why should teams like green bay be awarded a home playoff game just because they win there division. the 49ers are 12-4 and they have to go on the road and play a 8-7-1 team. should the NFL do playoff seedings based on record? i believe division winners should get to go to the playoffs but shouldn't host a game if the wildcard team has a better record. iif the NFL didnt rob the 49ers of a win against the saints with the bologna penalty on ahmad brooks for sacking brees, 49ers would have the #1 seed. should the NFL hire new refs and change the playoff format ?
Colonel Reb2014-01-01T20:19:25Z
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I've never understood why the NFL doesn't go to a seeded format. I can understand division champions getting an automatic berth but that's all it should be good for. Although, if a team is really that good, it doesn't matter where a game is played. Home field advantage does make a difference but sometimes it gets overstated. Dome teams are the teams who really seem to get hurt, as they seem to have trouble playing outside (see the Saints and the Colts back when Peyton Manning was there).
I think it should stay how it is now in regards to seeding. It gives more meaning to division games if the division winner takes the higher seed. If you take care of business in your division games you typically won't have to worry about it.
As far as the refs go it's tough to say. It's clear to me we're not yet ready to give it all up to computers. I'm an Eagles fan and the other night on a critical third down Foles gave himself up with a slide behind the line and a Cowboy jumped on him after the tag but no flag was thrown. Collinsworth said "I think we're all glad no flag was thrown there".
That really speaks to the fact that people don't want to see certain penalties called on pivotal plays in the game. If you had robot cameras fixed on every player it would keep it honest but might take away from that. It's a fine line to walk.
If they did then why have the divisions at all. To go by strictly record then have 16 AFC teams and 16 NFC teams with no divisions. Top 6 records in each go to the playoffs. Worse 3 records play at the best 3 records.
the fact is, the NFL has a VERY unbalanced schedule. within individual divisions, teams more or less play a very similar schedule and play a full round robin between them. that is why so much weight is given to winning a division. and yes, flukes happen where an entire division is very good or not good, but overall the system in place makes sense.