Sometimes a team makes the playoffs and it embarrasses the league that they are there. I'm talking directly about the 8-8 teams that grace the playoff picture with their presence.
This year, two teams have the ability to host playoff games in the current system. Those two teams are the Arizona Cardinals and the San Diego Chargers.
Now, Arizona started off strong, and since they play in a division of teams that would struggle playing college football teams with two directions in their names, won the division handily.
The spread offense seems to work in Arizona, but they have no running game, and to win in pro football you need to run the ball. Beating San Francisco, St. Louis, and Seattle doesn't make you an outstanding football team.
San Diego has a chance to be the first team to go from 4-8 to the playoffs. The run they are going on is great. If they win Sunday, they are in the playoffs.
However, they are a product of a disastrous collapse by the Denver Broncos. You can't fault the Chargers for playing through to the end, but does that make them worthy of a playoff shot and hosting a playoff game?
Now why should these two teams get in instead of a darn good Wild Card team that deserves it a little more? I mean who would you rather see, the San Diego Chargers or the New England Patriots? That's why I'm proposing that no 8-8 teams should be allowed into the playoffs.
The NFL should allow the best Wild Card team to move to the four seed and allow another Wild Card team entrance to the playoffs. Why award mediocrity when you could award greatness? Why award 8-8 over 11-5?
In my proposition, if San Diego were to win tomorrow they would still be eliminated, making way for New England, New York, or Miami. The Colts would become the four seed.
In the NFC, if Arizona continues to no-show, they should have their playoff ticket voided. With Arizona out, Carolina or Atlanta would be the four seed, allowing Philadelphia, Dallas, Tampa Bay, or Chicago to make the playoffs. Why not let the better than average teams in instead of the average?
So, Mr. Goodell, protect the shield, as you like to say, and treat us to some fine games. Keep average and mediocre teams out.
13 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Ian Philip 6 months ago
New England got walloped when they played the Chargers. I'm not trying to hear any argument that the Patriots should get in over the Chargers. Had the Chargers not drilled the Patriots, they'd control their own destiny.
Besides, New England will make the playoffs anyway.
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Michael Mulraney 6 months ago
Well since when do we reward mediocrity? The San Diego Chargers are an average football team. That's it. When I'm sitting around in the next few weeks I want to see the best playoff meetings. I don't want to see a romp of one team over another. Being a division champ shouldn't make you obligated for the playoffs if your record is mediocore. You should have to actually be a winning team to gain entrance into the playoffs.
Dave I'm a fan I want to see the best team become the champion and I want to see the best games leading to that champion thats the purpose for this system. Next time you want to shoot your mouth off on one of my articles maybe just maybe you should keep it shut.
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Tom Puterbaugh 6 months ago
Michael, your thin skin is showing. I happen to agree with Dave. Like it or not, the division system works. Sure, an 8-8 team will get in occasionally, but that doesn't happen very often. Does that mean the system is broken? Absolutely not! Division rivalries are part of what makes this league great. Would you also advocate scrapping that aspect?
As for the Patsies, they got absolutely rolled by the Chargers, as did the Jets. So does that makes those teams less-than-mediocre?
And that blast about Dave's post? if you want to be a blogger, you're going to occasionally get negative feedback. I see you're only 19; I think a little maturity is needed on your part if you want to be taken seriously.
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Michael Mulraney 6 months ago
The division system isn't broken I'm just saying the playoffs are for the best teams and should have the best teams represented. As a fan I don't want to see an 8-8 team I want to see the teams that were good all year and got stuck in a difficult division. I just want to see some good games thats all.
And as for my reponse I'm going to conitue to defend my articles. I will defend my articles in the manner they are attacked. If there's going to be insults flung at my article I will attack back. You posted negatively with respect he showed none so he got none.
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Eric Gomez 6 months ago
Best teams? They're separated into divisions for a reason. The Chargers are the best in the west. As for the argument you seem to be sidestepping, the Chargers did beat both the Jets and the Patriots. Either of those two teams beat San Diego and this whole thing is a non-issue.
The outrage demonstrated by this article is a little wacky for me because the NFL as a league, doesn't shelve out a mediocre product by any stretch of the imagination. San Diego won't flop out. Last year, a 9-7 team beat a 16-0 team in the Super Bowl. And really, how much better is a 9-7 team than an 8-8 team?
If the Chargers win the Super Bowl, will you retract or will you consider the Bolts to be a "mediocre" champion? In my opinion, in order to be the best you have to beat the best. That's what the playoffs are for, and that's what the coming weeks will show us.
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Michael Mulraney 6 months ago
Great Points I have nothing to respond with.
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jb lain 6 months ago
Actually, the Giants were 10-6 last year, but your point is well made. We should also make room for the possible Cinderella/feel-good story.
The 1979 Rams 9-7 took a lead into the 4th quarter of that superbowl before finally succumbing 31-19
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bob yermom 6 months ago
Hmmm... the tears of patriots fans are delicious.
Keep crying, please.
How about a little math for you. There are 32 teams in the NFL. How many teams are "let down" by the current play-off rules? One? Two, if you count the Colts not getting home field advantage. We'll compromise at one and a half.
So, 1.5/32 teams get their feelings hurt. Or, 4.5%
Now, lets take into consideration how often something like this comes up? When was the last time a 11-5 team didn't make the post season? I haven't done the reasearch myself but I keep hearing "not in 25 years" thrown around, so we'll go with that.
4.5% of the teams are upset, once every 25 years.... that's a 0.1875% failure rate (somewhere around 1 in 600)
So, you expect the NFL, and its hundreds of players, thousands of personnel, and millions of viewers to all change a 0.1875% failure rate becuase your team like to piss and moan.
Get over yourself.
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Michael Mulraney 6 months ago
Im not a Patriots fan I'd just rather see them play over the Chargers. I wanted to see the best teams play in the playoffs. I don't mind 8-8's in but I'd rather see better teams play.
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bob yermom 6 months ago
And since you brought up the mediocrity of the Chargers, how about another little bit of math for you.
Here is the deficit be which the chargers lost each of their games:
2, 1, 7, 9, 5, 1, 3, 6.. Total, 34.
Never were the Chargers beaten by double digits (like the 30-10 romp they put on the beloved Pats)
Heck, the margin by which they won yesterday (31) nearly eclipses their entire season's losses.
But, they do have a mediocre record. I can't argue that. Wait... correction... the DID have a mediocre record, yesterday. As of right now, all 12 teams are 0-0.
Good luck
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Gups Phoo 6 months ago
Actually the Chargers should be 9-7 if Ed Hochuli had made the right call. That one game difference should silence those who argue that a team with a non-winning record doesn't deserve a playoff berth.
And if you really want to see the best teams make the SB, then this shouldn't be that big of an issue. If the Chargers really suck like you think they do, they would be out in the 1st round, so you will still be watching the best teams in the divisional round. But what if the Chargers beat the Colts? Will you still be whining their supposed mediocrity? I have a feeling the answer is yes.
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Michael Mulraney 6 months ago
I don't think the Chargers suck I think I'd rather see another team with a better record play thats what I want that was the point of the article so the best teams aren't left out for average record teams.
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Dave Wilson 6 months ago
Quick note to all, (in case you're hiding in a cave); Chargers 23 Colts 17
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