Are football conferences really relevant?

JimboJ · 01-03-2005, 12:54 PM

With two NFC teams making the playoff with 8-8 records, and 9-7 teams from the AFC being eliminated, I've got to wonder why they just don't scrap the whole conference system as far as playoffs are concerned. You could still have the 8 division winners make the playoffs, and the remaining four wild card teams be the teams with the best records, regardless of conference. Then you just seed all the teams according to their records, and just play it as a tournament. Then the best two teams should end up in the super bowl, regardless of which conference they are from.

Would anyone object to this? I guess I don't see the relevance of AFC vs. NFC. It's not like baseball, where you have two leagues that really are different (different rules, don't play against each other except for certain times of the season). Nor is it a geographical thing like basketball and hockey (east vs. west).

I know the AFC is based on the old AFL and the NFC on the old NFL, but does anyone even think in those terms anymore? Aren't AFC and NFC really pretty much arbitrary separations now? Does anyone take any sort of pride in one conference beating another conference in the super bowl?

I'm curious how others feel about this.

rkmsuf · 01-03-2005, 12:57 PM

I like the way it is and it doesn't both me one bit that Baltimore, Buf or Jax got left out. They had their chance against their division.

JimboJ · 01-03-2005, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

I like the way it is and it doesn't both me one bit that Baltimore, Buf or Jax got left out. They had their chance against their division.

Yeah, but unless you're a Vikings fan, its GOT to bother you that they got in!

rkmsuf · 01-03-2005, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimboJ

Yeah, but unless you're a Vikings fan, its GOT to bother you that they got in!

why? Min @ GB should be a good game. 9-7 vs 8-8...big deal.

gstelmack · 01-03-2005, 01:08 PM

My problem with this approach is that everyone doesn't play the same people when looking across conferences. It's possible for an 8-8 team to be better than a 10-6 one simply based on who they each played. In the particular case of this season it's easy to back up that the AFC was better than the NFC based on the cross-conference matchup records, but you can't look at an individual team's record and draw that same conclusion.

rkmsuf · 01-03-2005, 01:09 PM

the world is an imperfect place

the red sox play the devil rays and tigers 19 times

Mustang · 01-03-2005, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

why? Min @ GB should be a good game. 9-7 vs 8-8...big deal.

10-6 v 8-8

rkmsuf · 01-03-2005, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustang

10-6 v 8-8

meaning 9-7 not in the playoffs and 8-8 are.

not the individual matchup..their records are irrelevant at this point.

Maple Leafs · 01-03-2005, 01:26 PM

It seems that the real unbalance comes from the divisions, not the conferences. If you scrap one, how do you keep the other?

Personally I prefer the NFL's NFC vs. AFC system, where you have two leagues with separate histories, to the NHL's somewhat forced and meaningless geographic approach.

JimboJ · 01-03-2005, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

why? Min @ GB should be a good game. 9-7 vs 8-8...big deal.

I meant the way they played against the Redskins yesterday, when they had everything to play for and the Skins had nothing to play for. That was not a playoff team that showed up yesterday.

rkmsuf · 01-03-2005, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimboJ

I meant the way they played against the Redskins yesterday, when they had everything to play for and the Skins had nothing to play for. That was not a playoff team that showed up yesterday.

so what. i don't see what league structure has to do with it. had they won a couple of close games and had been 10-5 it would have been the same group of guys and the same effort.

the vikings don't strike me as a superbowl team but I can see them giving gb a game next week.

SunDancer · 01-03-2005, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

It seems that the real unbalance comes from the divisions, not the conferences. If you scrap one, how do you keep the other?

Personally I prefer the NFL's NFC vs. AFC system, where you have two leagues with separate histories, to the NHL's somewhat forced and meaningless geographic approach.

I think it's the new alignment, four teams in eight divisions. The old 6 divisions, 3 division champs and 3 wildcards, was the best.

JimboJ · 01-03-2005, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

It seems that the real unbalance comes from the divisions, not the conferences. If you scrap one, how do you keep the other?

Yes, its true you could still end up with a division winner being 8-8. But you still need divisions, because division races still add some excitement to the season.

Scrapping the conferences should eliminate the 8-8 wild card teams, which is more what I'm talking about.

Warhammer · 01-03-2005, 01:52 PM

I like the conferences. Plus, this is only the 6th and 7th time this has happened in the history of the NFL.

The conferences also matter from a scheduling point of view. It also adds rivalries to the league, which you would not have with a straight seeding system.

Cap Ologist · 01-03-2005, 04:01 PM

The conferences are necessary to determine which teams get to use designated kickers.

kcchief19 · 01-03-2005, 04:42 PM

How would you break a five-way inter-conference tie between a bunch of 9-7 teams? The system isn't perfect, but I don't see any reason to create new problems to let a 9-7 team in ahead of an 8-8 team. I don't think any given 9-7 team is demonstrably better than any 8-8 team. In fact, I'd take some of this year's 7-9 teams over some of the 9-7 teams.

That said, even FOF will show you that given the schedule structure and division size, it is inevitable that one day a 7-9 or -- god forbid -- 6-10 division winner will make the playoffs and a 9-7 team will stay home. I have no problem with it, but it will happen.

jamesUMD · 01-03-2005, 07:05 PM

I have more of a problem with a team that may have a record of say 10-6 or 11-5, but second in their division having to go on the road to play an 8-8 team that won their division than I do imbalance between conferences.

Also, Minnesota lost to Green Bay 2 times this year, both on last second FG's, both giving GB the win 34-31 both times. I'll admit they gave lackluster performance, but many teams records were 1-2 plays from being vastly different whether better or worse.

cuervo72 · 01-03-2005, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimboJ

Would anyone object to this?

Yes.

sterlingice · 01-03-2005, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

It seems that the real unbalance comes from the divisions, not the conferences. If you scrap one, how do you keep the other?

Personally I prefer the NFL's NFC vs. AFC system, where you have two leagues with separate histories, to the NHL's somewhat forced and meaningless geographic approach.

Amen. Bring back the Norris, Smythe, Adams, and, crap, I forget the other ones.

SI

ISiddiqui · 01-03-2005, 11:30 PM

Patrick... and Campbell Conference & Wales Conference

01-03-2005, 12:57 PM	#2
rkmsuf Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2001	I like the way it is and it doesn't both me one bit that Baltimore, Buf or Jax got left out. They had their chance against their division. __________________ "Don't you have homes?" -- Judge Smales

01-03-2005, 01:08 PM	#5
gstelmack Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Cary, NC	My problem with this approach is that everyone doesn't play the same people when looking across conferences. It's possible for an 8-8 team to be better than a 10-6 one simply based on who they each played. In the particular case of this season it's easy to back up that the AFC was better than the NFC based on the cross-conference matchup records, but you can't look at an individual team's record and draw that same conclusion. __________________ -- Greg -- Author of various FOF utilities

01-03-2005, 01:09 PM	#6
rkmsuf Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2001	the world is an imperfect place the red sox play the devil rays and tigers 19 times __________________ "Don't you have homes?" -- Judge Smales

01-03-2005, 01:26 PM	#9
Maple Leafs Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002	It seems that the real unbalance comes from the divisions, not the conferences. If you scrap one, how do you keep the other? Personally I prefer the NFL's NFC vs. AFC system, where you have two leagues with separate histories, to the NHL's somewhat forced and meaningless geographic approach. __________________ Down Goes Brown: Toronto Maple Leafs Humor and Analysis

01-03-2005, 07:05 PM	#17
jamesUMD High School JV Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Baltimore, MD	I have more of a problem with a team that may have a record of say 10-6 or 11-5, but second in their division having to go on the road to play an 8-8 team that won their division than I do imbalance between conferences. Also, Minnesota lost to Green Bay 2 times this year, both on last second FG's, both giving GB the win 34-31 both times. I'll admit they gave lackluster performance, but many teams records were 1-2 plays from being vastly different whether better or worse. __________________ HailtotheRedskins!

01-03-2005, 01:52 PM	#14
Warhammer Pro Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dayton, OH	I like the conferences. Plus, this is only the 6th and 7th time this has happened in the history of the NFL. The conferences also matter from a scheduling point of view. It also adds rivalries to the league, which you would not have with a straight seeding system.

01-03-2005, 04:01 PM	#15
Cap Ologist College Prospect Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Flower Mound, TX	The conferences are necessary to determine which teams get to use designated kickers.

01-03-2005, 04:42 PM	#16
kcchief19 Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Kansas City, MO	How would you break a five-way inter-conference tie between a bunch of 9-7 teams? The system isn't perfect, but I don't see any reason to create new problems to let a 9-7 team in ahead of an 8-8 team. I don't think any given 9-7 team is demonstrably better than any 8-8 team. In fact, I'd take some of this year's 7-9 teams over some of the 9-7 teams. That said, even FOF will show you that given the schedule structure and division size, it is inevitable that one day a 7-9 or -- god forbid -- 6-10 division winner will make the playoffs and a 9-7 team will stay home. I have no problem with it, but it will happen.

01-03-2005, 11:30 PM	#20
ISiddiqui Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Decatur, GA	Patrick... and Campbell Conference & Wales Conference __________________ "A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages" -Tennessee Williams

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)