in a division that doesn't matter if you win or not to determine if you make the playoffs? I think that would actually be worse and would only benefit teams in easy divisions or hurt teams with more competitive divisions. Ok. You've changed my mind. I just liked the idea of playing a division from the other conference each year. But I guess it would make sense to just stick with your own conference and then one out of conference game. In the end, this just needs to be fixed. Years like this one, it's just an embarrassment. No team in the NFC East deserves to make it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan in Cleveland Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 47 minutes ago, Circlethewagon8404 said: We'll never get away from division format. With this logic, you would be playing the same 15 teams every year and then potentially never playing a team from the other conference or you would rotate a team to play from the other conference every year. Thus playing the same team from the other conference every 16 years. This would just be horrible. I think they should just keep the same format/rotation, however, simply the 6 best teams from each conference gets into the playoffs. You can earn brownie point for being the best in your division, but you shouldn't be allowed to participate in the playoffs if 6 other teams has a better record. Agree. Play 8 from AFC and 8 from NFC every year. I would take a game against any NFC opponent over another game against Jets, Dolphins, or Pats. You can assign traditional rivalries if you want. Say 2 rivalry games in conference, 6 other in conference games, and then 8 other games against the opposite conference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterpan Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 The worst part about the current setup is playing each team in your division twice. THATS SO STUPID. it make sense is sports with 80+ games per year, but 16?!?! Go back to east/west divisions, with 8 teams. Play each team in your division once, leaving 9 games to round out the schedule. Play 3 teams from the other 3 divisions. That's 10 AFC games and 6 NFC games per year for an AFC team. It makes way too much sense for the NFL to ever do it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 20 minutes ago, Wayne Cubed said: Why does that matter? Why would it be horrible? Do the Bills have any team in the NFC that are considered rivals? No. The NFL cares about exposure. Currently each AFC team gets each NFC team in their stadium once every six years. This is a good thing for fan interest, I think. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan in Cleveland Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 1 minute ago, Circlethewagon8404 said: Ok. You've changed my mind. I just liked the idea of playing a division from the other conference each year. But I guess it would make sense to just stick with your own conference and then one out of conference game. In the end, this just needs to be fixed. Years like this one, it's just an embarrassment. No team in the NFC East deserves to make it No way. That would mean you would play each NFC opponent every 16 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 1 minute ago, peterpan said: The worst part about the current setup is playing each team in your division twice. THATS SO STUPID It makes perfect sense in a divisional format. You should get a game at home and on the road against teams in your own division when those are the teams you're competing with for a division title. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 2 minutes ago, eball said: It makes perfect sense in a divisional format. You should get a game at home and on the road against teams in your own division when those are the teams you're competing with for a division title. not thrilled that Houston and Tennessee saw each other twice in the last 3 games of the season, a little more balance would be nice in that regard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProcessYaDigg Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Ethan in Portland said: No way. That would mean you would play each NFC opponent every 16 years. I guess I'm just torn on what I want to see. Additionally, I definitely enjoyed that we got to play during Thanksgiving this year. If we were to switch to only playing teams within the conference, well then you can just say good bye to ever playing on Thanksgiving again cuz it won't happen. Unless they switch the tradition a little and just have one NFC Thanksgiving game and one AFC Thanksgiving game. I hate how there's 3 now. Edited December 12, 2019 by Circlethewagon8404 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 I wonder what Vic Fangio's thoughts would be if he was currenty the coach of the Cowboys or the Eagles.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEra Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 20 years too late vic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 7 minutes ago, row_33 said: not thrilled that Houston and Tennessee saw each other twice in the last 3 games of the season, a little more balance would be nice in that regard It's definitely weird, but in one sense it's just as you would want it to be. Your destiny is right there in front of you. Not the Texans and Titans fault the Jags and Colts blew their chances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etsh Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Couple decades too late for Bills fans during the Pats Dynasty 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, HOUSE said: Free beer would help everyone If your team wins its division but has a worse record than a team staying home, you have to take AB. Edited December 12, 2019 by Ridgewaycynic2013 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
May Day 10 Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 I am in the boat where I am kind of sick and tired of the Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets taking up 37.5% of the schedule every season. Its boring. Also, as mentioned. A team like the Patriots are in your Division, it could literally ruin the league for you for decades. Add in cheating and you feel even more helpless. With the Division Title taken almost out of reach, it is extremely difficult to make the playoffs, and impossible to ever host a playoff game. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st pete gogolak Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 This would have been a terrific idea 20 years ago, but we're on the cusp of dominating the AFC East for the next several years (yeah, I went there) so it would be very Billsy if divisions were done away with now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 (edited) 49 minutes ago, eball said: It's definitely weird, but in one sense it's just as you would want it to be. Your destiny is right there in front of you. Not the Texans and Titans fault the Jags and Colts blew their chances. i guess.... as a person completely indifferent to these teams, and seeing both are division contenders ( i don't think one can readily get a WC???? ) this sucks that two top teams missed out on two top opponents until this late... i guess the NFL gets its jollies with this stuff.... Edited December 12, 2019 by row_33 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanC883 Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 2 hours ago, Circlethewagon8404 said: We'll never get away from division format. With this logic, you would be playing the same 15 teams every year and then potentially never playing a team from the other conference or you would rotate a team to play from the other conference every year. Thus playing the same team from the other conference every 16 years. This would just be horrible. I think they should just keep the same format/rotation, however, simply the 6 best teams from each conference gets into the playoffs. You can earn brownie point for being the best in your division, but you shouldn't be allowed to participate in the playoffs if 6 other teams has a better record. I do agree with keeping Divisions, but one problem with ignoring them and going completely on records is what if one team has a garbage division that it dominates, while another division is tough and keeps beating each other. Imagine a situation where one team in the NFC East was actually good this year (yeah, difficult to imagine, but just do it!), that team could be like 15-1. A decent team, but not good team, would be something like 12-4. This could potentially keep out a better Rams team in a harder division out of the Playoffs, when the Rams are the better team. Overall, I like your plan more than the scrap divisions. I have no idea how to solve the issue I mentioned above, or if it would even be an issue most years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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