NFL
Potential changes coming to the 2025-26 NFL playoffs
The NFL has no issue with making changes when it deems necessary, and that may be the case for next year’s postseason.

The Minnesota Vikings had an incredible season this year, finishing 14-3, tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the second-best record in the NFC. And yet, they were doomed to the fifth seed in the conference and a road game in their Wild Card match against the Los Angeles Rams tonight.
That’s because in the NFL’s current playoff format, the winner of each division automatically gets home-field advantage in their first playoff game. In the NFC North, the division title belongs to the Detroit Lions, who finished their season with a 15-2 record, one game ahead of the Vikings after their victory in Week 18. The Rams, despite finishing with a worse record (10-7), won the home-field advantage against the Vikings because they won the NFC West.
NFL considering playoff format change for 2025-26 season
If you think that sounds unfair, you’re not alone. Even a member of the Vikings’ NFC North opponent, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, stated his confusion about the matter.
“Obviously, if you win the division, you should obviously make a playoff spot, but having a 14-win team having to go on the road is kind of crazy,” he said. “But I guess I don’t make the rules.”
But those who do make the rules understand this as well. The NFL is now considering a format that would give home-field advantage to the top four teams based on their winning percentage, rather than just divisional winners.
The league made some major changes to the playoffs in 2020 when they expanded the postseason to 14 teams (from 12). Previously, two teams from both the NFC and AFC would win a first-round bye week, but after the change, only one team from each conference does. It also added two more games (six total) to the Wild Card round.
The Vikings will actually play the Rams at State Farm Stadium in Arizona now, as the game had to be relocated due to safety concerns amidst the recent Los Angeles wildfires.
The Wild Card game between the Vikings and Rams kicks off tonight at 8 p.m. ET. You can follow along with AS USA’s live text coverage, brought to you by our own Dane Arlauckas.
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