re: What if every one score 2016 NFL game went the other way

quote:

---

Chargers +7 – 12-4

Bills + 6 – 13-3

Jaguars +6 – 9-7

Eagles +5 – 12-4

Bears +5 – 8-8

Panthers +5 – 11-5

49ers +4 – 6-10

Browns +4 - 5-11

Bengals +4 – 10-5-1

Saints +3 – 10-6

Cardinals +3 – 10-5-1

Vikings +2 – 10-6

Jets +1 – 6-10

Rams +1 – 5-11

Broncos +1 – 10-6

Falcons 0 – 11-5

Packers -1 – 9-7

Ravens -1 – 7-9

Colts -1 – 7-9

Titans -1 - 8-8

Seahawks -1 – 9-6-1

Buccs -2 – 7-9

Steelers -2 – 9-7

Redskins -2 – 6-9-1

Patriots -3 – 11-5

Lions -3 – 6-10

Chiefs -3 – 9-7

Giants -5 – 6-10

Cowboys -5 – 8-8

Dolphins -6 – 4-12

Texans -6 – 3-13

Raiders -7 – 5-11

---

quote:

---

quote:
I'm probably wasting valuable offseason content, but I decided to see how much of a difference it'd make if all W/Ls from one-score (7 points or less margin) were reversed in outcome. All teams listed by the amount of wins they'd gain/lose. Mostly did this since pundits like Bill Barnwell frequently say that NFL teams tend to win 50% of their one-score games in the longrun, and I feel like this illustrates how different the postseason would be if the coinflips went differently.

---

You have discovered the code key for how the NFL markets its product. The Chargers and Bills were not marketable ratings wise this year and needed to fail.

With ratings issues all year, the Cowboys and Giants needed to succeed to avoid an NFL ratings disaster.

The Saints have been demonized by Roger Goodell and need to fail. The Patriots have powerful ownership and any sustained effort against them is pure theater.

The powerful big media or big ratings market teams are the current final four. Ratings are still down, overall, but the NFL has staunched the bleeding.

Small market teams are allowed to succeed when it fits a popular PR need. The NFL is very reactionary to bad publicity and good publicity and will adjust a team's fate accordingly.

The Cam Newton dab was popular and a marketing success. Newton and the Panthers were not penalized for their many taunting actions the previous season.

The NFL massages the tight NFL games each week as marketing and profitability require.

The subjective interpretation of the rules is a good tool to accomplish game manipulation while appearing to be just missed calls.

Point of emphasis are given to officiating crews by the competition committee as a means to massage close games.

When enough small market fans tune out, a short term placating reaction occurs. Eventually, Mark Cuban may be right.