Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Dog Football! Which Breeds Are Best Suited For The Gridiron?

Division winners deserve a playoff spot, but not an automatic top 4 seed

Ignoring divisions the Colts are currently 3rd in the AFC and only a half game away from 2nd and a first round bye. Back in the real world with divisions the Colts are 5th in the AFC with no chance get a bye or host a first round playoff game (and next to zero chance of hosting any playoff game). The current #6 seed? 4th in the AFC. Both the Colts and Ravens have the same record and have more more AFC games than the Jets, but the Jets are favorites to host their first playoff game.

Taking away the guaranteed playoff spot for division winners either totally or conditionally (have to win x number of games) eliminates the point of divisions. Why even have them at all if the best team doesn't go to the playoffs. Divisions and the automatic playoff spot for the winner should be kept. Divisions build and sustain rivalries. Divisions have been a longstanding part of the NFL (and every major team sport). Getting rid of divisions it's the best way to solve this problem (though getting rid of them would allow each team to play it's entire conference and an extra inter-conference game).

The problem is the NFL rule that the top 4 seeds go to division winners. Every year there is at least one division that is just awful and one team stands above the rest just by being mediocre. If these teams can't beat up on their pathetic division mates for more wins than a wildcard team, why should they get homefield advantage? Are the Colts and Ravens less worthy of a top 4 seed just because they have the top 2 teams in the conference in their division? Does the Titans being very good, mean that somehow the Colts couldn't also be?

Comment 4 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

Completely off topic

But Robert Mathis was just named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. About time he got a little recognition for the great season he’s having. Congrats!

by indy15 on Dec 3, 2008 1:47 PM EST reply actions  

Made a post

Made a post on this. Thanks for info.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by Brad Wells on Dec 3, 2008 2:38 PM EST up reply actions  

It all works out in the end...

3 of the past 4 Super Bowl winners were wildcard teams. These weak division winners don’t last long anyways.

IMO, winning even a bad division is an accomplishment….reward the division winners with a home playoff game.

I like the system even if it may hurt us this year.

by Disco Stu on Dec 3, 2008 2:38 PM EST reply actions  

Let us remember that the hypothetical #3 Colts will draw an opening round game with the Jets or Broncos, most likely Broncos. Also, there’s a decent chance the Broncos could win their division with a losing record. It’s all kinda iffy.

Bob Sanders eats a forest on Friday so he can lay the wood on Sunday.
http://sportscircuits.wordpress.com
http://monkeybiziu.deviantart.com

by MonkeyBusiness on Dec 3, 2008 3:21 PM EST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Indianapolis Colts, 2006 NFL Champions!

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Small
Stats Prove It: Brady Is Now a Choker

Recent FanPosts

Small
Coaching staff finalized today...
Small
How to build a championship team
Small
Two more colts assistants
Small
Co-existence
Img_0497-comp_small
Colts Mock Draft
Small
Tony Ugoh
Small
Jim Irsay on Peyton Manning Last Week
Small
next years' starting lineup
Small
More Clarity on Peyton's Injury
Small
Colts Mock 1.0

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Head Writer, Editor-In-Chief

Stampedeblue_small Brad Wells

Mgrex03_avatar_small mgrex03

Contributing Writers

Photo_small nopuntintended

Colts_small emiller17

Sbmanning_small Stew Blake