The NFC is extremely unfair. In the NFL combined their existing division to form two eight-team divisions, things would be far more fair. The NFC East and South would link and so would the AFC East and North.
Here are the updated standings: actual and new. If the playoffs began today, the AFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) NE 12-3; 2) Den 11-4.
Home playoff games: 3) Cin 10-4-1; 4) Indy 10-5.
Road playoff games: 5) Pit 10-5; 6) SD 9-6.
AFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) NE 12-3; 2) Den 11-4.
Home playoff games: 3) Cin 10-4-1; 4) Pit 10-5.
Road playoff games: 5) Ind 10-5; 6) SD 9-6.
The current format takes away a lot of potential drama. Indy is going to have a home playoff game and has very little to play for. In the new format, Indy/Den would go to a deep tie-breaker if Denver loses and Indy wins. Indy could finish as high as 2nd or as low as 6th in the new format.
If the playoffs began today, the NFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) Sea 11-4; 2) Det 11-4.
Home playoff games: 3) Dal 11-4; 4) Car 6-8-1.
Road playoff games: 5) GB 11-4; 6) Ari 11-4.
NFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) Sea 11-4; 2) Dal 11-4.
Home playoff games: 3) Det 11-4; 4) GB 11-4.
Road playoff games: 5) Ari 11-4; 6) Phi 9-6.
All six teams would have clinched had the NFL gone to the new format. Dallas would have clinched the South/East division. The North/West division would just about be the most exciting finish in NFL history. Seattle, Detroit, Green Bay, and Arizona would all have a shot at the bye. Only one would be on the road in the Wild Card round. Instead, the winner of Carolina and Atlanta, who will finish under .500, will earn a home playoff game. The best case scenario is that the NFC South winner will be 3.5 games worse than their visiting playoff opponent. It's possible that Atlanta could be 5 games worse than their playoff opponent!
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