“My Perfect NFL Post-Season Format”

Methodology Teams play 16 regular season games (with 2 byes mixed in so players stay healthier) against random opponents, guaranteed to play each other team in the NFL twice every four years (home and away). There are no divisions or conferences. Final seeding is based on regular season record, then points differential (if needed). The top 8 teams form two groups and are guaranteed three playoff group games. The top team from each group (determined by group standings, then points differential) goes to the Super Bowl to compete for the Lombardi Trophy. The loser of the Super Bowl takes home the 2nd Place Madden Trophy. The second team from each group goes to the 3rd place game for 3rd Place Halas Trophy. Teams that finish as the 9-24 seeds play a 16-team playoff bracket, with home games for higher seeds. The winner of the bracket takes home the NFL Cup. The NFL Cup and 3rd Place Game happen as during “Celebration Sunday” in week 4 of the postseason, along with any Pro Bowl Festivities. The Super Bowl is played alone in Week 5. Players of all postseason teams (1-24) would be incentivized with large cash bonuses from the league for each postseason win. Legacy Trophy The legacy trophy gives points for final regular season standings. 32 points for the top team, 1 for the lowest team, etc. The trophy is awarded to the team with the best 10-year running points total. Similar to the Stanley Cup, there is only 1 Legacy Trophy and it is etched with each year’s winner and passed along to the current holder. Draft Lottery Reduce tanking by incentivizing teams to finish in the top 24 to play for the NFL cup, and to finish ranked as high as possible to improve their standing for the Legacy Trophy. The bottom 8 teams enter a lottery of equal odds for the first 8 picks, so finishing very worst does nothing for you. But why? This system rewards the best teams from the regular season by limiting the Super Bowl candidates to the best 8 teams instead of 14 (nearly half the league)! At the same time, it rewards “hot” teams ranked in the middle 9-24 by giving them something to play for (the NFL Cup). The playoffs group play format gives the 8 best teams a chance to overcome a fluke ending or a bad call by giving them three guaranteed playoff matches in the group stage to earn their way to the Super Bowl. And you get to enjoy more playoff games: 29 Games spread over 5 weeks (instead of 13 games spread over 4 weeks). More TV contracts and more home games! Hear that owners? More money! As the postseason currently works, one fanbase leaves happy, and the other 31 are either bummed that they didn’t make the playoffs or bummed that they lost in the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion. There’s a disconnect from the push of the season to the sudden disappointment of most playoff teams. This new system lets us enjoy the best teams for at least 3 games each, and hands out more hardware (to the 2nd and 3rd place team, the NFL Cup winner, and Legacy Trophy) to deserving teams and leaves more fans feeling rewarded for their team’s good year.