Not the same, since only one team can win the superbowl. They don't give out prizes for 2nd and 3rd place.
Plus, in football and other team sports, you tend to play within your division, so your record isn't really comparable to every other team's records. A team that can go 11-5 in one division might have gone 8-8 if they had to play a harder schedule of another division.
So in team sports, they tend to use an elimination format -- you have to achieve against the smaller group you are in, in order to get out. If you can't be the top two of your division, it is less likely you could be considered the best team in the nation.
BTW, in the olympics, soccer is another sport where something similar happens. You play in a group of 4, and only two move on. The groups are built to spread out the "expected" winners, but theoretically, the top 3 teams might end up in one group, and then the 3rd-best team gets eliminated. But practically speaking, the top three teams aren't in a group. In gymnastics, there have been times when the top three gymnists were from one country.
And in fact, that seems to be the reason for the rule. Although aren't there other olympic events where teams are only allowed to qualify two athletes?
Oh well.
But nonetheless, under the current format, all three would be allowed to compete as a division winner and the two conference wild cards.
And in fact, that seems to be the reason for the rule. Although aren't there other olympic events where teams are only allowed to qualify two athletes?
It varies wildly by sport. In track and field, for example, you can most certainly sweep the medals in an individual event, at least in track events. But in other sports, you're limited to one or two entrants in the competition.
My take: if you've allowed people into the competition in the first place, you should not impose a lower maximum cap per team once the competition is underway. Let the results dictate who goes on and who watches from the sidelines.
its exactly the same.....fact is you have to get into the playoffs for any chance of winning the Super Bowl- just like you have to get into the event final for a chance at the gold medal....
if you limit the number of teams each division can place in the playoffs regardless of record versus putting all the division winners into the playoffs then the next best three teams, you could well have an inferior team(s) in the playoffs...
in the NFL there are four teams in each division and a 16 game schedule...you play each team in your division twice- a total of six games...in Olympic soccer you ONLY play teams in your group/division...
to claim that in team sports your record isn’t really comparable to the record of others teams based on schedule further proves how asinine the Olympic rule is; each gymnast is required to participate on each apparatus for a chance at the individual gold- hence its like playing the same schedule yet they are not taking all the best athletes due to the 2 person per country rule.....