5 reasons new NFL playoff format works
On Feb. 19 the NFL announced a change to its current playoff format, adding an additional playoff team as part of its new collective bargaining agreement. Usually when making any sort of change as drastic as playoff reconfiguration it would take forever to be instituted -- baseball is discussing a playoff change that wouldn’t take place until 2022! Yet the NFL seemed to turn this luxury liner around pretty quick since this change will be instituted come next playoffs.
Under the new format only the top seed in each conference would get a bye, with teams two through seven battling it out Wild Card Weekend, and the conference top seeds resuming play Divisional Weekend like before. When I first read it I thought the response would be universally positive. It’s more football! We love football! The land of bigger is better, monster trucks and stuffed crust pizzas. Who would complain about extra fries with your burger, a case of beer that comes with two free cans or bonus buffalo wings in your sports bar app order?
Yet a number of football fans, writers and former players I follow and respect have voiced their dissent on the proposal. Seems a “less is more” and “don’t fix what’s not broken” attitude prevails. Which I understand, but disagree with like I do every penalty called on the Patriots.
A seventh playoff team and two more Wild Card games don’t represent overkill, a watered down product or an unnecessary upgrade to me. America is a land of excess, but also opportunity, which is how I see this through my football obsessed frames. And since I’m the de facto list guy at this madhouse, allow me to take this opportunity to present five reasons why I like the change.
