Bye-Bye? Does avoiding the WildCard round hold as much importance?

[MCWAY]

Consider this:

1990s: It was indeed the 90s. As in, 90% of all Super Bowl Champions had a first-round bye in the playoffs, with 80% as #1 seeds in their respective conferences. The '97 Broncos were the only team to win it all without the WildCard round off.

Contrast that with the 2000s. 60% of all Super Bowl Champions had a first-round bye. And, a mere 20% of the champions (the '03 Patriots and the '09 Saints/Colts) were the #1 seed in their conference.

The seed with the most champions last decade was the 2 seed, yielding 4 title holders (last year's Steelers, the '01 and '04 Patriots, and the '02 Bucs).

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

The 1990's had teams with large markets stocked with talent at every position. The 49er's, Cowboys, Packers, Broncos, and Steelers loaded up year after year and it seemed like the same 4 teams in each conference were in the mix for the Superbowl.

Then the salary cap and free agency really picked up and the talent pool became more evened up between teams. Combine that with the revenue sharing and smaller market teams could afford higher priced free agents. As a result, more teams became competitive and parity in the NFL began to unfold.

My point is that as long as you secure a spot in the 12 team playoff tournament, you have a shot at making a deep run into the postseason. Teams get hot at the right time and make a run. Look at the examples this decade. The 2000 champion Ravens were a wildcard team that won two road playoff games. The 2007 Giants won every playoff game on the road to advance and win in the Superbowl, again as a wildcard. The 2008 Ravens advanced to the conference championship as a #6 seed last season. I'm sure there are quite a few more examples I haven't mentioned.

Homefield advantage is important but look how many #1 or #2 seeds have been toppled this decade. The 2006 #2 seed Ravens lost in their first playoff game at home. The 2009 Chargers lost their first home playoff game. So did the 2005 Colts. Again, there are other examples I have't mentioned.

Playoff positioning is still vital but greater emphasis is placed on what team gets hot at the right time.

[MCWAY]

The 1990's had teams with large markets stocked with talent at every position. The 49er's, Cowboys, Packers, Broncos, and Steelers loaded up year after year and it seemed like the same 4 teams in each conference were in the mix for the Superbowl.

Then the salary cap and free agency really picked up and the talent pool became more evened up between teams. Combine that with the revenue sharing and smaller market teams could afford higher priced free agents. As a result, more teams became competitive and parity in the NFL began to unfold.

My point is that as long as you secure a spot in the 12 team playoff tournament, you have a shot at making a deep run into the postseason. Teams get hot at the right time and make a run. Look at the examples this decade. The 2000 champion Ravens were a wildcard team that won two road playoff games. The 2007 Giants won every playoff game on the road to advance to the Superbowl. The 2008 Ravens advanced to the conference championship as a #6 seed last season. I'm sure there are quite a few more examples I haven't mentioned.

Homefield advantage is important but look how many #1 or #2 seeds have been toppled this decade. The 2006 #2 seed Ravens lost in their first playoff game at home. The 2009 Chargers lost their first home playoff game. So did the 2005 Colts. Again, there are other examples I have't mentioned.

Playoff positioning is still vital but greater emphasis is placed on what team gets hot at the right time.

#1 seeds that didn't make the big one, during the 2000s (eliminated by):

2000 Titans (Ravens*)
2001 Steelers (Patriots*)
2002 Eagles (Bucs*)
2003 Eagles (Panthers)
2004 Steelers (Patriots*)
2005 Colts (Steelers*)
2006 Chargers (Patriots)
2007 Cowboys (Giants*)
2008 Giants

#2 seeds, eliminated by someone other than a #1 seed:

2000 Raiders (Ravens*)
2001 Bears (Eagles)
2003 Rams (Panthers)
2005 Broncos (Steelers*)
2006 Ravens (Colts*)
2007 Packers (Giants*)
2008 Panthers (Cardinals)

*= Won Super Bowl

You make a great point. The 2000s also saw five franchises reach the Super Bowl for the first time (Ravens, Bucs, Seahawks, Cardinals, Saints). Two have won it all (Ravens, Bucs), so far.

This Super Bowl is the first since '93 where both #1 seeds meet in the big dance. It's strange that, even in the 90s, this only happened twice.

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

Yeah...every team seems to have elite playmakers nowadays at various positions. There is so many more talented NFL players playing than as little as 10 years ago.

It is kind of strange to see two #1 seeds from each conference. But the Saints and Colts both deserve to be there and were quite simply, the two best teams left to represent the Superbowl.


I'm excited to watch the game, for sure. But I'm also thinking the game may be more defensively played than many people are predicting.

The over/under is 56 and if I was a betting man these days....I would take the under.

[Earl1972]

this is why the nfl is great and nba and mlb suck

every team has a chance

the nfl today is much better than the 80's and 90's

E

[body88]

this is why the nfl is great and nba and mlb suck

every team has a chance

the nfl today is much better than the 80's and 90's

E

This is true. If your owner spends the cash and hires good people, you can go from bad to good in one year.

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

Sadly though....it definitely seems that the NFL  might be heading towards a lockout in 2011.

But if push comes to shove, I'm betting the players will relent and end up playing, regardless of how much money ends up coming out of the average NFL player's salary. One thing that needs to definitely change from the owner's perspective is implementing rookie scale contracts.

I'm not saying that Stafford, Jake Long, and Matt Ryan didn't deserve their respective deals. But to receive that much money upfront before you play a single down in the NFL is ridiculous. Basically, every signed first round rookie player gets nearly lifetime financial security and almost 50%(maybe higher) of them will not end up being premiere players.

[The Showstoppa]

Sadly though....it definitely seems that the NFL  might be heading towards a lockout in 2011.

But if push comes to shove, I'm betting the players will relent and end up playing, regardless of how much money ends up coming out of the average NFL player's salary. One thing that needs to definitely change from the owner's perspective is implementing rookie scale contracts.

I'm not saying that Stafford, Jake Long, and Matt Ryan didn't deserve their respective deals. But to receive that much money upfront before you play a single down in the NFL is ridiculous. Basically, every signed first round rookie player gets nearly lifetime financial security and almost 50%(maybe higher) of them will not end up being premiere players.

Bring on the scab-ball !!!!! I'm going to be in prime shape, just in case......hahahaha

[thelamefalsehood]

Bring on the scab-ball !!!!! I'm going to be in prime shape, just in case......hahahaha

What, in case they need towel boys as well?

[The Showstoppa]

What, in case they need towel boys as well?

haha, waterboy actually....."now that is some fine quality h2o!"

[MCWAY]

this is why the nfl is great and nba and mlb suck

every team has a chance

the nfl today is much better than the 80's and 90's

E

Well, we've seen some MLB teams win titles on shoestring budgets. The Marlins did it twice, and their organization was losing money at one point.

[Earl1972]

Well, we've seen some MLB teams win titles on shoestring budgets. The Marlins did it twice, and their organization was losing money at one point.

don't be the "exception guy" just because one team is the exception to the rule

E

[MCWAY]

don't be the "exception guy" just because one team is the exception to the rule

E

The Marlins weren't the only team to do such.

[Earl1972]

The Marlins weren't the only team to do such.

what other team with a small budget won the world series?

teams like the rays and tigers made the series because they drastically increased payroll

E