How to Fix the NFL’s Imbalanced Divisions

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The NFL prides itself on parity, and Ahtyba Rubin Womens Jersey often boasts about its ability to steadily churn out new playoff teams every year. Part of the frequent playoff turnover can be attributed to the league’s current divisional structure Bobby Wagner Youth Jersey and playoff-seeding system, which features eight four-team divisions grouped into two conferences—with the league awarding the first eight playoff spots to its division winners and an additional four to wild-card squads. But a continuous cycle of new playoff teams doesn’t Cassius Marsh Kids Jersey mean the current divisional structure is working, nor does it make the playoff-seeding system derived from it fair. Too often it benefits teams in weak divisions, and it dilutes the postseason product. The current setup places Dion Jordan Jersey a heavy weight on divisional success, where intradivision opponents account for six games out of an already-short 16-game slate, and that leads to a problem: There’s a lot of volatility in the quality of each division. A concentration Andre Hal Jersey of three or four weak teams in a given division can dramatically impact the playoff field. As a result, the league isn’t consistent in Brian Cushing Youth Jersey sending its best regular-season performers into the postseason: In 2010, the 7-9 Seahawks won the NFC West and hosted a playoff game against an 11-win Saints team, while a pair of 10-win teams missed the postseason and watched from home. In 2011, an 8-8 Broncos squad snuck into the playoffs over D'Onta Foreman Kids Jersey a nine-win Titans club. In 2013, an 8-7-1 Packers team got in and left the 10-win Cardinals on the couch.