Before the 2025 NFL season began, the Detroit Lions proposed a change to the NFL playoff rules regarding seeding. The proposal tried to prioritize overall record over division winners, but it didn’t receive enough votes to pass.
On Saturday, the Carolina Panthers, who won the NFC South with an 8-9 overall record, hosted the 12-5 Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round. A lot of criticism poured in online regarding the playoff seeding system. with many feeling that Carolina didn’t deserve a home playoff game after struggling for much of the regular season. Could we see the NFL revisit the Lions’ proposal this offseason?
What Is the NFL World Saying About Playoff Seeding?
One fan called out the league in a post on X, writing, “This playoff seeding format continues to be broken. The 8-9 Panthers & 10-7 Steelers or 9-8 Ravens get to host a playoff game while the Bills at 12-5 are the second worst seed and are on the road. Makes no sense.”
PFSN’s Deputy Editor Alex Kennedy said that neither the Panthers nor Tampa Bay Buccaneers deserved a playoff spot, much less a home playoff game. He said, “It’s insane the NFL’s current format will reward them just for winning the awful NFC South.
“Last offseason, the Lions proposed a rule change for the playoffs to be seeded by record instead of by division champions, but it was not passed. Considering an 8-win team will be hosting a playoff game, perhaps this will be revisited this offseason. PFSN’s model views Tampa Bay as the 21st-ranked team in the league, while Carolina is 25th.”
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Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, also had some thoughts on the Panthers’ inclusion in the NFL playoffs. Portnoy wrote, “The NFL should ban under .500 teams from making the playoffs. It’s disgusting to watch the Panthers play football.”
The NFL should ban under 500 teams from making the playoffs. It’s disgusting to watch the Panthers play football.
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) January 10, 2026
Sam Block of ESPN wrote on X, “8-9 Panthers… home team. 12-5 Rams… road team. It’s 2026. It’s time to change this rule.”
Barstool Sports’ account on X showed a clip of the Panthers’ Trevor Etienne botching a punt return and fumbling it back to the Rams. The account’s post read, “Starting to see why the Panthers are 8-9.”
Starting to see why the Panthers are 8-9
pic.twitter.com/fHgnjVoL2C— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 10, 2026
The game ended up being closer (and better) than expected, with the Rams winning 34-31. However, even though this clash ended up being entertaining, fans still felt that Carolina hosting a playoff game didn’t seem very fair.
It will be interesting to see if the NFL actually reviews its playoff seeding rules this offseason. Don’t be surprised if Detroit puts forth another proposal in an effort to change the rules.