Then the first round would be the Thursday night game, Saturday and Sunday tripleheaders, then a Monday night game.

I would find this coincidental sine the new TV deals call for a playoff game for the four letter and NFLN.

4 Div winners, and 3 wildcards per conf = 14 total playoff teams.

16 is too much, but 14 is more like we had before. I don’t think people realize we lost a wildcard spot durning the last expansion.

2.) Week 17–with the tweak to the schedule that pits divisional foes against each other across the board–often gives us de-facto playoff games to conclude the regular season, and always gives us games that matter.

3.) For many cities it’s a privilege just to get a team to the playoffs, and makes the season memorable.

4.) 9-7 can win it all. 15-1 can go home.

Pretty dang perfect as is. Don’t even think about expansion, please, until we’ve got 36-40 teams. Then, and only then, maybe, possibly, add two.

It would have to be 16 teams in order to make it work out. No more first round byes and whatnot. Everyone would play wildcard weekend. Of course the NFL Network would be given 1st round games to air. Nothing like trying to monopolize the broadcast of NFL games.

On the other hand, someone mentioned “division championship games”. Not a horrible idea, but these teams already play two times a season. A third game? The NFL would have to reduce division games to one, instead of the 2 they currently have.

When it is all said and done, the NFL is looking to make more money through TV and tickets. I think changing or expanding the playoffs would make the NFL less marketable in the long run. Once the novilty of the new system wore off, the fans would probably not bother watching an inflated playoff schedule unless their team were in the mix.

We would probably see the first 6-10 team make the post season though. Imagine going 6-10 and winning the Lombardi. hahaha

Second, though I prefer pro football so many of the games are boring. College football has a certain “bigness” to many of their marquee games because every game is important. In the NFL, the regular season doesn’t mean as much until the end.

Third, you are going to have teams with losing records make the playoffs. You already occasionally see an 8-8 team make the playoffs with only 12 teams getting in.

This strikes me as sour grapes because players and fans don’t want an 18 game season, so the logic is sneak another game in at the playoffs. The league needs to worry more about how bad they have sissified the game. They need to concern themselves with the fact there is a lack of atmosphere at so many stadiums.

If they want to make a few changes, try finding a way to lower ticket prices so real fans can come to a game. Allow defenders to bump the receiver for 10 yards instead of five. The passing numbers have gotten ridiculous. Go back to a 15 minute half-time to allow for more strategy, more time for fans to get back in their seats, and access injury. Make all 53 players eligible to play. Keep a 16 game schedule but have two bye weeks instead of one. Do something about the tired piped in music which is the same at all stadiums and go for more live music. Allow teams to celebrate as a team, the celebration rule is a joke. Make it fun to go to games again.

i think the majority populace truly want to see the strongest duke it out, and not include all these bubble teams.