Going to 14 Teams

Now that the NFL season is over, we get a closer look at how adding another team and taking away one first-round bye actually looks. I confess, I may be seeing something that others noticed and written about previously, but most have not been paying attention, nor seen how this season would have played out.

Granted, this has been a weird one, and not just because of SARS-CoV-2. Until now, people in their 20s were not getting particularly sick, so all the precautions may not have been necessary to protect the players - until now. The latest mutation gives it to more people and with more suffering for those who are younger. 

So stop if you have read this before - but I doubt you have.

The new playoff dynamics are amazing.

The outer brackets contain one team in a bye week for each conference who will likely play the best wild card team. 

In the American Conference, where the bottom four seeds have an equal record, this is unremarkable. It is also a bit strange that all of the wild cards and the number 4 seeded division team would have the same win-loss record. Given who is leading KC, there is little doubt as to the outcome.

In the National Conference, the lowest seeded host does not have a winning record, while the fifth seed is a game behind the second seed. Of the three outer-bracket teams, two have legendary quarterbacks and the other is a limping quarterback controversy. 

In the long run, the NFC scenario is more likely for the wild card and division rounds.

The inner bracket dynamics heavily favor division champions, with a very even match for the second round.  In the AFC, one match up is intra-divisional. Potentially, the title game could be too (in two scenarios). 

In the NFC inner brackets, we also see an inter-divisional week one and two hosting QBs that are longer in tooth. The Rams look like they have the most fire in the belly. Fit them for a possible glass slipper.

It is almost as if we had gone back to 3 divisions, no byes and one wild-card. I wonder if that was intended. 

Regardless, we are in for a treat.

Also of note, in the AFC, 3 teams with a connection to each other are all visitors. The team that left Baltimore took their record with them. The team that left for Baltimore had to leave their record behind, gifting it to an expansion team who is also in the playoffs. Note that the squad with the highest seed is from the city that got screwed out of past glory twice. I like their chances better than those for the team at the other end of the BW Parkway - but any given Sunday....