NFL Realignment Update

Continuing the weekly update of what the playoff picture should be. In short, in the NFC, the East and South would form a division and the West and North would form the other. In the AFC, the East and North would be one division and the West and South would be the other.

Here are the updated standings: actual and new. If the playoffs began today, the AFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) NE 9-3; 2) Den 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Cin 8-3-1; 4) Ind 8-4.
Road playoff games: 5) SD 8-4; 6) Mia 7-5.

AFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) NE 9-3; 2) Den 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Cin 8-3-1; 4) Ind 8-4.
Road playoff games: 5) SD 8-4; 6) Mia 7-5.

Things are pretty fair in the AFC at the moment. The one big difference the new format would improve is the Colts would be in the thick of the playoff chase. They would be ahead of San Diego using the 5th tie-breaker and would be only a game ahead of the six teams tied at 7-5. As it stands in the current format, they're two games ahead of Houston for the South division lead.

The race for the division titles would also be more interesting. New England would be a half game ahead of Cincy. Denver would be a game up on Indy and San Diego. Division winners would get a bye.


If the playoffs began today, the NFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) Ari 9-3; 2) GB 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Phi 9-3; 4) Atl 5-7.
Road playoff games: 5) Sea 8-4; 6) Det 8-4.

NFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) Ari 9-3; 2) Phi 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) GB 9-3; 4) Sea 8-4.
Road playoff games: 5) Det 8-4; 6) Dal 8-4.

The NFC in 2014 is the reason why the NFL should change. It's pretty simple; Atlanta is 5-7 and doesn't deserve to make the playoffs. They'd be in a 5-way tie for 8th in the new alignment, 3 games out of playoff position. Instead, one team is going to get screwed royally. Right now, Dallas loses a three-way tie for the 5th and 6th spots in the current NFL format. San Fran is 7-5 and could also be the screwed team. In the new format, all of the 8-4 teams are in with San Fran a game out, as it should be.

The NFC North and West division in the new format would be quite exciting. Arizona and Green Bay would be tied at 9-3 for first with Seattle and Detroit just a game back. Arizona and Seattle would play each other twice and so would Green Bay and Detroit. Arizona and Seattle would each play Detroit and Green Bay once in the new alignment. Think about all of the high-level football to decide a division!