I guarantee, if the Giants, Eagles, Redskins, and Cowboys were all under .500, you wouldn't hear a lot of complaining about how bad the NFC East is. Instead there'd be a long list of excuses to explain how these teams really aren't playing up to their talent level, and you can't use their records to tell how good or bad they really are. Yeah, the NFC West sucked this year. Yeah, maybe a 7-9 shouldn't host a playoff game. And yeah, I'm pissed that the Rams just lost the damn game. Fine. The hawks still won the division. That should still count for something. One crazy season like this should not throw the whole playoff system into disarray, like some want to happen.

And I also guarantee the NFC West is gonna get better.

Congrats to the Seahawks. I would have liked to see the Bucs in the playoffs, but if you win your division, I believe you deserve a home playoff game, no matter how bad the divsion is.

Congrats to the Seahawks, but I feel bad for Tampa Bay 10-6, NY Giants as well. They need to change how the seeding is done for the playoffs because the current format is outdated.

I have no problem with the seahawks being in and the other ten win teams being out. When the league went to 4 divisions with 4 teams it was always possible for a team with a losing record to win its division and make the playoffs and this is the first time this scenario has happened. The raiders of all teams went undefeated in their division while playoff team the chiefs went 2-4 do we change the system to let them in?

I'm tripping how the draft order is the bucs win, and would be in the playoffs if the Giants and Greenbay lose. Bucs, Giants, and Greenbay win and the bucs get the 20th overall pick. That dont make since to me. what do you all think?

it is fun to think @ 6-9 they were still in it. this is gonna be fun

itd be sweet if they won the super bowl ha

even as a hawks fan it was clear that the bucs and giants were much better teams. hopefully they can put up a fight against the saints. dont get me wrong winning the division was a plus but personally a higher draft pick would help much more

How many teams did Tampa beat with a winning record? One (Saints). How about the Seahawks? Two(Chargers, Bears).

And if you want to complain about how bad the NFC West is, then don't bother bringing up the Bucs. Four of their wins came from sweeping the lousy division.

@ blue line - Um...with the exceptions of this sad season, there's always been a team with one record above .500, usually at least two, like in just about every other division (09, 07, 06, 04, 03, 01, 00, 99, etc.). And the NFC West is one of only two divisions to produce three Super Bowl teams in the past decade (NFC South is the other). But thanks for generalizing a couple of seasons into "every year" like most of the media has.

Also, echoefx did post facts, you just don't like them. Your fact 3 is also not a fact. It's your opinion that disregards the entire playoff and division structure as it is now. If you'd like to blow that up, that's another matter. Hawks won their division, so they should be in. Does it suck that TB didn't make it in? Sure. But if you want to take away the reward for winning one's division then you may as well get rid of the divisions altogether.

In other news, the more I think about it, the more I like the two more wild card teams idea as well.

I don't think the seahawks should be in the playoffs. I thought 8-8 or better meant a team has that right, but 7-9? Poor scheduling? Congrats is in order I guess. But as I think about it, the Giants and Bucs should had their opportunities to be on top of their respective divisions. Giants faltered the most while the Bucs had a very good season. I will give the seahawks props/recognition if they miraculously play 100% better than their 7-9 record. I never mind to see some history in the playoffs. Knock off the saints and I'll say you belong in the playoffs. We'll see.