# NFL Teams Shocked to Discover September Games Actually Count Toward Playoff Standings
The National Football League’s transition from preseason exhibition games to regular season competition has caught multiple franchises completely off-guard, with several coaching staffs expressing genuine surprise that September games contribute to their official win-loss records and potential playoff positioning. The revelation has prompted emergency strategy meetings across the league as teams scramble to understand the implications of “competitive football.”
“Wait, so these games actually matter?” asked Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles during Tuesday’s press conference, visibly processing information that his September 8th matchup against the Washington Commanders would affect his team’s standing in the NFC South division. “I thought we had until October before anyone started keeping track. This changes everything.”
The confusion stems from what NFL analysts describe as “preseason conditioning,” a phenomenon where teams become so accustomed to treating football as elaborate practice sessions that the transition to meaningful competition creates what sports psychologists call “relevance shock syndrome.”
“For the past month, we’ve been operating under the assumption that winning and losing were essentially decorative concepts,” explained Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington. “Now you’re telling me that if we lose games in September, it could prevent us from reaching the playoffs? That seems like information that should have been shared earlier in our planning process.”
Several teams have reportedly requested clarification from league offices regarding the exact point at which their performance begins affecting playoff calculations. The Green Bay Packers submitted a formal inquiry asking whether their Week 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles “counts the same as a November game,” while the Detroit Lions requested a grace period to “adjust their expectations accordingly.”
“The preseason taught us that football games are essentially extended team-building exercises with elaborate television production,” said New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a hastily arranged team meeting. “We’re going to need some time to recalibrate our approach now that we’ve learned the outcomes have consequences beyond statistical documentation.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the confusion during a league-wide conference call, explaining that regular season games have “counted toward playoff positioning since the league’s inception in 1920,” a clarification that prompted audible gasps from several team executives who had apparently missed this detail during their decades of professional football involvement.
“We understand this represents a significant philosophical shift for organizations that have spent August treating football as performance art,” Goodell acknowledged. “But we’re confident that teams can adapt to the revolutionary concept of trying to win games that actually affect their season outcomes.”
The adjustment period has created logistical challenges throughout the league. Multiple teams have requested additional preparation time to develop what coaching staffs call “winning strategies,” distinct from their preseason approaches that focused primarily on injury prevention and playing time distribution.
“We need to completely rethink our approach,” admitted Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith. “Our entire August game plan was centered around getting through games without anyone getting hurt. Now we’re being told we should actually try to score more points than our opponents and prevent them from scoring. It’s a completely different mindset.”
Some teams have begun offering remedial courses for players and coaching staff on “competitive football fundamentals,” including workshops with titles like “Points Matter: Understanding Game Outcomes” and “September Through December: When Football Gets Serious.” The courses cover advanced concepts such as situational awareness, strategic decision-making, and what the Indianapolis Colts coaching manual refers to as “trying to win.”
“We’re basically starting from scratch,” explained Miami Dolphins special teams coordinator Danny Crossman. “We thought September games were just preseason games with slightly higher television ratings. The idea that our performance during these games affects whether we get invited to January competitions is genuinely shocking.”
Fantasy football analysts have noted that the NFL’s revelation may impact player performance, as athletes adjust to the concept that their professional careers depend on succeeding during games that “actually count.” Several players have reportedly requested additional training on “caring about outcomes” and “playing with urgency.”
“It’s a learning curve,” acknowledged NFL Players Association representative DeMaurice Smith. “Many of our members have been treating September like extended training camp. The adjustment to ‘meaningful football’ will require significant mental preparation.”
The league has announced plans to provide educational materials to help teams understand the relationship between regular season performance and postseason opportunities, including a pamphlet titled “Why September Matters: A Guide for Professional Football Organizations” and a mandatory seminar called “Winning: It’s Not Just for January Anymore.”