New NFL Format Update

Check out last week's explanation of a potentially much fairer division breakdown in the NFL.

Current AFC standings:
1) NE 11-2
2) KC 10-3
3) Pit 8-5
4) Hou 7-6
5) Oak  10-3
6) Den 8-5

AFC in New Format:
1) NE 11-2
2) KC 10-3
3) Oak 10-3
4) Pit 8-5
5) Den 8-5
6) Mia 8-5

Right now, Oakland would have to travel to Houston in the Wild Card round to face a team with 3 fewer wins! The new format is much fairer. It also would be more exiting. Seven teams are between 8-5 and 6-7 and would all have a shot at the last 3 playoff spots. As it is, the Colts at 6-7 have a significantly better chance to make the playoffs as the 4th seed than Buffalo at 6-7 does as the 6th seed, which makes no sense.

Current NFC standings:
1) Dal 11-2
2) Det 9-4
3) Sea 8-4-1
4) Atl 8-5
5) NYG 9-4
6) Tam 8-5

NFC in New Format:
1) Dal 11-2
2) Det 9-4
3) NYG 9-4
4) Sea 8-4-1
5) Atl 8-5
6) Tam 8-5

The Giants just beat the best team in the league. They did not improve their seed in the current format and have virtually no hope of finishing better than the 5th seed because of the absurdity of the current format. That means the Giants wouldn't get a home game int he Wild Card round even if they went 12-4 as long as Dallas wins or ties one game. In the new format, the Giants moved up to 4th and could realistically finish as high as 3rd. The new format is much fairer.

New NFL Format

It's time to revive my annual crusade to change the NFL playoff format by combining division, Here's the plan: The NFC South and East divisions would be combined. The NFC North and West would be another division. In the AFC, the North and East would come together and so would the AFC South and West.

Teams in the same current divisions would play each other twice while teams would play the other four teams in their new division once. Four games would be played against teams in the opposing conference in the same current four year rotation. The remaining two games would be against teams in the same conference but different division.

Current AFC standings:
1) NE 10-2
2) KC 10-3
3) Bal 7-5
4) Hou 6-6
5) Oak  10-3
6) Den 8-4

AFC in New Format:
1) NE 10-2
2) KC 10-3
3) Oak 10-3
4) Den 8-4
5) Bal 7-5
6) Mia 7-5

Right now, Oakland would have to travel to Houston in the Wild Card round to face a team with 4 fewer wins! Denver would also have a better record than its opponent, but have to go on the road for its Wild Card game. The new format is much fairer.

Current NFC standings:
1) Dal 11-1
2) Sea 8-3-1
3) Det 8-4
4) Tam 7-5
5) NYG 8-4
6) Atl 7-5

NFC in New Format:
1) Dal 11-1
2) Sea 8-3-1
3) Det 8-4
4) NYG 8-4
5) Tam 7-5
6) Atl 7-5

The NFC is not as utterly ridiculous as the AFC. We have the right teams, just in the wrong order.Tampa Bay would get a home game in the playoffs despite having a worse record than the Giants.
Also, let's look at the NFC West race now:
1) Sea 8-3-1
2) Ari 5-6-1

It's almost over. Now let's look at the NorthWest race in the new format:
1) Sea 8-3-1
2) Det 8-4

That's a lot closer! For a more competitive stretch run, the NFL needs to move to the new format.