Does the NFL Reseed in the Playoffs?
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NFL reseeding is a hotly debated topic among fans and experts alike. Some say that the NFL should reseed teams in the playoffs in order to create more fair and balanced matchups. Others argue that the current system, which seeds teams based on their record, is fine the way it is.
What is the NFL Playoff seeding system?
The NFL Playoff seeding system is a system that the NFL uses to determine which teams will compete against each other in the playoffs. The playoffs are a single-elimination tournament that is held at the end of the season to determine the champion of the NFL. The playoff field is made up of four teams from each conference, with each conference’s champion receiving a bye in the first round. The remaining teams are seeded according to their regular season record, with the best team playing the worst team and so on.
How does the NFL reseed in the playoffs?
The NFL reseeds in the playoffs so that the team with the best record will play the team with the worst record. This is done in order to create more competitive games. There can be some drawbacks to this, however.
If two teams from the same division win their Wild Card games
If two teams from the same division win their Wild Card games, they are reseeded according to their regular season records. The higher seed receives home-field advantage.
If a team from one division wins its Wild Card game and a team from another division wins its divisional game
If a team from one division wins its Wild Card game and a team from another division wins its divisional game, the two teams will play each other in the conference championship game, regardless of whether their opponents have better records. This is known as the “divisional loophole” or “Annie’s Rule.”
How has the NFL playoff seeding system changed over time?
The short answer is that the NFL has not always reseeded its playoffs and in fact, only introduced the concept in 1975. Prior to this, division winners were placed in different brackets and played each other in the first round with the divisional winners then advancing to play the conference winners in the Championship game.
In 1975, the NFL expanded from 14 to 16 games which necessitated an additional wild card team being added to each conference. As a result, the NFL also introduced the concept of reseeding so that division winners would not automatically play each other in the first round and have an unfair advantage.
The current system whereby division winners are guaranteed a top 4 seed regardless of their record was only introduced in 2002. Prior to this, only 2 division winners were guaranteed a top 4 seed with the remaining 2 slots being filled by wild card teams with the best records.
What are the benefits of reseeding in the NFL playoffs?
There are a few benefits of reseeding in the NFL playoffs. One is that it would create more interesting matchups. For example, let’s say the AFC’s top seed is the New England Patriots and the second seed is the Pittsburgh Steelers. In this scenario, the Patriots would play the lowest seed remaining in the AFC divisional round, while the Steelers would play the highest remaining seed.
If there was reseeding, the Patriots would instead play the highest remaining seed, while the Steelers would play the lowest remaining seed. This would make for a more interesting divisional round matchup, as it would be a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship game.
Another benefit of reseeding is that it would add an element of fairness to the playoffs. Currently, teams that earn a bye week (the top two seeds in each conference) have a significant advantage over teams that have to play in the Wild Card round. By reseeding, all teams would be on an equal playing field entering the playoffs.
What are the drawbacks of reseeding in the NFL playoffs?
While reseeding would eliminate the possibility of two division rivals meeting in the divisional round, it would also reduce the incentive for winning a division title. A team that knows it would be a wild card regardless of whether it finished first or fourth in its division might be less inclined to play its starters in Week 17, for example.
