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How to Shorten the NFL Preseason Anonymous
PROBLEM: NFL players are crying because the preseason is too long and a lot of guys get hurt (see Osi Umenyiora). NFL fans who buy season tickets have to buy tickets to preseason games.

However, the NFL just can't eliminate these games because of the income they generate.

SOLUTION: Shorten the preseason from four or five to two or three games, and extend the regular season from 16 to 18 games.

Right now any given NFL teams' schedule is predetermined. Every team plays three division rivals twice each (6), another division within their conference (4), another division in the other conference (4), and two other conference rivals, one from each of the two conferences they do not play.

CHANGE THIS TO teams now play TWO divisions in their conference every year, for eight total games instead of six.

EXAMPLE - This season, the New York Giants play their division rivals twice each, the NFC West, the AFC North, and Carolina from the NFC South and and Minnesota from the NFC North. Under the new system, they would still play their division rivals and the AFC North, but would play the NFC West AND say the entire NFC South.

Discuss.
>> Anonymous
Not an original idea, but a good one. This needs to be done.
>> Anonymous
20-1

I believe that this will happen, but not for a few years until the next round of expansion or team relocations. However, I wonder...does that mean we'll be starting the season in the heat of August or playing the Super Bowl around Valentine's Day?
>> Anonymous
>>305229
Start in the middle of August.
>> Anonymous
Goodbye old records.
>> Anonymous
NO.

Agreed, shorten pre-season to two games, but keep the season at 16 games. Expand the playoffs to 16 teams (8 each conference). Top two from each conference. Division leaders get buy. Other four play wild card.

And get the Super Bowl back to the middle of January. What is this February BULLSHIT!!!!!
>> Anonymous
I thought the other 2 teams that they play are teams that shared the same place in their own divisions as the team.

For instance if your team is 4th place in their division the year before, then this year those last two teams they face are the other 2 teams that were 4th place in their own divisions.
>> Kilgamayan !2BklmILFiE
>>305247

>Expand the playoffs to 16 teams (8 each conference).

oh god no don't do this

It's bad enough that we have teams with losing records in the playoffs in basketball and hockey we don't need to ruin football with it too
>> Anonymous
Expand the regular season to 18 games and add a second bi-week for each team.
>> Anonymous
>>305249
SECOND DOUBLE-FUCKING SECOND!!! Jeez...the Lions might even make the playoffs under that plan, and NOBODY wants to see that!
>> Anonymous
>>305249
Agreed

The NFL will definitely expand the playoffs at some point, because of the money. I hope they eliminate wild cards and first round byes and make the first playoff game a Division Championship game. Meaning, the team that finishes second in a division goes to the team that finished first to determine the division champion, and only division champions make the playoffs.
>> Anonymous
>>305254
They tried that already. For one season. They hated it.
>> Anonymous
>>305257
2007 Division Champion games would have been;

NY Giants at Dallas
Minnesota at Green Bay
Carolina at Tampa Bay
Arizona at Seattle
Buffalo at New England
Cleveland at Pittsburgh
Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Denver at San Diego

Some good games in there.
>> Anonymous
>>305271
I could of totally seen Buffalo upsetting New England. NO, I AM NOT TROLLING!
>> Anonymous
>>305283
in before this post is taken seriously
>> Anonymous
This 18 game season is an excellent idea.

Now all you have to do is convince the owners to pay the players ~10% more salary for the increase in games and you'll be all set.
>> SAGE SAGE
HELL NO
>> Anonymous
>>305313
Division championship games would be awesome. Much better than most first round playoff games, mediocre teams duking it out for the honor of getting blown out at the number one seed. Plus, it would make winning the division worth a little something.
>> Anonymous
>>305326
>Plus, it would make winning the division worth a little something.
What? No. It would mean you can sneak into the playoffs even if you're second in a shit division.
>> Anonymous
>>305333
I don't think upsetting the number one seed in your division in their building is sneaking into the playoffs shithead.
>> Anonymous
>>305338
Being in the first game of the playoffs is still getting into the playoffs

Also I wasn't aware /sp/ was serious business
>> Anonymous
>>305248
You're right.

Each team plays the other three teams in their division twice: once at home, and once on the road (six games).
Each team plays the four teams from another division within its own conference once on a rotating three-year cycle: two at home, and two on the road (four games).
Each team plays the four teams from a division in the other conference once on a rotating four-year cycle: two at home, and two on the road (four games).
Each team plays once against the other teams in its conference that finished in the same place in their own divisions as themselves, not counting the division they were already scheduled to play: one at home, one on the road (two games).
>> Anonymous
>>305370
fuck that shit, change it to OP's, better than five ass preseason games