Are the NFL playoffs headed for a major change? Teams set to decide
The Detroit Lions have tabled a proposal that would represent a significant alteration to the way the NFL postseason is structured.
NFL franchise owners are set to make a crucial decision in Minneapolis next week, when they get together for the annual Spring League Meetings.
According to a report by Albert Breer of NBC Sports, a proposal from the Detroit Lions could change the playoffs as we know them: the Michigan franchise has tabled a major alteration to the postseason seeding system.
How would the Lions’ seeding proposal work?
Under Detroit’s proposal, the four divisional champions and three wild-card teams would still make up each conference’s seven-team playoff line-up.
However, postseason seedings would be based purely on teams’ win-loss record in the regular season - in a departure from the current system, which prioritizes division champions.
Since the merger between the NFL and the AFL in 1970, the division champions have always been the top four seeds in each conference, regardless of whether a wild-card team has a better record than any division title winner.
Championship tiebreaker
Under Detroit’s proposed postseason format, a division champion would benefit from the first tiebreaker were it to finish the regular season with the same record as a non-division champion.
Significant: NFL owners will vote next week on a proposal to change the playoff seeding format, where teams would be seeded strictly by regular-season record rather than automatically awarding the top four seeds to division winners, per @AlbertBreer.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 16, 2025
More detail:
— If teams have… pic.twitter.com/vcY5x7ij6q
How the seeding system affected last year’s NFL postseason
It’s worth noting that the present seeding format had a significant impact on the arrangement of the 2024 playoffs.
The Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders both had better regular-season records than the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the Rams and the Bucs’ status as divisional champions ensured they were seeded higher in the playoffs.
As a result, Los Angeles and Tampa Bay were each given home-field advantage in their opening-round games against Minnesota and Washington, respectively.
The Lions have recent form in securing major NFL rule changes. Last year, Detroit successfully proposed that teams be permitted to make a third challenge to an officiating decision if either of the first two were successful.
What else have the Lions proposed?
Another Lions proposal for this year’s Spring League Meetings is the elimination of the automatic first down for defensive holding and illegal contact penalties.
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