bobobonators Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 (edited) Almost every year we see teams make the playoffs over another team with a better record, due to winning their division. Or we see teams just have a cakewalk to the playoffs/home field advantage bc they play in a trash division and have automatic 6 wins (Chiefs past few years/Pats for more than a decade). Remove the divisions. Keep AFC/NFC. Keep the same 18 week/17 game schedule every team plays every single team in their conference 1x and then do 2 games vs opposite conference every year to maintain some inter-conference rivalries alive. Removing the divisions and going with 2 conference automatically eliminates teams with worse records making it in over teams with better records, and it also eliminates schedule bias by forcing all teams to have the same schedule (minus the 2 games vs opposite conference). With 11/17 games being outside of your division, it doesn’t make sense to reward a team so much at playoff time for winning their division. Thoughts? Edited January 7 by bobobonators 5 4 1 1 9 2 2 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artmalibu Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Will a team with a loosing record make the playoffs this year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikePJ76 Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 No. 5 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJS Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Every year, haha? It almost never happens that a team with a losing record makes the playoffs. It is rare. 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 I like divisions the current setup doesn’t upset me 6 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobobonators Posted January 7 Author Share Posted January 7 3 minutes ago, artmalibu said: Will a team with a loosing record make the playoffs this year? I don’t think so; NFC South is worst division and winner will be 1 game over. Historically speaking, it has been an issue. Chiefs have also gotten home field advantage for Mahomes’ entire tenure (minus this year), in part, due to the AFC W being a disaster. 1 minute ago, MJS said: Every year, haha? It almost never happens that a team with a losing record makes the playoffs. It is rare. To clarify, I meant one of the two things I said happens. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Vader Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 No 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Otreply Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 What will people have to complain about if this happens? People like to have sh-t to complain about…, GO BILLS!!! 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rew Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Division rivalries are part of the emotion of the game and help with parity. The game would be less without them imo. 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dablitzkrieg Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 No, stupidity had already started Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenorthremembers Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 What the Bills could have done is just take care of the business during the year so we don't have upset fans making these posts. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Bills couldn't beat Jets or Pats. Division rivals. If they lose tomorrow they deserve to be out 4 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobobonators Posted January 7 Author Share Posted January 7 All fair points. My main motivation would be to reduce the amount of schedule bias, and to ensure a team won’t make the playoffs over a team who has a better record. Let alone get a home game in the playoffs over a team who had a better record. 1 minute ago, KDIGGZ said: Bills couldn't beat Jets or Pats. Division rivals. If they lose tomorrow they deserve to be out This is not meant to be a pro Bills thread. Just speaking in general terms about the NFL playoff picture 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fetou Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 The value of the divisional matchups and rivalry over time is more important than the seeding in my opinion. If they were to do away with division winners for seeding purposes, I would still prefer the scheduling of the games stay as it is now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBillyG Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 22 minutes ago, bobobonators said: Every year we see teams with losing records making the playoffs. Or we see teams just have a cakewalk to the playoffs bc they play in a TRASH division and have automatic 6 wins (Chiefs past few years). Remove the divisions. Keep AFC/NFC. Keep the same 18 week/17 game schedule every team plays every single team in their conference 1x and then do 2 games vs opposite conference every year to maintain some inter-conference rivalries alive. Removing the divisions and going with 2 conference automatically eliminates teams with losing records making it in over teams with winning records, and it also eliminates bias by forcing all teams to have the same schedule (minus the 2 games vs opposite conference). Thoughts? In NFL history, 6 teams have made the playoffs with a losing record. And 2 or those were in the 82 strike season. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 If I remember correctly there is a vote about conferences after the 2025 season. There has been some chatter about changing things Ultimately, it won't get much attention until the cowboys miss the playoffs with 10 wins while the NFCS sends a 9-8 team in. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanNH Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 23 minutes ago, bobobonators said: Every year we see teams with losing records making the playoffs. Or we see teams just have a cakewalk to the playoffs bc they play in a TRASH division and have automatic 6 wins (Chiefs past few years). Remove the divisions. Keep AFC/NFC. Keep the same 18 week/17 game schedule every team plays every single team in their conference 1x and then do 2 games vs opposite conference every year to maintain some inter-conference rivalries alive. Removing the divisions and going with 2 conference automatically eliminates teams with losing records making it in over teams with winning records, and it also eliminates bias by forcing all teams to have the same schedule (minus the 2 games vs opposite conference). Thoughts? I dislike the idea. I like the fact a mediocre team could make it and make noise. Like the Seahawks did one year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Vader Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 3 minutes ago, KDIGGZ said: Bills couldn't sweep beat Jets or Pats. Division rivals. If they lose tomorrow they deserve to be out Fixed 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo03 Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 12 minutes ago, MJS said: Every year, haha? It almost never happens that a team with a losing record makes the playoffs. It is rare. Maybe not a losing record but every season the NFC South sucks and the AFC south sucks. 11-6 teams or 10-7 teams should not lose playoff spots to 9-8 or 8-9 teams. It's stupid 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrb1979 Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 24 minutes ago, bobobonators said: Every year we see teams with losing records making the playoffs. Or we see teams just have a cakewalk to the playoffs bc they play in a TRASH division and have automatic 6 wins (Chiefs past few years). Remove the divisions. Keep AFC/NFC. Keep the same 18 week/17 game schedule every team plays every single team in their conference 1x and then do 2 games vs opposite conference every year to maintain some inter-conference rivalries alive. Removing the divisions and going with 2 conference automatically eliminates teams with losing records making it in over teams with winning records, and it also eliminates bias by forcing all teams to have the same schedule (minus the 2 games vs opposite conference). Thoughts? How about not losing to teams with losing records? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epstein's Mother Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 I'm OK with the divisions. I just don't think that division winners should automatically get a home game. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_In_NH Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 The divisions are great...weird stuff happens for playoff births and it is bound to hurt any team at some point. The only way the Bills miss is if they have 7 losses, the team is much better than that, they will have done it to themselves. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonzo1105 Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Yea this is a if we lose tomorrow type post. Don’t lose to Zach Wilson, MAC Jones, or have 12 on the field and we wouldn’t have to play this out 1 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billl Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 25 minutes ago, bobobonators said: Every year we see teams with losing records making the playoffs. Or we see teams just have a cakewalk to the playoffs bc they play in a TRASH division and have automatic 6 wins (Chiefs past few years). Remove the divisions. Keep AFC/NFC. Keep the same 18 week/17 game schedule every team plays every single team in their conference 1x and then do 2 games vs opposite conference every year to maintain some inter-conference rivalries alive. Removing the divisions and going with 2 conference automatically eliminates teams with losing records making it in over teams with winning records, and it also eliminates bias by forcing all teams to have the same schedule (minus the 2 games vs opposite conference). Thoughts? Imagine complaining that other teams have the advantage of playing in weak divisions when a week from today will mark the 50th anniversary of the last time a team in the AFC East other than the Patriots won a Super Bowl. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBuffalo Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 I think the division title should not dictate seeding or home field advantage but that’s it. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmel Corn Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 I'm all for removing the divisions.....I'd go as far as saying to that in hockey as well. Now if they could only do something about us having to play all our games against KC in Arrowhead. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Sack Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Divisions are a good thing. 6-0 every year if you build a team to dominate common foes. Then all you need is to win is 3 to 5 games to make the playoffs. The Bills should be 5-0 in the division if they could win in OT, and hold Mac Jones from driving 75 yards in under 2 minutes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobobonators Posted January 7 Author Share Posted January 7 5 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said: In NFL history, 6 teams have made the playoffs with a losing record. And 2 or those were in the 82 strike season. Let me clarify or edit my original post once and for all. Almost every year we see teams with a worse record, host a home playoff game, over a team with a better record only bc they won their division. At times, teams with worse records also make the playoffs over teams with better records. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Behindenemylines Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 We should have a setup like soccer. A two tiered system with relegation. …and flopping, much more flopping 🤣😄🥴 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobobonators Posted January 7 Author Share Posted January 7 11/17 games are played against teams outside the division. So continuing to reward teams who play in crappy divisions and punishing those who play in competitive divisions seems inequitable at best. Giving so much weight to division winners when 11/17 games are played outside the division seems a bit counterintuitive. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billl Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 1 minute ago, bobobonators said: 11/17 games are played against teams outside the division. So continuing to reward teams who play in crappy divisions and punishing those who play in competitive divisions seems inequitable at best. Giving so much weight to division winners when 11/17 games are played outside the division seems a bit counterintuitive. If a team can’t win a 4 team division, then why do they deserve any kind of preferential treatment? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low Positive Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 What's stupid is that just because we happened to lose to NE and Denver, who happen to be in the AFC and beat the Giants and Bucs, who happen to be in the NFC, we might miss the playoffs. Switch those four games, and I believe that the Bills are in. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobobonators Posted January 7 Author Share Posted January 7 Just now, Billl said: If a team can’t win a 4 team division, then why do they deserve any kind of preferential treatment? I’m not advocating for preferential treatment. Eliminating divisions would actually do the opposite - it would automatically create equity across the entire conference bc all teams would play the same schedule for 15/17 games. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 When the Bills went to four straight Super Bowls, they were in the worst division in football at the time.....they had a free 8 wins over the Colts, Pats, Jets, and Fins...I bet you weren’t complaining about weak divisions then. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 2 minutes ago, bobobonators said: 11/17 games are played against teams outside the division. So continuing to reward teams who play in crappy divisions and punishing those who play in competitive divisions seems inequitable at best. Giving so much weight to division winners when 11/17 games are played outside the division seems a bit counterintuitive. one of your premises almost never happens, the other one..you use KC, a team that has been to 5 straight AFCC games, won 3 and 2 SB, as an example of cakewalk teams. Maybe the next “final edit” of this thread would be to delete it. 2 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billsfanatic8989 Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Had we not lost to the Jets, Broncos and Pats, there is a very good chance we are the one seed resting starters tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Sack Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 5 minutes ago, Behindenemylines said: We should have a setup like soccer. A two tiered system with relegation. …and flopping, much more flopping 🤣😄🥴 Relegation would be a good thing. The issue is the PA would never allow it as revenues are currently shared across the league. Creating a 2nd league or lower division would put contracts into jeopardy. Players would get screwed and in terms of draft fairness how would draft picks be distributed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDingus Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 You know, I was ready to crap all over this idea, but then I realized this could be the solution to the NFL's expansion problem. People keep thinking they'd need to add 8 teams at once to preserve balance, but with this they'd only have to add 2 (and you could still do a round-robin conference schedule). Still prefer the normal setup, but this wouldn't be completely terrible either. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Einstein Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 I say keep the divisions and allow the division winner to get into the playoffs, but make the seeding just based on record. Aka, a division winner could be the 7th seed even. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 I don't love the status quo. But I don't see a better solution. And until I am persuaded there is a better alternative I'd be minded to stick with what we have. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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