Potential New Playoff Format

[Bob Davis]

Next season, I will be expanding my solitaire league by 6 teams bringing the total to 26. There will be 4 divisions (4,3,3,3 teams per division) in each of two conferences. I had a thought on how to reorder the playoffs. Explanation below:

If at the end of the regular season, there were two or more teams in the same division with a top identical record, the top two based on point spread would have a playoff game for the division title (Point spread is the difference between points scored and points allowed during the regular season). So theoretically, there could be somewhere between 8 playoff games (one for each of the 8 divisions) in the first playoff round or none at all. 

Senerio 1 - Assuming a 3-game season; if Team A finishes 2-1 with a point spread of +12, Team B also finishes 2-1 with a point spread of -2, and Team C also finishes at 2-1 with a point spread of +6, then Team A would play Team C for the division title. Team B would not make the cut. Here's another wrinkle; if Team A and Team C played each other during the regular season, then the winner of that game would host the division title game. If they did not play each other in the regular season, then the team with the highest point spread would host the game.

Senerio 2 - If Team D finishes 3-0 and no other team in that division has a 3-0 record, then Team D wins the division title outright, no additional playoff game.

It would bring some ambiguity to the playoffs which could make things more interesting. It could also establish some really intense rivalries within each division because teams would have an increased likelihood of playing each other twice in a season. Based on the records from the previous 3 seasons, if I had used this playoff system there would have been 2 division title playoff games for 2 of the seasons and ZERO division title playoff games for one of the past seasons. Of course there would no longer be anymore wildcard teams. 

I may wake up tomorrow morning and think this whole thing was a cockamamie idea. Not even totally sure that this system is my original thought. I may have picked it up from another coach on this forum!  But be that as it may, I wanted to put it out there and see what other coaches thought.

Thanks!

 

 

[zak99b5]

How do you schedule the regular season?  Divisions only make sense when they all play each other and play the same opponents when "out" of the division. 
 

I thought it was pretty much perfect in the nfl in the 80s-90s when there were three 5-team divisions in each conference. Half your games were the other teams in the division (8), and 5 more with your division playing another, for a total of 13 out of 16 games with common opponents. Iirc, the remaining 3 were "parity" games agains similar place-finishers from the season before. 
 

26 is a tough number to deal with, since you have two odd numbers in each conference. 3 game schedule also makes it tough. maybe add a fourth regular season game?  It would add more record possibilities and even out the point differential (one shellacking wouldn't have quite as much weight). And with 4 games, each team can play all the others in its division. 

[Bob Davis]

Thanks Coach Zak. A lot to think about. I do like the idea of each team having to play every other team in their division. The 3 team divisions would play the other two teams and have one game against another 3 team division either in conference or out. And the 4 team divisions would play each team in their division but not have an out of division game. That is a bit limiting. I was going to add 4 teams bringing the total to 24 and having four 3-team divisions in each conference. I may go back to that idea and break up the expansion into two different phases. I ultimately want to have 28 teams; the 28 teams that were in the league in 1978. So, phase one of the expansion would be the Bears, Lions, Chargers and Seahawks. And phase two would be the Packers, Jets, Cardinals and Chiefs. I used to play a 5-game schedule but I've come to really like this three-game format. It gives every game a playoff feel, a sense of urgency. What did you think about the playoff format?

[Curt]

Part 1 - Hey Bob, 4 divisions in 2 conferences [totaling 8 divisions] sparks a couple of ideas. It is going to take me a little while to put those thoughts together in a logical, readable order [because of my mental quirks caused from 3 strokes back in 2016], but I'm excited about getting those out to you. It's too late for me to construct those tonight but if a little patience pays off, I hope you will like the result when I can post Part 2. Blessings, Curt 🙂 

[nefgm.org]

I have made out regular season schedules for people at times, just because it is something I like to do. The hardest are ones where not all divisions have the same number of teams. or when there are an odd number of teams.  

[Bob Davis]

11 hours ago, Curt said:

Part 1 - Hey Bob, 4 divisions in 2 conferences [totaling 8 divisions] sparks a couple of ideas. It is going to take me a little while to put those thoughts together in a logical, readable order [because of my mental quirks caused from 3 strokes back in 2016], but I'm excited about getting those out to you. It's too late for me to construct those tonight but if a little patience pays off, I hope you will like the result when I can post Part 2. Blessings, Curt 🙂 

Thanks Coach Curt! Look forward to hearing your feedback.

10 hours ago, nefgm.org said:

I have made out regular season schedules for people at times, just because it is something I like to do. The hardest are ones where not all divisions have the same number of teams. or when there are an odd number of teams.  

Absolutely true. It's not clean cut and it may present unfair advantages to certain teams. I've decided to "punt" and add only four teams (Chargers, Seahawks, Bears and Lions) for next season. That will punch up the total to 24 teams, I number that is easy to work with. There will be four 3-team divisions in each of the two conferences. That will give me time to figure out how to incorporate the other 4 teams (Packers, Cardinals, Chiefs, and Jets). Below is the proposed league format for next season:

AFC 

Midlands - Steelers, Browns, Bengals

Metro East - Redskins, Eagles, Colts (Baltimore)

Mountain Pacific - Broncos, Seahawks, Chargers (Sandiego)

Metro North - Giants, Bills, Patriots

 

NFC 

West Coast - Rams (Los Angeles) 49ers, Raiders (Oakland)

Great Lakes - Vikings, Lions, Bears

Gulf West - Saints, Cowboys, Oilers

Deep South - Falcons, Dolphins, Buccaneers 

 

[Curt]

Part 2: Hey again Bob and thank you once more for your patience. I'm glad to see you are deciding on 24 teams. Even numbers of teams are easier to work with and supposedly you are looking to have 2 conferences of 12 teams each which include a quartet of 3 team divisions? I like the idea [and use it myself with 33 teams] of 3 team divisions. [My playoffs consist of the 11 division winners and the best of my second-place teams as a wildcard]. Playoff structure for you would be determined by how long your season is etc. but here are a few options to consider depending on how long the playoffs are to last too. [For this, you would have the 4 division winners and the 4 second place teams as your top 8 teams]:

Option 1 - Take the top 8 teams, ranked 1st to 8th and whittle them down to a conference champion to meet the other conference champion in a Superbowl.

Option 2 - Taking the top 8 teams: Have your 8th place [last of the 2nd place teams] visit your 4th place [last of the division winner teams]. Then have your 7th place team visit your 3rd place division winner. 6 visits 2 and 5 visits 1st place and those all pare each other down to the 2 ultimate conference championship teams for your Superbowl.

Option 3 - Should you prefer a shorter playoff structure, try this for each conference: The 2nd best 2nd place team visits the 4th place division winner. The winner of that game visits the 2nd place division winner. The best of the 2nd place teams visits the 3rd place division winner. That winner visits the 1st place division winner which gives the top 2 teams a bye. And of course, teams are weeded out until conference champions meet in their Superbowl.

I hope as I always ask, that this makes sense [and was helpful]. My thought processes quickly speed off on tangents and logic has to be forced back into submission but I'm still a walking, talking, electric football loving and playing miracle. Gotta love life. It is never boring. Hope I didn't waste anyone's time. Blessings, Curt. 🙂 

[Bob Davis]

Thank you so much, Curt! Always love your feedback!

[Curt]

You are most welcome anytime. I too appreciate how inclusive and supportive the whole EF family is. EF Rocks! Blessings to all. Curt. 🙂 

[JPT222]

Hello.  Just wanted to share my playoff format.  My league now includes and is capped at 34 teams.   This past year I've finally acquired all of the 32 NFL teams.  I've also included the Houston Oilers and to make an even number, added an extra Packer All Star team. ( My favorite team.)

I have a 3 game regular season which is randomly drawn.  My boys help me make the schedule, drawing gum balls from a bucket with the teams names on them.  Every team has to have at least one home game.   I do not break things down into division or conference.  I still get a fair share of good rivalry type games, or make some new league rivalries.

To qualify for the playoffs you have to win at least 2 of the 3 games.  The 3-0 teams will of course have the higher seeds.  I do a power ranking based on record and then point differential.  If teams happen to be tied, they are separated by head to head, common opponent, then most points scored.   Last year, I had 32 teams in my league and 15 qualified for the playoffs.  The top seed was the only team with a bye.  Each year it may fluctuate a little,  but I will adjust the bracket accordingly and seed based off of the power rankings.  Last season my final four all consisted of NFC teams; Vikings, 49ers, Saints, and Lions.  My Super Bowl was the 49ers defeating the Lions.

[Long island EFL]

Sounds like a great format!

[Daryl Collins]

Coach Davis,

SanDiego, Oakland, and Baltimore. Yes, yes, and yes!

Redskins and Oilers. Yes and yes!

Journey On!

[Bob Davis]

58 minutes ago, Daryl Collins said:

Coach Davis,

SanDiego, Oakland, and Baltimore. Yes, yes, and yes!

Redskins and Oilers. Yes and yes!

Journey On!

I figured the OG Coaches like myself would appreciate that!

[Bob Davis]

5 hours ago, JPT222 said:

Hello.  Just wanted to share my playoff format.  My league now includes and is capped at 34 teams.   This past year I've finally acquired all of the 32 NFL teams.  I've also included the Houston Oilers and to make an even number, added an extra Packer All Star team. ( My favorite team.)

I have a 3 game regular season which is randomly drawn.  My boys help me make the schedule, drawing gum balls from a bucket with the teams names on them.  Every team has to have at least one home game.   I do not break things down into division or conference.  I still get a fair share of good rivalry type games, or make some new league rivalries.

To qualify for the playoffs you have to win at least 2 of the 3 games.  The 3-0 teams will of course have the higher seeds.  I do a power ranking based on record and then point differential.  If teams happen to be tied, they are separated by head to head, common opponent, then most points scored.   Last year, I had 32 teams in my league and 15 qualified for the playoffs.  The top seed was the only team with a bye.  Each year it may fluctuate a little,  but I will adjust the bracket accordingly and seed based off of the power rankings.  Last season my final four all consisted of NFC teams; Vikings, 49ers, Saints, and Lions.  My Super Bowl was the 49ers defeating the Lions.

Coach JPT, I love that format! I'll bet the randomness of the schedule keeps it fresh. So just to confirm, ALL teams with a winning record, ie: 3-0 or 2-1 makes the playoffs, yes? And one more question: What happens if during the initial drawing you pick the same two teams to play against each other more than once? Do they play each other multiple times or do you redraw? 

[JPT222]

Bob, yes all teams 3-0, and 2-1 will qualify for the playoffs.   In a 3 game schedule,  it provides a lot of cool scenarios.  A team losing their first game is still in, but has the pressure of winning the next two.  In a game 3 match up between two teams at 1-1, it's a win your In scenario and the losing team is out.

The random draw does keep things fresh.  It's still fun to draw a division rivalry and it's surprising to see how often some teams get matched up back to back years.  In regard to your question, I don't allow teams to be matched up more then once during the regular season.  I would redraw another opponent.   That has happened  before.   In the playoffs they can play again.  Also, since a team has to have atleast one home game, when drawing the 3rd round of games,  teams still trying to meet that criteria can't play each other.  A new opponent is drawn that already has a home game scheduled.  Some teams have 2 home games and some will have 1.

[nefgm.org]

Kind of just a variation of a double elimination tournament??

[JPT222]

Yeah, its a mini tournament with basically a 3 game qualifier round, where you can suffer one loss.  Single elimination once the playoff bracket is set.