I agree... I think you should have to at LEAST get to 8-8 to "qualify" for the playoffs. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if the bar was raised to 9-7 with the caveat that the division winner could go to the playoffs if there weren't any WC teams to take their place.
In other words, if there are a bunch of 14-2 teams and a bunch of 2-14 teams... well, the NFL would be having kittens, but the rule would be the division winner would have to have a "winning" record to qualify meaning more wins than losses, so 8-7-1 would qualify as a winning record, but 8-8 would not.
If a division winner were at 8-8 or below, they would only qualify for the playoffs under the Wild Card rules, thus using head to head matches, conference games, strength of schedule...etc. However that's done now. That way, if a really poor division winner (like maybe Atlanta now who's 4-6 and atop the NFC South, but their 4 wins have ONLY come in the division, they've lost all 6 games outside of the NFC South...) ends up at 7-9 or 8-8 in a year with great parity and tremendous competitiveness... I mean look at the playoff picture this year.
Cards playing lights out.
Eagles playing well.
Detroit finally playing like they want to win.
Cowboys are playing like they want to actually win that division
Packers just lit up the Eagles like they were a Div 2 college team.
SF stays competitive and in the playoff hunt even with half the team out.
Seattle is down this year, but hardly out.
St. Louis is almost though the woodchipper part of their schedule and went 3-1.
That's already 8 teams that I'd LIKE to see in the playoffs including the ENTIRE NFC West... Now obviously that won't happen, but the idea that 3 of those teams won't make it, but a 7-9 or 8-8 Falcons or Saints team will???
Just saying that this will make the case for expanded playoffs more than any academic argument anyone's made, yet. These last two years will seal the deal, imho.
Really be something if the Cards and Rams are responsible for expanding the playoffs, tho. I mean, across the nation most folks don't think of either team as playoff teams even when they're in the playoffs...