The NFL has a very flawed system in place when putting together its playoff picture every year. That’s because it is a system where the winner of each division is guaranteed the 4-seed or better and at the very least one home playoff game.
Many times, this rewards a division winner who has an inferior record with home field advantage over an opposing Wildcard team. We have actually seen this happen 12 out of the last 15 seasons in just the NFC alone, including in 2011 when the 10-6 Atlanta Falcons had to travel to East Rutherford, New Jersey to face the 9-7 NFC East Champion New York Giants.