Wild Card Weekend was not what the NFL had hoped for; all four games were won by the home team by an NFL-record average of 19 points. The league obviously cares about competitive games because it creates better ratings and experiences for fans.
They shouldn’t hold their breath for a change the Divisional Round.
Of the 4 Wild Card games, only the Seahawks-Lions was not a rematch of a regular season performance. Of all the 12 possible match-up combinations in the Divisional Round, a mere two were unique: Patriots-Raiders; and Falcons-Giants. With the Raiders and Giants going home, that means every Divisional Round game is a rematch.
And the original games weren’t pretty.
Week 3: Patriots 27 - Texans 0
The Patriots used their 3rd string quarterback to blow out the Texans in New England on a short-week during a prime time Thursday Night Football game; now that QB Tom Brady is back on the roster and the game still at Gillette Stadium, the Texans aren’t expected to have a prayer.
Week 4: Steelers 43 - Chiefs 14
The Steelers ran out to a 36-0 lead after the first drive of the second half in Pittsburgh and the rest of the game didn’t matter. Kansas City scored a garbage time touchdown with 4 seconds left in the game. Hopefully the playoff game will be more competitive at Arrowhead Stadium.
Week 6: Cowboys 30 - Packers 16
The Cowboys exposed the Packers at Lambeau, and sent Green Bay into a tailspin where the lost five of six games. Green Bay’s leading receiver from this regular season game was Ty Montgomery (10 receptions, 98 yards) is now the team’s starting running back. WR Jordy Nelson is now seriously hurt. Can Green Bay win in Dallas?
Week 6: Seahawks 26 - Falcons 24
This was the only good regular season game of the bunch and it required a botched call in the Seahawks favor at Seattle for the Falcons to lose. If the league had an exact copy of this game, they would be happy- but the Seahawks have been terrible on defense since losing FS Earl Thomas and the game will take place in Atlanta, where the Falcons have a history of creating their own homefield advantage.