Are They Deserving?
January 4th 2011 13:47
We all saw this coming early in the season, and many have been skeptical of it for some time, but the fact that the Seattle Seahawks are in the playoffs rubs quite a few people the wrong way. No more so than a New York Giants or Tampa Bay fan.
The truth is, having a 7-9 team in the playoffs is a joke. Period. The Seahawks won the NFC west late Sunday night, beating Sam Bradford, and what people thought were the more formidable playof option in the west, the St.Louis Rams. But did it really matter who came out of the west?
It was a forgone conclusion for many weeks that the winner of that division would be a lucky draw for the number one wildcard team. What everyone was hoping for was atleast a .500 record. Don't hold your breath any longer. While the 10-6 Giants and the 10-6 Bucs are sitting on their couches knowing they had solid seasons, the Seahawks will be most presumably getting cut into pieces by Saint Brees.
I personally think that a team should have to finish 9-7 to make the playoffs. Simple as that. If a division winner finishes 8-8 or 7-9, put the next wildcard option in there. This isn't the NBA, where in the past, the west has been so much better that the east had under .500 teams in the playoffs. There's teams that can replace Seattle.
It's true, you may say if the Giants had beaten the Packers, they'd be in the playoffs, so they shouldn't complain, or that if the Bucs hadn't had that blunder against an awful Detroit team (even with a horribe call on a touchdown catch by Kellen Winslow that would have won the game) they would be in. But both team are clearly better than Seattle. Tampa Bay beat them the week before 31-16. It seemed a lot more lopsided than that.
So in conclusion, the rules are rules, there's nothing we can do, and in the middle of this whole labor deal, I'm sure it's not real high on Mr. Goodel's to do list. But with that said, this really needs changed. And I'm not talking about the divisions. Eventually Sam Bradford and the Rams will get better and take the division with a 10-6, or atleast a 9-7 season. But for any division winner from now on who finishes 8-8 or below, you can go print the "Division Champs" t-shirts, but that's it. No playoffs. There's teams more worthy.
The truth is, having a 7-9 team in the playoffs is a joke. Period. The Seahawks won the NFC west late Sunday night, beating Sam Bradford, and what people thought were the more formidable playof option in the west, the St.Louis Rams. But did it really matter who came out of the west?
It was a forgone conclusion for many weeks that the winner of that division would be a lucky draw for the number one wildcard team. What everyone was hoping for was atleast a .500 record. Don't hold your breath any longer. While the 10-6 Giants and the 10-6 Bucs are sitting on their couches knowing they had solid seasons, the Seahawks will be most presumably getting cut into pieces by Saint Brees.
I personally think that a team should have to finish 9-7 to make the playoffs. Simple as that. If a division winner finishes 8-8 or 7-9, put the next wildcard option in there. This isn't the NBA, where in the past, the west has been so much better that the east had under .500 teams in the playoffs. There's teams that can replace Seattle.
It's true, you may say if the Giants had beaten the Packers, they'd be in the playoffs, so they shouldn't complain, or that if the Bucs hadn't had that blunder against an awful Detroit team (even with a horribe call on a touchdown catch by Kellen Winslow that would have won the game) they would be in. But both team are clearly better than Seattle. Tampa Bay beat them the week before 31-16. It seemed a lot more lopsided than that.
So in conclusion, the rules are rules, there's nothing we can do, and in the middle of this whole labor deal, I'm sure it's not real high on Mr. Goodel's to do list. But with that said, this really needs changed. And I'm not talking about the divisions. Eventually Sam Bradford and the Rams will get better and take the division with a 10-6, or atleast a 9-7 season. But for any division winner from now on who finishes 8-8 or below, you can go print the "Division Champs" t-shirts, but that's it. No playoffs. There's teams more worthy.
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Comment by Joe Soriano
Pro Sports Wrap
Orble Sport Blog
Comment by Dustin Hull
Football Times
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Comment by Gabe
LopsidedSports
Comment by Dustin Hull
Football Times
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Comment by Winless In Seattle
UnSportsman
I would argue, yes, they are deserving of a playoff spot - they won the division. But that argument has been made.
I'll add on to it a bit though - and say we should not be the 4 seed. I think the NFL seriously considers re-seeding before they consider not letting a division winner in. That way it gives teams something to play for ALL season - and you'd likely not see teams "rest" stars in week 16 or 17. Have your 4 division winners and 2 wildcards remain the same for MAKING the playoffs, but then I say re-seed.
Comment by Dustin Hull
Football Times
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Comment by Seyal
Seyal's Slice of the Universe
Seyal's Adventures in Dog Training
Why not just throw all the NFC and AFC teams together - just one "division" per conference. Then say the top 6 teams make the playoffs with #1 and #2 getting 1st round byes and highest seed in a match up getting homefield?
That way 7-9 almost never would get a sniff and if they do, it's more an indictment on how weak the conference was that year than having a whole division be terrible, yet someone has to go in.
Why do we need divisions?
Comment by Dustin Hull
Football Times
Diamond Press