NFL Wildcards?

[Chicago Jake]

I don't follow the sports broadcasts, but this time of year you can't help but hear a little bit of info. And there is talk about NFL Wildcard playoff teams. WTF?

My understanding of wildcards (which admittedly is limited) is that they are used to "round out" the field of teams to make it a power of two. That is, if you have two leagues with three teams each, you need two wildcards to get you to eight, which gives you a nice balanced playoff plan.

But doesn't the NFL have eight divisions already? You can easily have four first-round games, two second-round games, and a championship game. So why do they need to drag in extra teams?

I know, I know; the real answer is probably "so they can generate more advertising revenue," but is there some sort of official, logical explanation beyond that?

Just curious.......

[Merlot Joe]

Money Jake it's all about money. The more games the more bucks the NFL, the teams, and the players make.

They used to two 4 teams from each conference.

All the pro leagues have done the same. The NBA used to take the top 4 teams from each conference up to about 1976 then they ch-ch-changes it to the top 8 from each conference.

MLB used use to have the AL season winner play the NL season winner in the world series, no in league playoff games. Then in 1969 they added two more teams then they added the wild cards in 1994 and now they are talking about adding 2 more teams.

It all boils down to SHOW ME THE MONEY.

[Ardbeg... innit]

Jake, the NFL structure for the playoffs is that 6 of the 16 teams in each conference make it in. The four divisional winners plus the two teams who didnt win, with the best overall record (with an elaborate set of tie-breakers).

In the first round, the two teams with the best overall records get the first week off and #3 plays against #6 and #4 against #5. The winners advance to play against #1 or #2 the following week.

Yeah, its a bit more cumbersome than just having the four divisional winners but, yes, it generates more $$$.

[Ron]

The stated purpose of the wildcard is so winning teams in a winning division still have a chance to make the play-offs. If they didn't have wildcards you could be 10 and 6 like Atlanta and Detroit and still not make the playoffs when a 9 and 7 NY Giants are in because their division is weaker this year.

Oh yeah, and the money.

[Chicago Jake]

Okay, now that makes sense. I figured there had to be some reason, even if it was just a made-up excuse, beyond the money.