Is it unfair that the 11-win Pats are staying home?

[daves]

Also note, Indy had the same record as the Steelers and beat the Steelers this year. But Indy is on the road as a #5 seed and Pitt has a bye and home field.

[daves]

Splunge?

[Porklet]

Having Divisions keeps more teams in the race for the playoffs. As a result it creates more meaningful games in the final weeks of the season. Also, if you take the top six teams then there is no need for divisions at all. Then we would lose annual rival games with divisional opponents.

The only people taking the top six teams in the conference benefits is the team that missed the cut. Whether or not it's fair is a non-issue for me. The thrill and excitement of professional football would be lessened without divisional alignments. Besides, the rules and parameters are clearly defined before the season starts.

[Arctic Blast]

I agree, Porklet. Every league uses divisions. Every league has some divisions that are stronger/weaker than others. Every league has teams with lesser records that win the weak divisions make the playoffs, while a team or two with better records sits at home. However, in every single case there are games those teams with stronger records probably should have won (but didn't)...and if they had, they'd be in the playoffs anyway.

[reflections]

Not really. It's the way football goes.
11-5 is a good year, but they couldn't even win their division.
It's funny though I think that this was Belichick best coaching. I found it amazing living up here in Maine last year as they went undefeated. I liked what they had did in the draft and picking up players (Welker, Morris and Moss). And was definitely disappointed when they choked in the Super Bowl. This year, the Pat's fans I know practically committed seppuku when Brady went down. I found myself wondering where all that Patriot integrity had gone during the offseason. With both Kevin Faulk and Nick Kaczur getting busted for things that most players would of been booted from the team for. But not them.
Losing to both Miami and the Jets cost them the playoffs. While getting beat up by the Steelers and ironically the Chargers cost them their division.
So the Pats all year controlled their own destiny, so it's not unfair.
I'm actually very very curious on how they go in the offseason. Is next year going to be another amazing year?

[CatKnight]

I'll repeat what I said before. Browns fans thought it a little unfair we missed the playoffs last year at 10-6 on a tiebreaker.

This is sad. Poor Patriots fans can't take the idea of not being champion. They think they should be in the playoffs every year. Well....wah. There are 15 other teams in the AFC and sometimes they win too.

This conversation or one like it goes on whenever a playoff system keeps out someone's favorite team. The fact is the National Football League does the best job of any major North American league of keeping every game meaningful. I read in an article that 13 of the last 16 games potentially meant something in determining who advanced.

Baseball can't claim that. Baseball sees more races going down to the wire than in the 2-division days, but every game?

Basketball's playoff system is a joke. It almost invalidates the regular season. Similar things can be said about hockey. TOO many teams advance in those leagues.

It is not unfair. Suck it up, realize you simply weren't the best team in the AFC East, and dream of better days.

[StreetMedic]

This is sad. Poor Patriots fans can't take the idea of not being champion. They think they should be in the playoffs every year. Well....wah. There are 15 other teams in the AFC and sometimes they win too.

It is not unfair. Suck it up, realize you simply weren't the best team in the AFC East, and dream of better days.

Actually, Cat, I think most folks in this thread (Pats fans included /raises hand/) have been in agreement with your sentiments.

[bucher34]

Not really. It's the way football goes.
11-5 is a good year, but they couldn't even win their division.
It's funny though I think that this was Belichick best coaching. I found it amazing living up here in Maine last year as they went undefeated. I liked what they had did in the draft and picking up players (Welker, Morris and Moss). And was definitely disappointed when they choked in the Super Bowl. This year, the Pat's fans I know practically committed seppuku when Brady went down. I found myself wondering where all that Patriot integrity had gone during the offseason. With both Kevin Faulk and Nick Kaczur getting busted for things that most players would of been booted from the team for. But not them.
Losing to both Miami and the Jets cost them the playoffs. While getting beat up by the Steelers and ironically the Chargers cost them their division.
So the Pats all year controlled their own destiny, so it's not unfair.
I'm actually very very curious on how they go in the offseason. Is next year going to be another amazing year?

I wonder if the Pats will try to get younger. Man are they old.

[TheBigBomber]

I wonder if the Pats will try to get younger. Man are they old.

'Specially LB wise

[Moot]

Yankees had 89 wins last year. Dodgers had 85. Quit your bitching BAWWston fans.

[Slingshot]

http://bangcartoon.com/2008/karma.htm

[reflections]

'Specially LB wise

Jerrod Mayo was a step in the right direction, letting Oscar Lua go wasn't (although he would never be more than a situational backer/special teamer)

[etothep]

http://bangcartoon.com/2008/karma.htm

too damn funny

[Arctic Blast]

http://bangcartoon.com/2008/karma.htm

Hilarious! I have a new appreciation for Robert Kraft.