NFL Special Report: Should teams with losing records be in the Playoffs?
Perhaps the circumstances of the Seattle Seahawks division victory and playoff spot aren’t ideal but that does not change the outcome. The Seahawks have made it into the playoffs ahead of teams like the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, even though
both have a better record. It could be argued that both are in fact better teams than the Seahawks. In the regular season, the Seahawks had suffered defeat at the hands of the Giants and the Buccaneers.
Overall, they lost more games than they won but they were still the strongest team in their division and so would move on into the playoffs. Since it became clear that the 7-9 Seahawks are going to be in the playoffs, many have suggested that the NFL should
do things differently. From doing away with the division system altogether to taking away the home field advantage for a team with a worst record, all kinds of suggestions have been thrown around. The NFL though appears unfazed.
Giants' fans in particular are up in arms. They view it as a travesty that their team has been kicked out while Seattle march on. They say that the playoffs have been tainted with the presence of a team that has been performing poorly. Some have suggested
that a playoff spot should be given to the teams based on their records. On the surface, it doesn’t sound unreasonable that the teams with the best record go to the playoffs and the rest, regardless of division.
However, doing so would render the divisions meaningless and they aren’t meaningless. The Giants might have a better record but they were bested in their division by the Philadelphia Eagles. Tampa Bay Buccaneers are third in their division. Three games behind
the Atlanta Falcons and a game behind the New Orleans Saints. The Seahawks at least were the best team in their division, even if it wasn’t the most competitive division in the NFC; they won it just the same.
“We battled like crazy for this, as did the other teams in our division, as did the teams in other divisions, so we're the last guys standing here,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “We're proud of that, and we're going to go represent and, hopefully, do
something really special with our opportunity and see how far we can go.”
Under NFL’s current playoff system never before has a team with a losing record made the playoffs. Seattle offer no apology for being the team with the worst record in the playoffs. Every year there are strong and weak teams that go into the playoffs and
they all have a shot at the Conference Championship and even the playoffs. Two years ago, the drama was focused around the Cardinals. They had entered the playoffs with a 9-7 record and then as now, the critics were out for blood. However, Arizona redeemed
itself with a strong performance in the playoffs. No reason why the same thing couldn’t happen for the Seahawks this year.
The NFL loves the underdogs. If the Seahawks do good things in the playoffs or maybe win the Super Bowl, it would be remembered as one of the greatest stories of the NFL. In all likelihood though, Seattle are going to fizzle out but their division victory
would stand regardless. According to many, that by itself earns them a playoff spot.
“If you win your division, I think you deserve to go, despite what your record is,” New Orleans cornerback Tracy Porter said. “That's an NFL first, a team with a losing record to win their division and host a playoff game, but, I mean, they achieved their
goal and that was to win their division. They did that, and I think they should be rewarded.” It’s more meaningful coming from Porter since his team would have to go to Seattle to face the Seahawks this Saturday.
Even though the Saints have a better record, the Seahawks would get the home field advantage. Though against the Saints, it might not be all that much of an advantage.
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