How would you feel if the Saints go 12-4 and have to play a 6-10 or 7-9 NFC East Team in the Playoffs? (1 Viewer)

[Zztop]

Too much trauma still exists after the 2010 playoff AT Seattle (a 7-9 team)... well all know how that ended

 

[St.Dan]

Unless they plan on taking Lombardi's name off the trophy and replacing it with Shula....

They should not change the emphasis away from Division winners deserving the best playoff spots. 2nd place at best deserves a wild card road game. In reality its debatable whether you belong in the playoffs if you dont win the division. If you cant beat a 6-10 road team you certainly dont belong.

Consider 1967 (the year the Saints were born), the Packers under Lombardi were on their way to win their 2nd Superbowl. However they didnt have the best regular season record . The best regular season record was 11-1-2 owned by Shula's Colts. Shula however did not even get to play in the playoffs. Why? Because he happened to be tied with the LA Rams who beat them head-to-head as his only loss. In 1967 their were 4 division and only the division winners got to go into the playoffs.

So as you can see, Lombardi's name likely wouldnt be on the trophy if Division winners did not get the best playoff spots.

I do appreciate your knowledge of the game’s history. But double-digit-win teams aren’t the issue here. Situations like what’s developing over in the NFC Least this year are what present good arguments for seeding teams by straight-up record. And lest we not forget those 2010 Seachickens!

 

[IceHot]

I do appreciate your knowledge of the game’s history. But double-digit-win teams aren’t the issue here. Situations like what’s developing over in the NFC Least this year are what present good arguments for seeding teams by straight-up record. And lest we not forget those 2010 Seachickens!

I guess your missing my point. As long as Lombardis name is on the trophy a 6-10 division winner belongs in a prime playoff spot while a 12-4 team that finishes 2nd in their division doesnt deserve to be in the playoffs let alone get a home game.

The term wildcard means they dont deserve to be in the payoffs but we will give them a chance to prove they do by going on the road and beating the weaker division champ.

Every playoff rules change just dilutes the concept more and more until it is getting lost in history.

 

[SaintFanInATLHell2019]

If the Saints end up on the road in the wildcard round then they deserve it. No matter the record, it means they did not take care of their own business to lock up the division.

Folks are having this discussion as if the Bradys are going to run the table. They still need to play the Saints. They still have KC on their schedule. They still have another game against the Panthers. It's not a foregone conclusion that they are going to win the division. Especially when the Saints take it to them again in a couple of weeks. A head to head sweep means that they have to finish a game ahead of the Saints to win the division. With 3 losses at that point, it means that they'd have to literally run the table to win the division if the Saints finish up 12-4.

At 2-0 in the division with wins over the Bradys and the Teddies, the Saints are in complete control of their own destiny in the division. All they need to do is take care of their own business and not worry about the rest of the conference.

SFIAH