The 2024 NFL playoffs reignited debates over the league’s seeding format, especially after teams with superior regular-season records were compelled to play on the road against division winners with lesser records. In the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings concluded the regular season with a 14–3 record but were seeded fifth due to finishing second in the NFC North behind the 15–2 Detroit Lions. Consequently, the Vikings had to travel to face the 10–7 Los Angeles Rams, the NFC West champions, in the Wild Card round. Similarly, the 12–5 Washington Commanders, second in the NFC East, were seeded sixth and played on the road against the 10–7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NFC South champions.
This scenario has led to increased scrutiny and calls for reform. Big changes could be coming to the NFL playoff format. As the league prepares for its annual owners’ meeting in Minneapolis (May 20–21), one of the most talked-about proposals isn’t about international expansion or rule tweaks—it’s about seeding. And at the center of it all? Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell and a front office ready to challenge tradition.
NFL insider Ari Meirov reported on May 19 that league owners will vote on a sweeping postseason change: seeding all seven NFC and AFC playoff teams strictly by regular-season record, regardless of division titles.
Now official: NFL owners will vote this week on a proposal to change the playoff seeding format — teams would be seeded 1–7 strictly by regular-season record.
The NFL’s reasoning: Competitive equity. It rewards the best teams, adds late-season excitement, and ensures more… https://t.co/SvfEgYi3Ac
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 20, 2025
Under the proposed changes:
The four division winners and three wild-card teams still qualify for the postseason.
However, seeding will be determined by win-loss record, not by division title.
A 12-5 wild card team would be seeded higher than a 10-7 division winner.
If teams share the same record, division championship becomes the first tiebreaker—replacing head-to-head outcomes.
After the Wild Card round, teams would be re-seeded, ensuring the No. 1 seed always faces the lowest remaining seed.
The aim? Competitive equity. The NFL believes the revised system would make late-season games more meaningful, reduce the frequency of teams resting starters in Weeks 17–18, and reward consistent performance over divisional alignment. The Lions have been one of the most aggressive advocates for playoff reform. Per The Lions Wire, Detroit’s front office has lobbied not just for reseeding based on record, but also for modifications to home-field advantage.
Initially, the team proposed that division winners continue to host in the Wild Card round—a potential compromise—but that reseeding occur after the opening weekend based purely on record. That would allow high-performing wild card teams a chance to host deeper into the playoffs, while still preserving some prestige for division titles. Despite the rationale, the fan reaction has been heated.
Fan backlash hits Dan Campbell and the Lions
One user on social media wrote: “The current setup is literally fine. The Vikings were 14-3. But got exposed by the Rams. Giving them a higher seed wouldn’t have mattered if a 4 seed was going to blow them out…” The Rams routed the higher-seeded Vikings team 27-9—an example critics use to argue that playoff seeding means less than in-game performance.
Others were more direct:
“Horrible.”
“Then get rid of divisions and play no team more than once. Otherwise, this is incredibly inequitable.”
“And it also makes winning your division meaningless. If you want a home playoff game, earn it by winning your division.”
The core argument? Fans worry that overhauling seeding would diminish the historical value of divisional rivalries and the importance of topping your group.
With seven international games scheduled in 2025 and the league already introducing a new playoff game in Madrid, owners are clearly in an experimental mood. The Lions’ proposal taps into a bigger trend: pushing for merit-based outcomes over historical structure. But it won’t pass without resistance.
According to reports, several ownership groups—especially those in weaker divisions—are concerned that such a change would erode competitive balance, especially for franchises trying to rebuild. Still, if 24 of the 32 teams vote in favor, the Lions’ vision could reshape how playoff football is earned—and hosted—as early as this season.
For Dan Campbell, the proposal isn’t just strategic—it’s philosophical. After years of gritty underdog football and close playoff heartbreak, he wants a format that rewards performance, not geography. The question now is whether the rest of the league agrees—or whether the Lions have pushed too far, too soon. The next 48 hours in Minneapolis will determine whether this is a turning point or a footnote. But one thing’s clear: the playoff debate just got personal.
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