NFL has discussed changing playoffs including seeding based on records
By Mike Dyce
The Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs is just around the corner and there is a lot of controversy over the current format. One issue is that deserving teams, like the 10-6 Arizona Cardinals are at home despite an 8-7-1 Green Bay Packers team being in. The Cardinals record was only good enough for third place in their division and not good enough for one of the two Wild Card spots.
The other issue is that the 8-7-1 Packers are hosting the 12-4 San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card round. Some feel like teams with lesser records shouldn’t be allowed to host playoff games. In the 2010 NFL season, the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks hosted the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the playoffs having won the division with a losing record.
There has been some call for change, and the NFL has discussed it.
“Every scenario has been discussed, ranging from reseeding to one extra game, expanding from 12 to 14 teams,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said. “Think of a scenario, it’s been discussed and remains in play.”
Expanding to 14 teams seems unlikely and messy. Expanding to 16 teams would likely eliminate first round byes, and that could render some of the season finale and Week 17 match ups less important. Reseeding is interesting because as of now they reseed after the Wild Card round.