>>I think all sports should have a rule that no time with a losing record can go to the playoffs.
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>>The ONLY way that will ever happen is if the concept of divisions is abandoned...and that's not likely to happen.
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>Why not make a rule that a division isn't represented if no team has a winning record? In that case, you take the next highest record among others if there's one with a winning record. If not, top team (or the top team that doesn't already have one) gets a bye.
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>After all, if you really can't produce enough teams with winning records, then the ones that have them must have been really good.
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>Tamar

The problem with that is the playing schedule. Every season some teams have much easier schedules than others. I have no problem getting rid of the whole "wildcard" thing - some teams in a season (like this year's Panthers) have no business playing football let alone going to the playoffs...