The Detroit Lions have proposed a rule change to the NFL playoff format that could drastically alter the NFL playoff seeding.
Under the proposed rule change, the division winner with the conference’s best record would still received the No. 1 overall seed and a first-round bye. But after that, teams would be seeded based on overall record, regardless if they won their divisions or received a wild-card berth.
The potential rule change could have a sigifnicant impact on the Lions and the highly competitive NFC North, which has emerged as one of the best divisions in the NFL. Last year, the Lions (15-2), Minnesota Vikings (14-3) and Green Bay Packers (11-6) all made the post season. The Lions received the NFC’s No. 1 seed, but the Vikings were seeded No. 5, and the Packers were No. 7. Based purely on records, the Vikings would have been the No. 3 seed, and the Packers would have been No. 5.
The Los Angeles Chargers made a similar proposal in 2023, but it did not receive much support. Any NFL team can make a rule change proposal for consideration by owners. The proposals require at least 24 votes to be approved, but owners are generally more likely to approve proposals that are endorsed by the competition committee rather than individual teams.
Owners are scheduled to meet March 30-April 2 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
