Next week in Minneapolis, NFL owners are gearing up to vote on a proposal that could shake up the league’s playoff format in a major way.
This idea, which comes from the Detroit Lions, challenges the traditional way teams are seeded for the postseason and could lead to a much more competitive finish to the regular season.
The Detroit Lions’ Bold Proposal
Traditionally, the NFL gives the four division winners in each conference the top four seeds in the playoffs, while the next three teams qualify as wild-cards and get the lower seeds.
But the Lions want to change all that.
They’re suggesting that all seven teams in each conference should be seeded purely based on their overall regular-season records — no special treatment for division winners.
This means a wild-card team with a better record could actually be seeded ahead of a division champion, which is a pretty big shift from how things are done now.
Why the Change Might Make Sense
The Lions argue this new system promotes “competitive equity” by rewarding the teams that perform best throughout the season, regardless of which division they’re in.
They also believe it would keep late-season games exciting and meaningful — something the NFL has been concerned about for a while.
In recent years, teams that have already clinched playoff spots sometimes rest their key players in the final weeks.
This can make those games feel less important and less entertaining for fans.
By reseeding purely by record, the Lions think more teams would stay motivated to fight for better playoff positioning all the way until the very end.
How This Could Have Changed Last Season
Back in March, the NFL’s analytics team showed owners some eye-opening examples from last season to illustrate what this “open seeding” could mean.
For instance, the Houston Texans entered Week 18 knowing they were locked into the fourth seed.
But under the Lions’ proposal, they could have dropped as low as the seventh seed — making those last games critical.
Similarly, the Los Angeles Rams and the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles would have faced the possibility of moving down in the seeding, which could have significantly impacted who hosted playoff games and the matchups themselves.
Even teams like the Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings could have benefited, possibly earning the chance to host playoff games instead of starting on the road, which is always a big advantage.
Commissioner Roger Goodell’s View on the Proposal
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has expressed enthusiasm about exploring the idea further.
Back in April, he called it “a very healthy proposal” and said the league needs to keep evaluating versions of it.
He also pointed out that there’s solid data backing up the Lions’ argument that this could improve competition and fairness in the playoff picture.
Goodell initially conducted an informal vote on the proposal in March, but only a few teams were on board at the time.
Now, it seems more owners are warming up to the idea, especially with the focus on keeping late-season games meaningful and fair.
What’s Next for the NFL Playoff Format?
Owners will take an official vote on the Detroit Lions’ playoff seeding proposal at their meeting in Minneapolis next week.
If it passes, it could lead to a dramatic change in how playoff teams are ranked and ultimately how the postseason unfolds in the NFL — making every game count, right up to the final whistle of the regular season.