The regular 2021 NFL season ended over a week ago with similar results of past seasons. The numbers are not much different even though one extra game was added to the regular schedule making a total of 17 games. Only 18 teams (56%) finished with a winning record out of the 32 total teams. Ten teams from the AFC and eight teams from the NFC.
There was a total of 19 teams (58%) with 8 or more losses. Nine from the AFC and ten from the NFC. There were 11 teams (34%) with ten or more losses. Last season in 2020 only 13 teams finished with a winning record which has been near par for the course for the last several years. So the extra game this season gave a few more teams the opportunity to finish the season with a winning record vs. 2020 season. Among them were the Saints, one of five teams to finish with a record of 9-8, one game above .500. There was six wild card teams that made the playoffs along with the division champions. During the first playoff round last weekend only Frisco survived the wild cards and will continue to play this weekend.
This NFL season continues to confirm "Politidose" commentary that the NFL is a non-competitive league with too many losses, too many poor coaches, too many poor teams and too many teams period. Wild card teams should not be considered for the playoffs and only division champions should qualify. After all, every team had the same chance to win their division and the wild cards failed to do so.
It is time for the NFL, the sports media and the owners admit that wild card teams do not increase competition and became part of the game only to put more money in the pockets of the NFL, the media and the owners. It has done nothing to increase competition and the won-loss records say so. The number of teams need to be reduced from the present 32 and the playoffs should be restricted only to the division champs.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Note: According to the NFL, wild card teams were introduced to the NFL in 1978 and during that 43 year period 11 wild card teams have made it to the Super Bowl and only 7 of those 11 teams won a Super Bowl.
