Thursday, December 20, 2018

New NFL Division Format Proposal

The NFL should have 4 division, two in each conference. That would prevent the possibility of the 2nd best team getting the 5th seed and starting out on the road and weak division winners from getting a home game when sometimes they shouldn't even make the playoffs.

In the AFC, the East and North merge and the South and West meld. Teams still play their current intra-division rivals twice and their new division rivals once. They play 2 teams from the other division and 4 from the other conference and two from the same Int he NFC, the East and South become a division and the North and West.


Current AFC standings 
1) KC 11-3
2) Hou 10-4
3) NE 9-5
4) Pit 8-5-1
5) LAC 11-3
6) Bal 8-6

AFC in New Format
1) KC 11-3
2) NE 9-5
3) LAC 11-3
4) Hou 10-4
5) Pit 8-5-1
6) Bal 8-6

The current standings are absurd. The one ssue with the new format is the AFC NorthEast is unusually weak this year, so New England would be seeded ahead of two worse teams. Houston would prefer the current format, but it's certainly fairer for Los Angeles. In the Wild Card round, the home teams would have better records in the new format, but not int he current format. Pittsburgh, which is two and half games behind the Chargers, would actually get a home game against them.

Current NFC standings 
1) NO 12-2
2) LAR 11-3
3) Chi 10-4
4) Dal 8-6
5) Sea 8-6
6) Min 7-6-1

NFC in New Format
1) NO 12-2
2) LAR 11-3
3) Chi 10-4
4) Sea 8-6
5) Dal 8-6
6) Min 7-6-1

The only difference is Seattle moves ahead of Dallas because they beat the Cowboys in week 3. But the playoff race would be far more competitive in the new format. Right now there is one division race in the NFC and the Wild Card race is a bit stunted.

In the new format Chicago and LA would be battling for the NorthWest crown. Dallas would be part of the Wild Card race. Seattle and Minnesota would be fighting with Dallas for a home playoff game. As of now, the best Seattle and Minnesota can hope for is a road playoff game int he Wild Card round, even if they finish ahead of whoever comes out of the East.

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