Seahawks Slink into NFL Postseason

So the now 7-9 Seattle Seahawks "won" the NFC West Division after an anything but stout victory over the upstart St. Louis Rams Sunday night. It marks the first time that a division winner will enter the NFL playoffs sporting a record that's below .500

Now, numerous people are spouting off saying that something needs to change. There's no way a blow .500 team deserves to even make the NFL playoffs. Some suggest that the United States biggest sport is missing on this issue.

Before I go to far, let me state that I am a fan of the Seahawks. And, yes, I'm a sheepish about this whole deal. Still, one of the prizes for winning your division, no matter how stinking weak it is, is making the postseason parade.

Now, back to the task at hand...

To suggest that the NFL is flubbing here is completely off the mark. We've not had a sub-.500 division winner advance on in the past, but get this through your thick noggins...it's the first time.

Did you get that? It's the first freakin' time.

Why is everyone so up in arms over this? Even as a Seahawks fan, I can easily answer that.

There are two teams in the NFC (New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) that sport a 10-6 record and must sit at home and observe (if they can stomach it) the playoffs. I honestly feel bad for those teams, but there have also been instances where a team holding a better record than a divisional winner didn't make the playoffs.

Back in 2008, the New England Patriots were 11-5 and missed the postseason. The San Diego Chargers were 8-8 and won their division. Where was all the mass hysteria over that? Not as widespread because at least that team had a .500 record.

The better avenue to pursue is a simple "reseeding" of the teams, right? Not so sure I'm on aboard with that either. Another of the prizes for winning your division is hosting at least one home playoff affair such as Seattle (7-9) will do against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints (11-5). I do think the "reseeding" aspect will be at least visited in the very near future. But give it all a rest those of you screaming for a change. This is a rarity that a sub-.500 team hosts a playoff game.

If it happens in 2011, if there is a 2011 season, then your cries could be constituted as valid.