Back in the day, every NFL fan knew what to expect from the league’s powerhouses. The NFC East? A brutal battlefield. The AFC North? A slugfest. Divisions didn’t just shape playoff paths—they built legacies. Rivalries like Bears–Packers or Cowboys–Eagles weren’t just games; they were wars waged across decades. But now, the NFL is flirting with a radical idea: getting rid of divisions altogether. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hinted at such a move!
For teams like the Detroit Lions, who had to play both the Packers and Vikings (who clinched playoff spots) twice last season, the change could mean a fairer shot at higher seeding. Sure, they got their bye week in 2024, but this is about the long run. But not everyone is on board. They see it as unnecessary. Former NFL safety and ESPN analyst Louis Riddick has a message for Commissioner: Don’t mess with tradition.
While talking about it, Louis Riddick gave an obvious message to Roger Goodell on the March 19 episode of ESPN’s NFL Live and said, “I don’t want to get rid of the divisions in football. Let’s keep them the way they are. Those rivalries are something the fans rally behind. Rivalries are good for sports. I would like to see the teams with best record get rewarded. But I don’t know if you can have both. Let’s leave it the way it is, man! There’s nothing wrong with the way it is playing out.”
That’s how many seem to see the proposed change. But if it goes through, it would change playoff seeding forever, making it similar to the NBA. We understand why the Lions want to make changes. In 2024, they had to defeat the Vikings in the season finale to gain the top seed. Both teams had 14-2 record.
Things will change at ground level. Here’s how the playoff picture will change if the league approves it.
Roger Goodell throws playoff seeding formula on discussion table
Any change to happen needs favor of 24 of 32 owners if it has to be implemented. But on Wednesday, March 19th, they decided to discuss the idea of playoff seeding. It means that teams will be given playoff ranks based on their regular season records, instead of the divisional rankings. In 2024, here’s how the AFC looked with the current rule.
Credits: IMAGO
The AFC South franchise, Houston Texans, had a 10-7 record and gained the top-4 finish by topping their division. But AFC West had LA Chargers, who had a better record 11-6. But they got 5th place finish. The Chiefs had a 15-2 record, similar to the Lions. Roger Goodell, known to give his views, has kept silent on it till now.
In the NFC, the Lions got top-place finish by 15-2. But the Vikings were 5th even with a 14-3 record, better than Buccaneers (10-7), first in NFC South and Rams (10-7), first in NFC West. He also wants to see how the other teams and fans respond to this. On paper, this idea looks dapper. But the intensity, the fight, and the grit will come down heavily if they really approve it. The divisions will effectively become redundant.
Now, there’s this competition already before the postseason as the teams have to stay clear of their divisional rivals. That will be over. But let’s wait and watch how things pan out.
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