By Moses Joshua 
How a postgame comment from Amon-Ra St. Brown and a call from the NFL may spark one of the biggest postseason changes in decades
A Rule Change Sparked by Frustration—and Ratings
The NFL’s annual meetings often bring headlines, but few have sparked more debate this offseason than the Detroit Lions’ eyebrow-raising playoff seeding proposal. The suggestion? That wild card teams with better records than division winners should receive higher seeds — a direct challenge to a rule that has stood since 2002.
At first glance, it was surprising to see Detroit spearheading the movement, especially considering they directly benefited from the current structure in a critical Week 18 showdown against the Vikings. But as it turns out, this wasn’t a Lions-led rebellion at all.
According to a report from Pride of Detroit’s Jeremy Reisman, the NFL itself was the architect behind the proposal — and they asked the Lions to be the messenger.
“I Don’t Make the Rules” — But Maybe He Did
Just days before the pivotal game that would decide NFC seeding, Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown made waves with a candid remark:
“It’s crazy. I think the rule should be changed. Obviously if you win the division, you should obviously make a playoff spot, but having a 14-win team having to go on the road is kind of crazy.”
His frustration echoed across fan bases — and evidently up the NFL chain of command. NFL executive VP of football operations Troy Vincent took notice and reportedly reached out to Lions team president Rod Wood, encouraging Detroit to formally propose the rule change during the league’s owner meetings.
Wood obliged. And just like that, a casual player comment transformed into a league-level initiative.
A Proposal with Playoff Stakes and Television Implications
Why would the NFL care so much? Look no further than the viewership numbers.
The Week 18 clash between the Lions and Vikings averaged a staggering 28.5 million viewers, ranking third in NBC’s NFL broadcast history since 2006. It was a ratings bonanza — but one that the current playoff format arguably squandered.
Had the rules been different, a Lions-Vikings NFC Championship rematch was very much on the table. Instead, the playoff path splintered, and what could have been a marquee showdown never materialized.
It’s not just about fairness — it’s about theater.
What Comes Next?
Though the proposal originated from the NFL, it may still face hurdles. Balancing the integrity of division titles with the fairness of record-based seeding is no simple task. Some are pushing for a hybrid solution — such as ensuring division winners make the playoffs, but allowing higher-seeded wild cards to host if their records are superior.
With the NFC North looking increasingly competitive, the Lions have every incentive to see this rule reconsidered. If passed at the Spring League Meetings in May, it could reshape postseason football for years to come.
But more intriguingly, it serves as a rare peek into the collaborative — and sometimes theatrical — nature of NFL governance. A player vents his frustration, the league listens, and suddenly, the rules of the game may be rewritten.
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