sports and statistics

a Statistic about the NFL playoffs that has gotten some play this weekend: In the first 5 years of a 14-team playoff, 7 seeds are 1-9 in the first round. ⚙️( https://ftw.usatoday.com/2025/01/cowboys-nfl-playoffs-expanded-7-seeds-embarrassing-reaction )

Of course, the hot takes about this are predictably awful. This proves the playoff system is wrong! Nope. You should expect the last team in the playoffs to lose most of the time. This is how it's supposed to work.

If the seven seeds were 4-6, the hot takes would be different complaints. 🔥( the regular season doesn't mean enough!)

Also, some years the seventh team is better than other years. The NFL doesn't have an absolute "all teams that are this good make the playoffs" rule.

🔥 one Reddit commenter, amusingly, jumps straight from "seven seeds aren't any good" to "it's not fair to 2 seeds that they have to play a good team".

Of course, the governing factor here is the pursuit of the almighty dollar. So, even if the statistics did indicate a problem (which they do not), there would not be any change forthcoming. 🔥( other than, possibly, even more teams)