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Originally Posted by philfree
From what I posted I have no clue how that would lead to the "logical conclusion" you presented. And at this point there isn't enough data to support by the numbers produced since the most recent expansion and realignment to prove the #6 seed scenario to remain status quo. If it does prove out again over time then so be it. Till then would it hurt to go to an increased playoff schedule?
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You can't temporarily expand the playoff field because expansion is irreversible. Once you expand the field, there is no way you are going to shrink it later. It certainly has never happened in the NFL or MLB. I doubt it has happened in the NBA or NHL either, but I don't follow those closely enough to know.
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Originally Posted by philfree
Going to 4 divisions essentially wiped out a wild card spot and it's changed the lay of the land and the playoff scenario needs to be looked at very closely.
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Your contention that reallignment eliminated a WC spot is only true if one of the division winners has a worse record than the top team that misses the playoffs. Chances are that one of the teams that would have been a WC under the old alignment is a division winner now. I think we have plenty of data going back to 1980 that has shown that no WC team with a record poorer than 11-5 has ever made the SB. Only one team with that a record of 11-5 or better has ever been excluded since the expansion to the 16 game season: some '80s Denver team. That is plenty of evidence that the current system is working if you ask me.
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Originally Posted by philfree
I don't know that it would be a move of pure greed. IMO it could very well improve the NFL experience. ......And I never said every 10-6 team should get into the playoffs. There will always be a point where tie-breakers come into play no matter what the scenario is.
PhilFree  |
But teams finishing with a 10-6 record and sitting out of the playoffs is the whole justification that Carl and Lamar have offered. So without the subjective 10-6 arguement, there is really no rationale whatsoever for expanding the playoffs.