Peevo Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 It is a problem IMO. A team gets a franchise great QB and due to the 'blunt' 4-team divisional format, 3 teams become the Washington Generals for 10-20 years. Say the Jets get Sam Darnold and he becomes a Manning/Brady/Rodgers-level QB, and they manage the roster competently... It all but ensures that the Bills would not host a playoff game for a decade more +... The 4-team divisional format really can put your team and 3 others in a tough spot. I get the whole 'macho' "just beat them and it doesnt make a difference. It is easier than that though and I do think there are better ways to align the league. It stinks there are various coin-flip divisions like the Souths and sometimes the Wests, and then you have some that are on generational lock-down And the current rivalries do nothing for me. The Patriots I hate, just because the success. I am worn down with 17 years of beat-downs and am at the point of malaise. I didnt shed a tear when the Colts left the AFC East... The Jets do nothing for me other than me disliking any NYC sports team. The Dolphins are nothing to me. A turquiose team with a minimal fanbase in a city that has nothing in common with me. The Marino-Kelly years were good, but mostly due to the situation that both teams happened to be at the top of the Division/Conference for 8 years or so. It could have been anyone else, really, didnt matter if it was Miami. Kind of like the nasty Seattle/San Francisco rivalry a few years ago. The NFL will get that no matter what, depending on who is good and competing for a run of a few years/seasons. This is so good. I completely agree. Why is the NFL so desperate to make "Bills-Jets" happen? 3 straight years on Thursday Night Football. Stop trying to make it happen. It's never going to happen. I hate the old rivalries, the entire system is completely flawed and is desperate need of change. Why so many fans are so hesitant to any new ideas that COULD MAKE THE BILLS COMPETITIVE is beyond this poster.
Maury Ballstein Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 This is so good. I completely agree. Why is the NFL so desperate to make "Bills-Jets" happen? 3 straight years on Thursday Night Football. Stop trying to make it happen. It's never going to happen. I hate the old rivalries, the entire system is completely flawed and is desperate need of change. Why so many fans are so hesitant to any new ideas that COULD MAKE THE BILLS COMPETITIVE is beyond this poster. Hate it. Cowboys Redskins Chiefs Broncos Eagles Giants Bills Dolphins Packers Bears Is where it's at.
May Day 10 Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 Hate it. Cowboys Redskins Chiefs Broncos Eagles Giants Bills Dolphins Packers Bears Is where it's at. one of things is not like the others.... do people in Miami even realize there is a rivalry? I would rank Buffalo vs Miami very low. Maybe lower than Houston/Indy. It hasn't been relevant for 20 years, and a whole generation has no idea. Hell, I am a year from 40 and have no experience with the 70's domination. Just about a little more than a dozen Kelly/Marino games ages ago. The Patriots' fans probably see the Colts, Ravens, Steelers, Jets, and Broncos as bigger rivals than the Bills. Maybe even the Giants. Jets fans don't care about the Bills.
Peevo Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 one of things is not like the others.... do people in Miami even realize there is a rivalry? I would rank Buffalo vs Miami very low. Maybe lower than Houston/Indy. It hasn't been relevant for 20 years, and a whole generation has no idea. Hell, I am a year from 40 and have no experience with the 70's domination. Just about a little more than a dozen Kelly/Marino games ages ago. The Patriots' fans probably see the Colts, Ravens, Steelers, Jets, and Broncos as bigger rivals than the Bills. Maybe even the Giants. Jets fans don't care about the Bills. I don't really even think the players care that much. The schedule should be first and foremost about competitive balance and equal opportunity. The Patriots domination of the AFC East has shifted the balance of power so far in their direction, it would benefit other AFC contenders to not have them walk into a first round bye every season. Think about it, New England has to win one playoff game to lock in their spot in the AFC title game every year. That's insane. The system is desperate need of reform.
row_33 Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 (edited) The aim in the Age of Parity is to have as many teams vying for a playoff spot as is mathematically possible. They KNOW that 2 NFL divisions each year are going to be such trash that 8-8 could plausibly win the division, they WANT it to be that way, there you get 8 fanbases all excited about a playoff possibility, even those with a 1-5 start. Hockey has done the honourable thing and weeded out garbage teams early in the the season. A few years ago the system was so perfect that teams more than 4 points back of the 8th playoff spot in the NHL were basically finished by November 1st. http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/opinion/2013/10/30-thoughts-playoff-chase-begins-early-in-nhl.html Isn't it fun to hit the last 6 weeks of the Bills season with dozens on here calculating that if the Bills win all 6 and 48 other games go the Bills way that they might get the 4th level of tiebreaker to go the Bills way? most Blue Jays fans and media are arguing the team is still a major Wild Card contender 9 or 10 under .500 in last place of the AL East, bless their little hearts... Edited July 26, 2017 by row_33
Peevo Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 The aim in the Age of Parity is to have as many teams vying for a playoff spot as is mathematically possible. They KNOW that 2 NFL divisions each year are going to be such trash that 8-8 could plausibly win the division, they WANT it to be that way, there you get 8 fanbases all excited about a playoff possibility, even those with a 1-5 start. Hockey has done the honourable thing and weeded out garbage teams early in the the season. A few years ago the system was so perfect that teams more than 4 points back of the 8th playoff spot in the NHL were basically finished by November 1st. http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/opinion/2013/10/30-thoughts-playoff-chase-begins-early-in-nhl.html Isn't it fun to hit the last 6 weeks of the Bills season with dozens on here calculating that if the Bills win all 6 and 48 other games go the Bills way that they might get the 4th level of tiebreaker to go the Bills way? This is an interesting analysis. I don't what really the answer is. Ultimately, I as a fan want a championship. It's very unrealistic for the Bills or Sabres this season to seriously compete for one. That's how tanking gets into the conversation. Patriots domination of the AFC, the terrible state of QB play overall in the league, and the playoff format makes it very, very hard for Buffalo to clinch a spot every season. So what is the goal? You have to be VERY bad to clinch the 1st pick, and you have to be the Patriots to win a championship. The Bills are about exactly halfway between these two realities. What's the point? The NFL has a problem on its hands and no one seems to care. When you have 1 team that has a chance at winning, realistically winning it all, what is the point of any of this? I honestly have no hope left. I can't conceive a reality in which the Bills are ever good. I'm broken. Cue the Pantera riff.
macaroni Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 I also believe that, in a sport where every game is so important, you shouldn't play any team twice in the regular season. You should have to play each team in your conference once, and then rotate other conference games in. I get that you won't get a home skins/cowboys game every year, but I think it'll honestly be better for the sport and you'll see more home teams come to your stadium. I'll take it one step further .... Add two teams (one in each conference), and then each team plays every other team in their conference once ... no cross conference games ... have your playoffs consist of the top however many teams you want within the conference, and have the Super Bowl be between the AFC and NFC champions.
Maury Ballstein Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 one of things is not like the others.... do people in Miami even realize there is a rivalry? I would rank Buffalo vs Miami very low. Maybe lower than Houston/Indy. It hasn't been relevant for 20 years, and a whole generation has no idea. Hell, I am a year from 40 and have no experience with the 70's domination. Just about a little more than a dozen Kelly/Marino games ages ago. The Patriots' fans probably see the Colts, Ravens, Steelers, Jets, and Broncos as bigger rivals than the Bills. Maybe even the Giants. Jets fans don't care about the Bills. It works for me. Love going to the Miami game, where's it's 30% or higher bills fans.
Runninrams Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 for all the crying about having to play the Pats 2x a year....its only 2 games out of 16. What's the excuse for crapping the bed in the other 14 games? 2 of which are gimme wins (Jets)
row_33 Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 Repeats of the 8 divisions winners from 2002 to 2014 ranged from 1 (once) to 6 (twice) Even with the dominance of the Pats and Colts the average repeat division winner of 8 is 3. That's perfect parity, the goal of the NFL. Mind you, every year the "experts" pick 7 or 8 teams to easily repeat.
Virgil Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 I'll take it one step further .... Add two teams (one in each conference), and then each team plays every other team in their conference once ... no cross conference games ... have your playoffs consist of the top however many teams you want within the conference, and have the Super Bowl be between the AFC and NFC champions. I don't think that will ever happen. I don't want the Bills to never play a team in the NFC. To never get to see some of those great players would be a disservice to the fans.
shrader Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 I'll take it one step further .... Add two teams (one in each conference), and then each team plays every other team in their conference once ... no cross conference games ... have your playoffs consist of the top however many teams you want within the conference, and have the Super Bowl be between the AFC and NFC champions. This structure is the only way it could ever work to not have divisions. The only way you can fairly seed teams is if they all play the same schedule. That's obviously pretty tough with only a 16 game season, thus the need to at least divide the teams in half. The costs of travel are always going to get in the way of everyone playing each other once though. No matter what people say, the structure with divisions is never going to go away. No matter what system anyone comes up with to determine playoff seeding, there is going to be flaws.
row_33 Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 This structure is the only way it could ever work to not have divisions. The only way you can fairly seed teams is if they all play the same schedule. That's obviously pretty tough with only a 16 game season, thus the need to at least divide the teams in half. The costs of travel are always going to get in the way of everyone playing each other once though. No matter what people say, the structure with divisions is never going to go away. No matter what system anyone comes up with to determine playoff seeding, there is going to be flaws. What sport has balanced schedules, they all are lopsided, baseball by far the worst if it hands out Wild Cards.
row_33 Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 Did the NHL go fully balanced back in the 21 team days, with everyone playing 4 times against each other?
Bills_Chick Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 It is a problem IMO. A team gets a franchise great QB and due to the 'blunt' 4-team divisional format, 3 teams become the Washington Generals for 10-20 years. Say the Jets get Sam Darnold and he becomes a Manning/Brady/Rodgers-level QB, and they manage the roster competently... It all but ensures that the Bills would not host a playoff game for a decade more +... The 4-team divisional format really can put your team and 3 others in a tough spot. I get the whole 'macho' "just beat them and it doesnt make a difference. It is easier than that though and I do think there are better ways to align the league. It stinks there are various coin-flip divisions like the Souths and sometimes the Wests, and then you have some that are on generational lock-down And the current rivalries do nothing for me. The Patriots I hate, just because the success. I am worn down with 17 years of beat-downs and am at the point of malaise. I didnt shed a tear when the Colts left the AFC East... The Jets do nothing for me other than me disliking any NYC sports team. The Dolphins are nothing to me. A turquiose team with a minimal fanbase in a city that has nothing in common with me. The Marino-Kelly years were good, but mostly due to the situation that both teams happened to be at the top of the Division/Conference for 8 years or so. It could have been anyone else, really, didnt matter if it was Miami. Kind of like the nasty Seattle/San Francisco rivalry a few years ago. The NFL will get that no matter what, depending on who is good and competing for a run of a few years/seasons. Agreed. And stop scaring me with your Jets scenario!
SoCal Deek Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 I'd love it if they played every team in the Conference once, and a few twice depending on the record. The AFC and NFC would only play in the Super Bowl. OLD SCHOOL!
shrader Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 What sport has balanced schedules, they all are lopsided, baseball by far the worst if it hands out Wild Cards. The closet case to a balanced schedule can be found within the division. And that's why when determining the playoffs, you are first compared against those other teams in the division. There will never be an ideal system as long as schedules aren't balanced, and schedules will never be balanced.
Fan in San Diego Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 I also believe that, in a sport where every game is so important, you shouldn't play any team twice in the regular season. You should have to play each team in your conference once, and then rotate other conference games in. I get that you won't get a home skins/cowboys game every year, but I think it'll honestly be better for the sport and you'll see more home teams come to your stadium. I like this idea
row_33 Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 The closet case to a balanced schedule can be found within the division. And that's why when determining the playoffs, you are first compared against those other teams in the division. There will never be an ideal system as long as schedules aren't balanced, and schedules will never be balanced. Fair enough, i see the NFL as the best for parity and opportunity to rise and fall. The SB reps from the NFC are balanced more than any other sport the last 20 seasons, the AFC a lot less though. I'm hearing the NHL did it perfectly with 21 teams playing 2 home and away for a few seasons. Soccer in Europe plays a home and away balanced schedule each season domestically.
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