WORST RULE IN THE NFL

[CartersCubs]

if the colts run the table and finish 12-4 they could easily have the 2nd best record in the league and the 2nd seed in the playoffs, but due to the rule that says you have to win your division to be in the top 4 the colts cannot do anything better than the wildcard. I truly believe this rule is unfair and needs to be changed.

please comment....

current standings:

Colts 9-4
vs. DET
@ JACKSONVILLE
vs. TENNESSEE

Steelers 10-3
@ BALTIMORE
@ TENNESSEE
vs. CLEVELAND

Baltimore 9-4
vs. PITTSBURGH
@ DALLAS
vs. JACKSONVILLE

* IF THE COLTS TIE EITHER OF THEIR RECORDS THEN INDIANAPOLIS WOULD WIN THE TIE BREAKER DUE TO HEAD TO HEAD RECORD.

 

[Chaser1965]

Rule is fair to me. Sounds like Indy will be on a roll going in. Then they will get points to boot? It's unfair?

 

[CartersCubs]

how is it fair? just because they r in a strong division should not penalize them. so if the broncos get in the playoffs with a .500 record and "winning" their division makes them better than any wildcard regaurdless of record?

 

[TouchdownJesus]

I agree that its a fair rule. If not, then why have divisions at all? They are called "wildcards" for a reason. They get to go to the playoffs even though they didn't win their division.

Basically the league is set up to allow division winners to compete in the playoffs but allows for other teams to still get in as wildcards. Its a big deal to win your division and should be.

 

[bej0101]

I agree that its a fair rule. If not, then why have divisions at all? They are called "wildcards" for a reason. They get to go to the playoffs even though they didn't win their division.

Basically the league is set up to allow division winners to compete in the playoffs but allows for other teams to still get in as wildcards. Its a big deal to win your division and should be.

well said..:toast:

 

[CartersCubs]

ok I totally agree that it's a big deal to win your division and should be, BUT the rankings for the playoffs should be solely based on team record and head to head record reguardless of your division. the reason for this is that once in the playoffs everyone is trying to win a conference championship, not another division championship, so division champs should get no advantage just because they won in a weak division

 

[WayneWonder]

if the colts run the table and finish 12-4 they could easily have the 2nd best record in the league and the 2nd seed in the playoffs, but due to the rule that says you have to win your division to be in the top 4 the colts cannot do anything better than the wildcard. I truly believe this rule is unfair and needs to be changed.

I would think this would be of some comfort to the Colts and their fans. How quickly we forget recent history...

2007-08: 13-3 #2 seed --- Lost in divisional round

2006-07: 12-4 #3 seed --- Won the Superbowl

2005-06: 14-2 #1 seed --- Lost in divisional round

In two of the past three years, the Colts have lost in their first game of the playoffs.

The past 10 years have proved that teams can win the Super Bowl no matter where they are seeded. Beginning in 2000 with the Ravens, we have seen a team win the Superbowl from each of the six seeds. It does not matter where they are seeded, it matters what they do once they get there.

 

[CartersCubs]

yes while you are very right about where each team is seeded does not matter, you are also very mistaken by home field advantage. Even though it has not been the case in the last 2 years, the colts probably wouldn't have won the AFC championship and eventual superbowl playing at gillette stadium.

 

[smurphy]

I might be wrong, but I think won-loss record determines home field once the wildcard round is over. So Indy would have to travel to Miami or NE or NYJ, but could return home to face the next opponent if they had a worse record. ...I think that's how it works anyway.

 

[CartersCubs]

did they change that this year? because didn't jacksonville have a better record than pitt but since the steelers won their division they hosted the game?

 

[smurphy]

did they change that this year? because didn't jacksonville have a better record than pitt but since the steelers won their division they hosted the game?

yeah you are right. my first thought was wrong about that.