Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 4: NFL Playoff Changes?

Podcast Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Episode: Hour 4: NFL Playoff Changes?
• Release Date: March 19, 2025
• Description: The first voice of ESPN New York and New Jersey legend Don La Greca, long-time sportswriter and handsome New York Knick broadcaster Alan Hahn, and highly opinionated Hip Hop vet and WWE personality Peter Rosenberg discuss New York sports and much more.

Overview

In the fourth episode of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast, released on March 19, 2025, hosts Don La Greca and Dan Rosenberg dive deep into potential changes to the NFL playoff format proposed by the Detroit Lions. The discussion broadens to encompass playoff structures in other major sports, including the NHL, NBA, and MLB, while engaging with listeners through live calls that touch on a variety of sports-related topics.

NFL Playoff Format Changes

Proposal by the Detroit Lions: Don Hahn introduces a significant rule change proposal from the Detroit Lions aimed at restructuring the NFL playoff format. The suggestion is to allow wild card teams with better regular-season records than divisional winners to secure home-field advantage.

• Don Hahn's Perspective:

  • "I like that. I know you want to honor the division. I think the division should guarantee you a playoff spot. But I do think that the higher record should determine home field moving forward." ([01:27])

• Dan Rosenberg's Input:

  • "I'm not totally opposed to that. Right. And I know you want to honor the division." ([01:58])

Discussion Points:

• Fairness vs. Tradition: Balancing division honors with rewarding teams based on their overall performance.
• Division Strength Variability: Acknowledging that not all divisions have teams of equal strength, leading to scenarios where division winners may have inferior records compared to wild card teams.
• Historical Examples:
  • Seattle Seahawks: Discussed how a team with a 7-9 record made the playoffs by winning their division, prompting debate over the merit of such a system. ([03:31])
  • Carolina Panthers (2014): Highlighted a similar scenario where a lower-record division winner gained playoff advantage, resulting in contentious matchups and unfavorable conditions like inclement weather. ([04:24])

Conclusion: Both hosts express support for the proposal, emphasizing the importance of rewarding teams based on their performance rather than solely their divisional success. They advocate for maintaining division winners in the playoffs but decoupling home-field advantage from division standings, allowing better-record wildcard teams to host games.

NHL Playoff Format Critique

Don Hahn shifts focus to the NHL, criticizing its current playoff format where lower-seeded teams within divisions may face each other early, potentially eliminating top-performing teams.

• Don Hahn's Criticism:

  • "I hate these, you know, two and three seeds in their divisions having to be forced to play each other. You get situations like two of the best teams in the league, one of them is guaranteed to be out in the first round." ([05:04])

• Proposed Alternative:

  • Advocating for a more traditional 1-8 seeding across the entire conference to ensure higher-seeded teams face lower-seeded opponents, thus maintaining competitive integrity.

• Response from NHL Commissioner:

  • Mention of Gary Bettman resisting calls for format changes, asserting satisfaction with the current system. ([05:04])

Other Sports Discussions

Basketball (NBA):

• Discussion on NBA teams implementing strategies like load management and the impact on playoff eligibility.
• Example: Oklahoma City’s load management tactics against Philadelphia to secure favorable draft picks, despite having the best record. ([50:08])

Baseball (MLB):

• Reflection on historical long games, such as the 1985 Mets vs. Braves game lasting until the early morning, questioning the sustainability of such formats in modern sports schedules. ([16:52])

Caller Interactions

The podcast features multiple live callers who contribute diverse perspectives:

1. Tom from Car Lever:

   • Discusses his appreciation for the band Rush and connects it to sports outcomes.
   • Notable Quote: "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." ([12:50])

2. Sean from Florida:

   • Explores the value of ties in sports standings, particularly in understanding season performance despite not securing wins.
   • Notable Quote: "It really depends on if you're a good team that ties a bad team or a bad team that ties a good team." ([14:24])

3. Robbie from Massachusetts:

   • Provides insights into the New York Rangers and Devils’ performance, leadership, and potential trades.
   • Discusses player dynamics and team strategy.
   • Notable Quote: "He gets free reign of the snack bar at the MSG training facility." ([21:57])

4. Rick from Neptune:

   • Seeks hope for the New Jersey Devils' playoff chances amidst injuries and team performance.
   • Notable Quote: "But with no Hughes, no Hamilton, if Markstrom is gonna take the reins." ([36:25])

Insights and Conclusions

Playoff Structure Fairness: Maintaining a balance between honoring traditional divisional standings and promoting fairness based on overall team performance is crucial. The proposed NFL changes aim to enhance competitive equity without discarding the existing division-based framework entirely.

Impact on Team Strategies: Changes in playoff formats across different sports can significantly influence team strategies during the regular season, including roster management, player utilization, and overall competitiveness.

Listener Engagement: Engaging with callers provides a multifaceted view of sports fandom, highlighting personal connections to teams, players, and the broader sports culture.

Closing Thoughts: Don Hahn emphasizes the importance of adapting playoff formats to reflect true team performance, ensuring that the most deserving teams advance based on merit rather than structural advantages. The discussion underscores the evolving nature of sports management and the ongoing debate between tradition and fairness.

Notable Quotes:

• Don Hahn ([01:27]): "I like that. I know you want to honor the division. I think the division should guarantee you a playoff spot. But I do think that the higher record should determine home field moving forward."

• Dan Rosenberg ([01:58]): "I'm not totally opposed to that. Right. And I know you want to honor the division."

• Don Hahn ([05:04]): "I hate these, you know, two and three seeds in their divisions having to be forced to play each other. You get situations like two of the best teams in the league, one of them is guaranteed to be out in the first round."

• Caller Tom ([12:50]): "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."

• Caller Sean ([14:24]): "It really depends on if you're a good team that ties a bad team or a bad team that ties a good team."

• Don Hahn ([21:57]): "He gets free reign of the snack bar at the MSG training facility."

• Caller Rick ([36:25]): "But with no Hughes, no Hamilton, if Markstrom is gonna take the reins."

This episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" offers a comprehensive examination of proposed changes to NFL playoff structures, critiques of existing NHL formats, and broader discussions on playoff implications across major sports. Through expert analysis and interactive listener engagement, the hosts provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of how playoff systems influence team dynamics and competitive fairness.