I know you’re disappointed that, for travel-related reasons, your weekly dose of AFL Beat will be delayed.

In an effort to tide you over, I offer this little analysis I did in which I asked the question:  What if the NFL used the AFL system to determine playoff seedings?

I compiled the standings for the 2015 NFL season and sorted the teams the way the AFL would under its tie-breaking system of Points For divided by Points Against.  To maintain some kind of meaning for division championships, I decided that each division winner was guaranteed a playoff spot, but that was it.  The results are below.  First, the AFC:

The thing that stands out right away is that, and I’m really sorry for this, Redshirt, but the Bengals would have gotten the #1 seed instead of the Broncos.  Another team that got screwed is the Jets, who got screwed in the NFL by being better than the Texans but left out because of the shitty AFC South.  Since I am keeping the division championship playoff guarantee, the Jets get screwed here too.  One last thing to note:  The Cleveland Browns, NOT the Tennessee Titans, were the shittiest team in the conference.   I think you will agree this makes a lot of sense.  Now, on to the NFC:

The six playoff teams from last year remain the same although the Seahawks switch spots with Washington because winning the division doesn’t provide a higher seeding anymore.  The interesting bit lies with the St. Louis Rams, who the NFL ranked as #8 in the conference but which, under the AFL system, would fall all the way to 11.  This, to me, makes a lot of sense as the Rams sucked major ass last year.  Maybe this would show ownership that Jeff Fisher is not that good of a coach?

Under the NFL playoff system of 6 teams per conference, but using AFL rankings, the matchups in the playoffs last year would have been:

AFC Byes:  Cincinnati and New England

Wild Card Round: Houston at Denver, Pittsburgh at Kansas City

NFC Byes:  Carolina and Arizona

Wild Card Round: Washington at Minnesota, Green Bay at Seattle

Now, assuming we take some mind-altering substance and expand the playoffs to 8 teams per conference, but use the AFL playoff system, the matchups in the First Week would have been:

AFC

1st Qualifying Final: Kansas City at Cincinnati (Loser plays Week 2, Winner gets bye to Week 3)

2nd Qualifying Final: Denver at New England (Loser plays Week 2, Winner gets bye to Week 3)

1st Elimination Final: Buffalo at Pittsburgh (Loser is eliminated, Winner plays Loser of KC-Cincy)

2nd Elimination Final: NY Jets at Houston (Loser is eliminated, Winner plays Loser of Denver-NE)

NFC

1st Qualifying Final: Seattle at Carolina (Loser plays Week 2, Winner gets bye to Week 3)

2nd Qualifying Final: Minnesota at Arizona (Loser plays Week 2, Winner gets bye to Week 3)

1st Elimination Final: Detroit at Green Bay (Loser is eliminated. Winner plays Loser of Seattle-Carolina)

2nd Elimination Final: Atlanta at Washington (Loser is eliminated. Winner plays Loser of Minnesota-Arizona)

Now, isn’t that WAY more interesting?!?

BTW, I also sorted out the teams in terms of draft position.  Instead of the Titans picking first, it would be the Browns.  A lot of other picks would be shuffled.  Here is the table for the non-playoff teams from last year:

There is quite a mix-up of order here, which I’m sure you will all enjoy discussing in the comments.  Tell me why we shouldn’t implement this if, and when, the National Disgrace thinks we should expand the playoffs.