faba Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Expanded playoffs unlikely for 2015 Updated: March 23, 2015, 10:06 AM ET By Dan Graziano | ESPN.com PHOENIX -- Expanded NFL playoffs, once thought to be a near-certainty for 2015, appear headed for the back burner once again. As NFL owners gather here this week for their annual meeting, the consensus seems to be that an expansion to the current 12-team playoff format will happen at some point, but not this year. {C}“ I think it's going to happen at some point. It just doesn't look like it's going to happen next year. ”- John Mara, on expanding the playoff field for the 2015 season "We're going to discuss the expanded playoffs, but I don't think there is a proposal out there to make any changes," New York Giants owner John Mara said Sunday. "I think it's going to happen at some point. It just doesn't look like it's going to happen next year." Mara said a number of factors are complicating the potential implementation of an expanded playoff field, including the days of the week available to them for playoff games. The league is trying not to create a conflict between its playoffs and college football's playoffs, and as Mara pointed out there are weather concerns at that time of year as well. "It's going to happen at some point," Mara said. "I prefer it the way it is, but I don't feel as strongly about it really maybe as I once did. Because it is going to happen. One of my concerns about it was when are you going to play those extra games? One of the proposals was playing it on a Monday night. I just think playing on a Monday night in January, in Northern climates is not the ideal. However, Saturday would be a possibility and that to me is much more palpable." The most likely proposal to start would be adding one playoff team in each conference per year, which means the number of teams in each conference that would have first-round byes would drop from two to one, and there would be a total of six playoff games on the first weekend. Had the playoff field been expanded to 14 teams in 2014, the 10-6 Philadelphia Eagles and the 9-7 Houston Texans would have reached the postseason. Commissioner Roger Goodell discussed the topic, which he said has "a lot of merit from a competitive side," in an interview with The MMQB.com and said there are several factors that have to be considered, including playing opposite college football's national championship game, when the extra games would take place and the concerns of the league's television partners. Ticket sales are another issue the NFL must consider, he said. "We want to advance this postseason policy a little more effectively so that we have confidence. You know, you could have a situation where a team ends up with two home games at the end of the season and you could end up winning your division and then play three home playoff games. You could have five home games in five weeks at the end of the season and into January. If you have a northern climate, that's a lot to ask of your fans. So we have a lot to balance," he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdetroit Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Goes totally against the whole anti-concussion nonsense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 I cant stand the Giants fake "classiness" but I like Mara actually looking out for the fans here. No one wants more games, no one wants the expanded playoffs. Anytime Goodell says "this is what the fans are asking for" I want to puke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetsons Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 I don't want it because it just dilutes the system as is... Although I ALWAYS like to see playoff football especially on Saturdays... Ambivalence Is Thy Name Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dcat Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 It's perfectly fine the way it is. But hey... let's dilute the league a little more to make a few bucks, right Roger Goodell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdetroit Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 It's perfectly fine the way it is. But hey... let's dilute the league a little more to make a few bucks, right Roger Goodell? Goodell is just a rubber stamp for the owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RutgersJetFan Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Pigs get greedy, hogs get slaughtered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 I'd like to see 8 teams in the playoffs instead of 6. 6 teams were fine when there were only 28 teams. Having 32 teams now should extend the playoff bracket. Instead of having bye weeks those teams simply play the 7th and 8th seed. They should also not guarantee teams that won their division and spot in the playoffs. Its bullsh*t that a team with a 7-9 record can win their division while a 10-6/11-5 team is gearing up for the offseason. I dont care of those 7-9 teams actually won their playoff games, there record proves that they shouldn't have been their in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerfish Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 As soon as the pats fall to not winning the div every year it will be approved in an instant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slats Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Absolutely hate the idea of expanded playoffs. The regular season matters in the NFL. Moving towards half the league making the post season is just a bad idea. Don't know why Goodell & Co. are so intent on fixing things that aren't broken. Oh, money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdetroit Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Absolutely hate the idea of expanded playoffs. The regular season matters in the NFL. Moving towards half the league making the post season is just a bad idea. Don't know why Goodell & Co. are so intent on fixing things that aren't broken. Oh, money. It's a way to expand the season without calling it that. What the owners really want is an 18-game regular season but they know it would look insanely hypocritical in the face of the anti-concussion media campaign and the nfl trying to settle the bs class action lawsuit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet9 Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 I'd like to see 8 teams in the playoffs instead of 6. 6 teams were fine when there were only 28 teams. Having 32 teams now should extend the playoff bracket. Instead of having bye weeks those teams simply play the 7th and 8th seed. They should also not guarantee teams that won their division and spot in the playoffs. Its bullsh*t that a team with a 7-9 record can win their division while a 10-6/11-5 team is gearing up for the offseason. I dont care of those 7-9 teams actually won their playoff games, there record proves that they shouldn't have been their in the first place. Gotta disagree wholeheartedly. Teams build themselves every off season to win their division. Now, I don't think division winners with an 8-8 record deserve a home playoff game necessarily. But if you win your division and don't make the playoffs why even have divisions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FidelioJet Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Absolutely hate the idea of expanded playoffs. The regular season matters in the NFL. Moving towards half the league making the post season is just a bad idea. Don't know why Goodell & Co. are so intent on fixing things that aren't broken. Oh, money. All of the greed will eventually catch up to them. Hasn't yet but it's really beginning to turn me off. I can say I'm not nearly as passionate about the NFL as I once was... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Section 333 Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Gotta disagree wholeheartedly. Teams build themselves every off season to win their division. Now, I don't think division winners with an 8-8 record deserve a home playoff game necessarily. But if you win your division and don't make the playoffs why even have divisions? I definitely agree with this. If the division winner didn't make the playoffs it will kill a lot of the fun late season playoff match ups. The way its set up now gives us xtra playoff games essentially since there are always a few teams who need to win to get in. NBA and NHL where its top 8 and the divisions dont matter sucks IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Gotta disagree wholeheartedly. Teams build themselves every off season to win their division. Now, I don't think division winners with an 8-8 record deserve a home playoff game necessarily. But if you win your division and don't make the playoffs why even have divisions? Good question. I think having 8 teams eligible will solve that problem. You could very well pose that question for teams that win 10/11 games as well. "Why do I have to sit at home with an 10/11 win record and watch a 7 win team (that didnt even break even) play in the playoffs WITH home field advantage"? The only reason why these winning ball clubs are not in the playoffs is because they played in a competitive division and will have to sit out in order to let a sub .500 team get in because they won the worst division in football that year. The reason why this is happening is because only 6 teams are eligible for the playoffs and division winners MUST make the playoffs. Unfortunately this means that the 6 teams going to the playoffs may not be the 6 "best teams" of that conference. Having 8 teams will allow not only for the teams that won their division to get in but for teams that actually deserve a spot not to be left out in the cold because they happened to play in a competitive division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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