The problem with Football and Baseball is that because the Super Bowl/World Series involve so much hype around certain teams, that when it comes to the actual event and the teams aren't involved, it gets shit on, analyzed nine ways from sunday about why these teams aren't in the finals, what can we do to make sure its structured for those teams to reach it, who's gonna watch it, etc... etc... We saw that in Baseball in recent years and just this pass year in the Superbowl. When New England wasn't respected, no one really thought that they could be a dynasty team, now thats what everyone is talking about.
People want to see New England/Boston, New York, Phili, Chicago in the finals. No one else. Thats the problem with Baseball and Football these days.