NFL (2025 Season)

[jgb191]

I actually like the new OT rules, where the team that lost the coin toss should get one chance to match the TD if the team that won the coin toss scored on their initial possession, then sudden death.  If the second offense fails to match the TD, then the game is over.

As for the playoff revision proposed by the Detroit Lions, I actually like the idea of better record host the playoff game in the Wild Card game....it is that way in the remaining rounds of the playoffs (before the Super Bowl) where better record hosts the game.

[webny99]

As for the playoff revision proposed by the Detroit Lions, I actually like the idea of better record host the playoff game in the Wild Card game....it is that way in the remaining rounds of the playoffs (before the Super Bowl) where better record hosts the game.

I have mixed feelings about this only because divisions and division rivalries are partly what make the NFL stand out from other sports, and this would significantly reduce the importance of winning the division.

[NWI_Irish96]

I actually like the new OT rules, where the team that lost the coin toss should get one chance to match the TD if the team that won the coin toss scored on their initial possession, then sudden death.  If the second offense fails to match the TD, then the game is over.

As for the playoff revision proposed by the Detroit Lions, I actually like the idea of better record host the playoff game in the Wild Card game....it is that way in the remaining rounds of the playoffs (before the Super Bowl) where better record hosts the game.

I prefer eliminating overtime completely by adopting a modified soccer points system.

3 points for a win. However, instead of giving each team 1 point for a tie, the team that was most recently ahead gets 2 points and the other team 1 point. (There hasn't been a 0-0 tie in decades, but just in case each team would only get 1 point.)

Makes late game strategy really fun.

[SEWIGuy]

I actually like the new OT rules, where the team that lost the coin toss should get one chance to match the TD if the team that won the coin toss scored on their initial possession, then sudden death.  If the second offense fails to match the TD, then the game is over.

As for the playoff revision proposed by the Detroit Lions, I actually like the idea of better record host the playoff game in the Wild Card game....it is that way in the remaining rounds of the playoffs (before the Super Bowl) where better record hosts the game.

Agreed. I also think that if a division winner can't get to .500, they shouldn't qualify for the playoffs. That means an additional wild card team qualifies instead. (Unless there are no other wild card teams .500 or above.)

[JayhawkCO]

I want the Elam ending.

[SEWIGuy]

I want the Elam ending.

After watching a few games with this...it really wasn't that great. I think there are better ways to speed up the end of basketball games anyway.

[thspfc]

it is that way in the remaining rounds of the playoffs (before the Super Bowl) where better record hosts the game.

Higher seed always hosts. The 10-7 Rams would have hosted the NFC title game vs. 12-5 Washington if they beat the Eagles.

The last time the home team had the worse record in a non-wild card playoff game was the 2018 AFC divisional, where the 12-4 Chargers visited the 11-5 Patriots.

I want the Elam ending.

In football? God no.

[NWI_Irish96]

Higher seed always hosts. The 10-7 Rams would have hosted the NFC title game vs. 12-5 Washington if they beat the Eagles.

Would have to have been played elsewhere though, likely Arizona.

[JayhawkCO]

I want the Elam ending.

In football? God no.

T'was a joke. Obviously not enough scoring in football to even do a variation of it.

[mgk920]

Figured it should be mentioned that the NFL's postseason overtime rule allowing both teams to possess the ball in overtime is being expanded to the regular season, among other rule changes: https://apnews.com/article/nfl-rules-explainer-kickoff-05f6952530dbcc772f62190cad9d1ad6

And it makes sense. Once the chance was implemented without issue in the postseason, it seemed pretty much inevitable that it would eventually be implemented in the regular season too.

I also note that a touchback will now be placed on the 35 YL instead of the 30, this to discourage kickers from booming the ball into the end zone (It should be placed on the 40 - MGK).

Mike

[jgb191]

If you want to stress winning the division, how about this:  After the final week of the regular season, the following weekend the top seed in each division would host the second-best record in the division (instead of a second-place team in another division) in a Division Championship Game.  The winner of all those games would be officially crowned Division Champions and advance to the second round.  Then seed each of those winners according to regular season records and tiebreaker rules:  the best record would host the 4th best and the 2nd best record-holder would host the 3rd best.  The winner of those two games would meet in the Conference Championship Game and the team with the better record hosts that game.

This idea I really think truly emphasizes winning the division, while still rewarding better records all the way through.  Personally I prefer division winner only clinch playoff spots and seed playoff teams according to best regular season records; the best seven records in each conference makes the playoffs....if three teams in one division (NFC North & AFC West) are among the top seven records and all three are in the playoffs.

[epzik8]

As for the playoff revision proposed by the Detroit Lions,

NFL teams sure do love advocating for playoff rule changes when they're inconvenienced.

[SEWIGuy]

If you want to stress winning the division, how about this:  After the final week of the regular season, the following weekend the top seed in each division would host the second-best record in the division (instead of a second-place team in another division) in a Division Championship Game.  The winner of all those games would be officially crowned Division Champions and advance to the second round.  Then seed each of those winners according to regular season records and tiebreaker rules:  the best record would host the 4th best and the 2nd best record-holder would host the 3rd best.  The winner of those two games would meet in the Conference Championship Game and the team with the better record hosts that game.

This idea I really think truly emphasizes winning the division, while still rewarding better records all the way through.  Personally I prefer division winner only clinch playoff spots and seed playoff teams according to best regular season records; the best seven records in each conference makes the playoffs....if three teams in one division (NFC North & AFC West) are among the top seven records and all three are in the playoffs.

I, for one, am not all that impressed by a division championship. They only have four teams each, which is convenient for scheduling purposes, but outside of that is rather meaningless. So cool... you are one of the 25% of teams who won their division. Tremendous accomplishment...     

The Packers have won their division 21 times. You won't find reference to that anywhere inside of Lambeau Field.

[NWI_Irish96]

Here would be a fun way to shake things up and also make winning divisions more of an accomplishment.

1) Eliminate conferences.

2) Merge the geographic partner divisions to create four 8-team divisions.

3) Each year, you play your original division opponents 2x each and the other teams 1x each. The other 7 opponents are out of division (several options for structuring this).

4) The best record, after applying tiebreakers, is the division champion and gets a playoff seed of 1-4.

5) The best record FROM THE OPPOSING GROUP OF FOUR, after applying tiebreakers, in each division is the division sub-champion and gets a playoff seed of 5-8.

6) The next 6 best records, after applying tiebreakers, get playoff seeds 9-14.

Seeds 1-2 get byes. First round games match 3 vs 14, 4 vs 13, etc. No re-seeding after the first round.

[thspfc]

If you want to stress winning the division, how about this:  After the final week of the regular season, the following weekend the top seed in each division would host the second-best record in the division (instead of a second-place team in another division) in a Division Championship Game.  The winner of all those games would be officially crowned Division Champions and advance to the second round.  Then seed each of those winners according to regular season records and tiebreaker rules:  the best record would host the 4th best and the 2nd best record-holder would host the 3rd best.  The winner of those two games would meet in the Conference Championship Game and the team with the better record hosts that game.

This idea I really think truly emphasizes winning the division, while still rewarding better records all the way through.  Personally I prefer division winner only clinch playoff spots and seed playoff teams according to best regular season records; the best seven records in each conference makes the playoffs....if three teams in one division (NFC North & AFC West) are among the top seven records and all three are in the playoffs.

This is too far in the opposite direction - it puts too much emphasis on divisions.

Looking at last season, the Lions would have hosted the Vikings for the second week in a row, and the Bucs would have played the Falcons for a spot in the next round while the Packers sat at home. I know all those teams went one and done anyway, but that doesn't make it less absurd. And the NFC championship would have happened in the "division championship" instead.

As long as we're throwing out proposals to "fix" the playoffs, I'll cast my vote for changing nothing.

[thenetwork]

Here is a fun fact regarding sports and Pope Francis:

During Pope Francis' time as Pope (about the last 12 years), Every MLB, NBA, and NFL sports team has played in at least ONE post-season playoff game...

EXCEPT for one...

The New York Jets.

[jlam]

Here is a fun fact regarding sports and Pope Francis:

During Pope Francis' time as Pope (about the last 12 years), Every MLB, NBA, and NFL sports team has played in at least ONE post-season playoff game...

EXCEPT for one...

The New York Jets.

That excludes the NHL and the Sabres, but pathetic nonetheless.

In addition to the Jets, three other NFL teams hadn't won a playoff game during the tenure of Pope Francis: the Dolphins, Raiders, and Bears. In the Dolphins' and Raiders' cases, you have to go all the way back to John Paul II.

[Henry]

Here is a fun fact regarding sports and Pope Francis:

During Pope Francis' time as Pope (about the last 12 years), Every MLB, NBA, and NFL sports team has played in at least ONE post-season playoff game...

EXCEPT for one...

The New York Jets.

That excludes the NHL and the Sabres, but pathetic nonetheless.

In addition to the Jets, three other NFL teams hadn't won a playoff game during the tenure of Pope Francis: the Dolphins, Raiders, and Bears. In the Dolphins' and Raiders' cases, you have to go all the way back to John Paul II.

So 122 out of 124 teams from those leagues have participated in the playoffs...which further proves that it really sucks to be a Jets, and Sabres, fan; however, because I'm a Bears fan, the fact that they're one of three teams to not get a playoff win makes the rooting experience extra painful, but at least they were able to win while Benedict XVI was the pope.

[ZLoth]

During Pope Francis' time as Pope (about the last 12 years), Every MLB, NBA, and NFL sports team has played in at least ONE post-season playoff game...

EXCEPT for one...

The New York Jets.

Per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NFL_franchise_post-season_droughts, the following NFL teams did not have a post-season WIN during Pope Francis tenure: Miami Dolphins (2000 AFC Wild Card), Las Vegas Raiders (2002 AFC Championship as the Oakland Raiders), and Chicago Bears (2010 NFC Divisional).

[JayhawkCO]

During Pope Francis' time as Pope (about the last 12 years), Every MLB, NBA, and NFL sports team has played in at least ONE post-season playoff game...

EXCEPT for one...

The New York Jets.

Per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NFL_franchise_post-season_droughts, the following NFL teams did not have a post-season WIN during Pope Francis tenure: Miami Dolphins (2000 AFC Wild Card), Las Vegas Raiders (2002 AFC Championship as the Oakland Raiders), and Chicago Bears (2010 NFC Divisional).

jlam beat you to it two posts up.

[Big John]

Steve McMichael lost his battle with ALS today. 

[epzik8]

Jaguars made quite the bold move trading for #2 overall and drafting someone other than a QB.

[thspfc]

Lions make history, becoming the first team to make -1 selections in the first round. They un-drafted the 12th man on the field vs Washington.

[thspfc]

Have to rant for a sec after seeing internet discourse: how on God's green earth is it still a popular opinion that the AFC is better than the NFC? The NFC went 47-33 vs the AFC last year and won the Super Bowl in a blowout.

[NWI_Irish96]

Have to rant for a sec after seeing internet discourse: how on God's green earth is it still a popular opinion that the AFC is better than the NFC? The NFC went 47-33 vs the AFC last year and won the Super Bowl in a blowout.

It's well past time to get rid of the AFC and NFC.