Certainly all the games are important, they each count for a W or a L. Especially this year, without OTAs, limited training camp, and no pre-season games, teams were probably still fighting off the rust in the first month (although I really didn't see a lot of it in the games I watched, a small sample size). And teams that make it to December in relatively good health are just gonna win more games, it's a battle of attrition, especially in the NFL.
Ouch. That 2007 loss to the Giants at Lambeau still hurts. I can still see Tom Mcloughlin's red, frozen face. But the Giants won the SB twice with Eli, the most memorable was knocking off the then undefeated Pats. So yeah, watch out for the teams that "sneak in". Like the Packers in 2010, they can be dangerous and easily overlooked.
and there's the fact college basketball is mostly, who cares outside of the tournament. there are a few big games out of hundreds of them weekly. I think the NFL does well. Every week matters a lot. Also in college you have huge disparities between conferences and leagues and regions etc. I think the pro's have it balanced out pretty well in terms of divisions and conference play to to then determine a champion.
I don't like the move to 14 teams in the playoffs. But that's the trend is sports. The NBA is the worst violator in my mind. I think half of all teams make the playoffs (or close to it). That doesn't reward good play during the season. But it lines the pockets of the owners, the broadcasters, and ultimately the players, so who cares about fairness?
Good points. I guess when I boil it down, on wildcard weekend we are going to get to watch one more game. It may dilute things slightly, but I'll still park my butt on the couch for three more hours.
At the end of the day, it's a business that wants to make money. Well, until it went woke anyway.
NCAA basketball tournament is no doubt a great event but could be even better imo. And this coming year is the year to do it. Take the top 256 teams and place them in 4 geographical regions in pods of 4 teams. Takes only 1 extra week and eliminates the ridiculously pathetic conference tournaments with all their empty seats. Imagine the mayhem created by matchups likely to occur like Duke-NC, Kentucky -Louisville, Wisconsin-Marquette, Florida-Florida State and many more throughout the country in a loser go home scenario. It would be incredible! About 10 years I mapped it out in about 2 hours. I was floored by what I saw. Less travel, more money, better and intriguing matchups. They need to try it.
Yup and don’t like it.
Yup and don’t like it.
Agreed. An additional 2 playoff games is hardly peanuts. The TV revenue alone would be substantial. Yeah there won't be any ticket revenue this year. It's still a decent chunk of change.
