New Format Final Standings

If the NFL moved back to two divisions per conference, we would get fairer and more exciting playoff games.

NFC South and East
1) Philadelphia 13-3
2) New Orleans 11-5
3) Carolina 11-5
4) Atlanta 10-6
5) Dallas 9-7
6) Washington 7-9
7) Tampa Bay 5-11
8) NY Giants 3-13

NFC North and West
1) Minnesota 13-3
2) LA Rams 11-5
3) Detroit 9-7
4) Seattle 9-7
5) Arizona 8-8
6) Green Bay 7-9
7) Chicago 5-11
8) San Francisco 6-10

The playoff seeding would look like this:
1) Phi, 2) Min, 3) LAR, 4) NO, 5) Car, 6) Atl.

In the new format, the division races wouldn't have been sewn up so quickly.

AFC North and East
1) New England 13-3
2) Pittsburgh 13-3
3) Buffalo 9-7
4) Baltimore 9-7
5) Cincinnati 7-9
6) Miami 6-10
7) NY Jets 5-11
8) Cleveland 0-16

AFC South and West
1) Jacksonville 10-6
2) Kansas City 10-6
3) Tennessee 9-7
4) LA Chargers 9-7
5) Oakland 6-10
6) Denver 5-11
7) Houston 4-12
8) Indianapolis 4-12

The playoff seeding would look like this:
1) NE, 2) Jax, 3) Pit, 4) KC, 5) Ten, 6) Buf.

The one situation in which the new format is less fair is when two teams from one division finish with the top two records. However, the new format would've made the run up to the playoffs far more exciting and competitive. NE and Pitt would jockey for the bye and so would Jacksonville and Kansas City.