In a move that could reshape the NFL’s postseason landscape, the Detroit Lions have proposed a bylaw change that would alter the playoff seeding format.
Lions Propose Changes to NFL Playoff Seeding
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero shared screenshots of the Lions’ proposal in a post on X, writing, “This is interesting: The #Lions proposed a bylaw change that would allow wild card teams to be seeded higher than division winners based on record.
This would’ve been helpful to the rival #Vikings last year and could be a factor in future years in competitive divisions….”
Pelissero reported that this proposal addresses the long-standing issue of teams with better records being forced to play on the road due to the current seeding structure.
This is interesting: The #Lions proposed a bylaw change that would allow wild card teams to be seeded higher than division winners based on record.
This would’ve been helpful to the rival #Vikings last year, and could be a factor in future years in competitive divisions…. pic.twitter.com/cKs1JBGJU9
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero)
One screenshot summarizes Detroit’s proposal, with the playoff seeding adjustment as the key point. It states:
“By Detroit; amends Article XX, Section 20.2 of the Constitution & Bylaws to amend the current playoff seeding format to allow Wild Card teams to be seeded higher than Division Champions if the Wild Card team has a better regular-season record.”
Another screenshot displays the proposed seeding adjustments, with strikethroughs on the current format and underlined changes:
“Pairings for the playoffs will be as follows: The seven postseason participants from each conference will be seeded as follows:
The division champion with the best record
2. The division champion or Wild Card with the second-best record.
3. The division champion or Wild Card with the third-best record.
4. The division champion or Wild Card with the fourth-best record.
5. The division champion or Wild Card with the fifth-best record.
6. The division champion or Wild Card with the sixth-best record.
7. The Wild Card with the third-best record.
2. The playoff participant with the second-best record.
3. The playoff participant with the third-best record.
4. The playoff participant with the fourth-best record.
5. The playoff participant with the fifth-best record.
6. The playoff participant with the sixth-best record.
7. The playoff participant with the seventh-best record.”
The NFL’s current playoff format, which expanded to 14 teams in 2020, reserves the top four seeds in each conference for division winners, regardless of record. That means even if a Wild Card team has a better record than a division champion, it can’t surpass them in seeding. The Wild Card teams are seeded No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7 based on their regular-season performance.
How the Lions’ Playoff Seeding Proposal Would Change the NFL Postseason
The Lions’ proposal seeks to fix a system that often disadvantages strong teams. In the 2024 season, the Minnesota Vikings became the first 14-win Wild Card team in NFL history. Yet, they were seeded behind division winners with worse records—like the 10-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South champions) and the 10-7 Los Angeles Rams (NFC West champions).
If adopted, this change could significantly impact the NFL playoff landscape. Teams with better records would have a greater chance of hosting playoff games, which is a significant advantage.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo shared a post showing how the 2024 postseason seeding would have looked under the Lions’ proposal. He wrote:
“From our folks at NFL Research, this is how the seeding would’ve looked for this past postseason under the #Lions’ new proposal to seed by record. So AFC Wild Card weekend would’ve been similar (LAC home vs. HOU though), but NFC would’ve been:
LAR at PHI
TB at MIN
GB at WAS”
From our folks at NFL Research, this is how the seeding would’ve looked for this past postseason under the #Lions’ new proposal to seed by record. So AFC Wild Card weekend would’ve been similar (LAC home vs HOU though) but NFC would’ve been:
LAR at PHI
TB at MIN
GB at WAS pic.twitter.com/0nAvVivtLb— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo)
The Eagles dominated the Rams in Los Angeles in a Sunday night game before Thanksgiving, then beat them again in a closer Divisional Round matchup.
Sam Darnold is 0-3 against the Bucs in his career, with all three losses coming during his time with the Carolina Panthers. Minnesota has lost eight of its last 10 against Tampa since 2001. Would the Vikings have fared better at home in front of 70,000 fans?
Washington barely got past Tampa in the Wild Card round, winning 23-20 thanks to late Buccaneers mistakes. Under the proposed changes, Washington would have hosted Green Bay instead. The Packers hold a 2-1 postseason record against the Commanders and had a better defense than the Bucs. Could Matt LaFleur’s team have pulled off an upset?
In this scenario, the Divisional Round might have seen the Packers traveling to Detroit and the Vikings heading to Philadelphia. There’s a strong chance the Lions would have hosted the NFC Championship Game against the Eagles.
Detroit’s proposal rewards teams for strong regular-season performances, similar to how the NBA seeds its playoff teams by record instead of division standings.
With more teams competing for better seeding, the final weeks of the regular season could become even more intense, as teams would have more incentive to win beyond just clinching a playoff spot.
Had this rule been in place for 2024, would the Eagles have rested their starters in the regular-season finale, knowing it might cost them the No. 2 seed to the Vikings? If they had played, could an injury to a key contributor have changed the entire playoff picture?
Detroit’s Playoff-Seeding Proposal Raises Concerns
One concern with the Lions’ proposal is how it might devalue division titles. Right now, winning a division guarantees a top-four seed, a significant motivator for teams. If Wild Card teams could outrank division champions in seeding, it might reduce the incentive to fight for division crowns, especially in competitive divisions.
The Lions’ proposal will likely be a significant topic in the coming months as the league looks at ways to improve playoff competitiveness and fairness. With the NFL competition committee set to unveil its list of rule-change proposals soon, the stage is set for a potentially significant shift in how the league structures its postseason.
