Quote:
Originally Posted by Longtimefan
Schedule more division later in the season, espically in closely competitive divisions where the title may be at stake. Unlike last year when we played four of our first five games within the division.
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I don't think that would make a difference, as the Eagles showed last week. If a team is in the playoffs or in a better spot like Indy, they'll still rest or play soft knowing their postseason is a lock.
Rivalries will fire up the fans more, but I don't think it will change a coach's/teams strategy in preparing for the postseason at all. In fact, it could end up doing the opposite and making the division rivalry games less intense if one of the teams has things locked up, where they would have played harder if the division game was earlier in the season and still had some more meaning in the big picture.