Your thoughts on expanding the regular season and expanding the playoffs?

[Rdskns2000]

2 things the owners could vote on in the future to bring in more money and enhance their position for the next C.B.A.; is expanding the regular season to 17 or 18 games and expanding the playoffs to 14 teams.


What are your thoughts on expanding the regular season and expanding the playoffs?

[Rdskns2000]

I am all in favor of expanding the regular season. That would push the superbowl to late Feb. and having winter football.

They'd probably have to go to 18 games.


Expanding the playoffs though, I would have to see evidence that it would be needed. You'd have to play a few seasons with an expanded regular season to see what happens.

[SteveFromYellowstone]

I'm not sure exactly where I stand on this. It just seems like it would be kind of weird to have 18 games and 14 teams in the playoffs.

[snowman5607]

I'm all for it. More football. Who WOULDN'T enjoy that!

[rsfan16]

I wouldn't mind the NFL adding more games either. I would love a longer season. I am wondering though... what type of teams will the extra games be against though? Will it be two more games in the same conference or two games against a team in another conference? Could that mean that we could play Home-to-Home series with Ravens?

[SAli457180]

More reg. season games which means less preseason games and then more playoffs teams. Fine by me!!! Although the one additional playoff team could throw off the structure of the playoffs with an odd number of playoff teams.

[Califan007]

I think they should make the season 14 games again instead of 16, then have all 32 teams in the playoffs, and whittle it down to 16, then to 8, then 4 and then 2, just like in college basketball...and they should have cheerleaders wear see-thru uniforms...and free beer at the stadiums...and teams should switch FO's at random every other year...and no Cowboys games on national tv until December, because those are the only Dallas games that are worth watching...and Chris Cooley should be the highest paid player in NFL history...and every NFL owner has to do at least one press conference a year while totally drunk, in order to make Al Davis' press conferences seem a little closer to "normal"...and we should be allowed to throw shoes at Norv Tuner during games, like the Iraqis would do if they had football there.

That's what I think. :yes:

[SkinSabbath]

No, the season is perfect as it is. There's a natural mathematical harmony going on here:

Each conference has 4 divisions. With 4 teams each. 16 games. 4 playoff rounds.

There has to be another way to make money besides adding extra games. Perhaps add a second set of postseason games, similar to the NIT tournament. Give teams who aren't in the Superbowl a chance to draw a crowd one more time.

[FunBunch7]

Each Conference would go like this...

#1 seed gets a bye week...

Then

#2 plays #7
#3 plays #6
#4 plays #5

There would be 3 winners that survive to go to the 2nd round to join the team that had the bye week.

The #1 seed would play the lowest surviving seed, then the other 2 would play.

I'd be ALL FOR THIS!!!!!

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Why meddle with what's the best system in pro-sports, particularly when it comes to the playoff's?

The NFL has this just about right, with every team knowing where they stand at the start of every year and what they have to do. The seeding system, with the division winners on down; then straight knock-out playoff action through to the championship game. The way it should be, not a best of whatever series that gives multiple chances.

If it aint' broke, don't fix it.

Hail.

[DCsportsfan53]

I'm fine with dropping 2 preseason games and adding two to the regular season but I'm against expanding the playoffs. I think that would take away from the regular season. We already have 8-8 teams getting in the playoffs, I don't want to see playoff games with below .500 teams.

[Rdskns2000]

Each Conference would go like this...

#1 seed gets a bye week...

Then

#2 plays #7
#3 plays #6
#4 plays #5

There would be 3 winners that survive to go to the 2nd round to join the team that had the bye week.

The #1 seed would play the lowest surviving seed, then the other 2 would play.

I'd be ALL FOR THIS!!!!!

Wild Card weekend would have 3 games each day. Football all day for 9 hours+

[Rdskns2000]

I wouldn't mind the NFL adding more games either. I would love a longer season. I am wondering though... what type of teams will the extra games be against though? Will it be two more games in the same conference or two games against a team in another conference? Could that mean that we could play Home-to-Home series with Ravens?


I wouldn't mind seeing a regional rivalry game. I don't think they would do a home and away though.

[SC3]

Don't mind the extra games. Just increase the roster size and add one more bye week.

No need to change the playoffs, though.

[Spec138]

Drop the preseason to 2 games, add 2 games, add some roster spots and keep the playoffs the same. That would work for me, however, I'm happy with the season the way it is. I get my long season (baseball) and my short season (football) so I'm happy.

[scyber]

The only valid argument to expand the playoff teams is that they haven't adjusted the amount of playoffs teams since 1990. Since 1990 the league has gone from 28 teams to 32 teams. In 1990, 43% of the teams made the playoffs, now only 38% make it. Allowing 14 teams would bring it up to 44%.

I think that the playoffs are fine as is, I just think that it is a valid argument.

[MLSKINS]

The only valid argument to expand the playoff teams is that they haven't adjusted the amount of playoffs teams since 1990. Since 1990 the league has gone from 28 teams to 32 teams. In 1990, 43% of the teams made the playoffs, now only 38% make it. Allowing 14 teams would bring it up to 44%.

I think that the playoffs are fine as is, I just think that it is a valid argument.
I love when people use stats. It could make or break an argument.

Oh I just say add 4 teams to the playoffs and no more first round byes.

[Veretax]

I'd love to see 2 more regular season games, and less preseason frankly, but rosters will need to grow by 2 or 3 players I think to accomodate injuries.
As for the playoffs, I am torn on this. In some ways the current system is good 6 teams from each conference that's 12 of 32 teams that's about 37% of the league. I see two scenarios in my head.
First Make that Top Seed mean more.
Give them an extra bye. Somehow.


But IMO I think the better Idea is to do the following.

After the Regular season, The Top Rated team W-L Record Automatically qualifies for the playoffs.

Of the teams remain, the top 2 ranked in each division should play a Divisional Playoff game to determine who gets the Divisional slot.


So let's say it was last year. in the NFC the top Seed would have been The NY Giants (12-4-0 Conf: 9-3 Div: 4-2).

Arizona (9-7-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 6-0) would have hosted a 7-9 SF team? No let's change that...to Tampa Bay (9-7-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 3-3).
Carolina (12-4-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 4-2) would have hosted a game against the Atlanta Falcons (11-5-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 3-3)
Phily (9-6-1 Conf: 7-5 Div: 2-4) would have hosted Dallas (9-7-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 3-3)
Minnesota (10-6-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 4-2) would have hosted Chicago (9-7-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 4-2)


A rule would need to be made that no team under .500 makes the playoffs, if there are no other teams with a better record avaialble. So Arizona would not play the SF team, instead we'd sub in the next best record which would be Tampa Bay.

The best team (record in regular season) to advance from the Divisional's gets seeded 2nd and get's the Wild Card Round bye. So in this case let's say it was Carolina (who beat atlanta). Carolina would get Seeded 2nd,

We'll assume the Winners are as follows:
Arizona (9-7-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 6-0)
Carolina (12-4-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 4-2)
Phily (9-6-1 Conf: 7-5 Div: 2-4)
Minnesota (10-6-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 4-2)


1. Ny Giants (12-4-0 Conf: 9-3 Div: 4-2).
2. Carolina Panthers (12-4-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 4-2)
3. Minnesota (10-6-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 4-2)
4. Phily (9-6-1 Conf: 7-5 Div: 2-4)
5. Arizona (9-7-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 6-0)
6a. Best Loser: Atlanta Falcons (11-5-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 3-3)
6b. Best non Divisional Team: (8-8-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 3-3)

The sixth slot becomes the lone wildcard. Question is how to seed it. do you draw from the best loser in the Divisionals? or the best winning team remaining who did not play in the divisionals.

Best Loser is Atlanta Falcons (11-5-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 3-3)
Best of those who didn't qualify for divisional though.

Washington (8-8-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 3-3) (washington did the best in the Conference without qualifying for Divisionals)
New Orleans (8-8-0 Conf: 5-7 Div: 2-4)

In this Scenario:

3. Minnesota (10-6-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 4-2)
Vs
6a. Best Loser: Atlanta Falcons (11-5-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 3-3)
6b. Best non Divisional Team: Washington (8-8-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 3-3)

4. Phily (9-6-1 Conf: 7-5 Div: 2-4)
Vs
5. Arizona (9-7-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 6-0)

Let's look at the AFC:



1. Tennessee (13-3-0 Conf: 9-3 Div: 4-2)
Divisionals:
Indianapolis (12-4-0 Conf: 10-2 Div: 4-2) Plays Houston (8-8-0 Conf: 5-7 Div: 2-4)
Miami (11-5-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 4-2) Plays New England (11-5-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 4-2)
Pittsburgh (12-4-0 Conf: 10-2 Div: 6-0) Plays Baltimore (11-5-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 4-2)
San Diego (8-8-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 5-1) Plays Denver (8-8-0 Conf: 5-7 Div: 3-3)

Best Remaining:
Ny Jets (9-7-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 4-2)

So Assuming the following:
Indy beats Houston
New England Beats Miami
Pittsburgh Beats Baltimore
San Diego beats Denver

The Question is who gets that 2nd Round bye? Pitt or Indy? Both had identical Conference records, but Pittsburgh swept its division. If you look head to head, do you count both games against a common foe within division? Do you look at wins over teams outside of the division? I'm inclined to go with the team tHat swept its division, or base it on record against common foes, but I don't know how to resolve it where a team played twice... So let's say its division record for simplicity
1. Tennessee (13-3-0 Conf: 9-3 Div: 4-2)
2. Pittsburgh (12-4-0 Conf: 10-2 Div: 6-0)
3. Indianapolis (12-4-0 Conf: 10-2 Div: 4-2)
4. New England (11-5-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 4-2)
5. San Diego (8-8-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 5-1)
6a. Best Loser: Miami (11-5-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 4-2)
6b. Best Non Divisional: Ny Jets (9-7-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 4-2)

1. Tennessee (13-3-0 Conf: 9-3 Div: 4-2)
2. Pittsburgh (12-4-0 Conf: 10-2 Div: 6-0)
3. Indianapolis (12-4-0 Conf: 10-2 Div: 4-2)
Vs
6a. Best Loser: Miami (11-5-0 Conf: 8-4 Div: 4-2)
6b. Best Non Divisional: Ny Jets (9-7-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 4-2)
4. New England (11-5-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 4-2)
Vs.
5. San Diego (8-8-0 Conf: 7-5 Div: 5-1)

Some problems with this format.... an 11-5 New england team hosts the weaker record San diego team instead of the Jets.


That's one way to do it. The other is to give byes to the top two records, and then have divisionals within the divisions, (except in the case of the NFC West where, there was only one team with a Winning record, so you'd sub in a wild card there.

thoughts?

[DaMuller7]

I say good to expanding the season... More football for all of us!!! :cheers:

[mbws]

I would propose 1 extra regular season game, with 3 preseason games. the odd number would eliminate the 8-8 season. You would then have a winning season or a losing one. I hate ties.

Keep the playoffs the same.

[IbleedBnG83]

Its fine the way it is...

[kevincollateral]

i would love to see more football...but those boys already go through hell, and the injuries would increase by adding more games.

[doncherry]

I'm against expanding the regular season. Injuries are already too big of a factor, more games mean more injuries. Expanding the roster, as Veretax suggested, will help a little bit, however if you're the Patriots and Brady gets hurt in game 17 of the regular season, how is the expanded roster really going to help - you're more than likely screwed. 16 games is great. More than that and we are probably looking at a scenario where the product will suffer due to injuries....

[pjfootballer]

I like it the way it is. No changes for me. It's very semetrical.

[sjinhan]

I hope add 4 more teams to the playoffs.. not sure about adding additional games to the regular season but I would like one of the preseason games eliminated to give all teams in the playoff an off week before the start of first round of playoffs...

[Braxford]

More football the better. The roster sizes need to be increased though as well because there will be more injuries.

[mattsb84]

Its fine the way it is...

Agreed.

There's nothing wrong with the current format, no need to modify it.

[Larry Brown #43]

The season is too short, but the preseason is too long. Subtract from the preseason and add to the regular season. Seems like a no-brainer to me. The 4th preseason game is a complete joke, and they could probably do away with the third preseason game while they're at it.

Just give each team one scrimmage and two preseason games.

Expanding the playoffs by one team per conference is fine with me too.

[WhoRUSupposed2Be]

The season is too short, but the preseason is too long. Subtract from the preseason and add to the regular season. Seems like a no-brainer to me. The 4th preseason game is a complete joke, and they could probably do away with the third preseason game while they're at it.

Just give each team one scrimmage and two preseason games.

Expanding the playoffs by one team per conference is fine with me too.

Exactly and as someone had pointed out, add more to the roster.

[dockeryfan]

Expand the regular season? Yes. Long overdue, imo.

Expand the paloffs? No. More playoff teams means the regular season games will matter less. Keep it as it is. 4 Division winners and 2 Wild Card teams (per conf). No reason to change that.

[Warhead36]

I wouldn't mind expanding the regular season by one or two games, as long as they're front loaded, as in take two preseason games away and start the season in August. It's bad enough the Super Bowl is in February but adding two regular season games could push it close to March. Ridiculous...

I like the playoff system the way it is now though. Six teams per conference is just right. If I did anything I'd eliminate the divisions and just have an NFC and AFC with 16 teams each. Either that or reduce the # of divisions and increase the # of teams in each division. Is it a big deal anymore to win a division with just four teams in it?

[addicted]

I think they should make the season 14 games again instead of 16, then have all 32 teams in the playoffs, and whittle it down to 16, then to 8, then 4 and then 2, just like in college basketball...and they should have cheerleaders wear see-thru uniforms...and free beer at the stadiums...and teams should switch FO's at random every other year...and no Cowboys games on national tv until December, because those are the only Dallas games that are worth watching...and Chris Cooley should be the highest paid player in NFL history...and every NFL owner has to do at least one press conference a year while totally drunk, in order to make Al Davis' press conferences seem a little closer to "normal"...and we should be allowed to throw shoes at Norv Tuner during games, like the Iraqis would do if they had football there.

That's what I think. :yes:

OMG why aren't you the president? I love this post!!!!!!!!! :laugh::laugh::laugh:

[addicted]

What are your thoughts on expanding the regular season and expanding the playoffs?

Expanding the regular season....hmmm not a fan of that if that's all they are going to do. Why? Simple, what is the worst week to watch football in the season? The last week of the year. Why? Because every year the last game of the year usually has only one game on tap with any real significance to it. Since the NFL has the right to adjust games to fit the better broadcasting times we are stuck with crappy games all Sunday and the one meaningful game to watch at night. In 2007 the last week of the year was a big deal because the PATS were playing the Giants for an undefeated season. Last year we had San Diego playing Denver for the devision winner. But what about the other games on the schedule? The best teams are resting starters usually. The other games are playing for draft order. I'm sorry but if all the NFL wants to do is add games to the end of the year I'm not for it.

Now adding more playoff teams makes much greater sense to me. If you had more playoff spots the last week of the regular season would likely include more meaningful games to watch and increase the chances the Redskins make the playoffs.

If I had to choose one or the other I'd go with more playoff teams. If we could get them both that would be cool with me

[hornetsfan8]

All for more football then all the teams in the nfc east will make the playoffs:eaglesuck:dallasuck:gaintsuck