The Detroit Lions are pushing for a few rule changes in the NFL, and one of them is raising some eyebrows. The team is hoping for changes that could give them an advantage, especially when it comes to defending their division rivals.
Each year, NFL owners meet to discuss possible rule tweaks, and this year, the Lions have proposed a couple of new ideas. One of the most talked-about suggestions is to change how defensive penalties are handled. Currently, illegal contact or holding penalties against the defense automatically result in a first down. The Lions want to eliminate that.
NFL analyst Warren Sharp thinks the rule change could heavily benefit the Lions, who tend to play a very physical, aggressive defense. Under coach Dan Campbell, the team has been known for its hard-hitting, man-to-man coverage. But this style also leads to penalties. The Lions have racked up 26 holding penalties in the last two years, way more than the Packers, Bears, or Vikings. So, getting rid of automatic first downs for these penalties might help them a lot.
But that’s not the only rule the Lions are looking to change. They’ve also proposed that home-field advantage in the playoffs should go to the team with the better record, not necessarily the division winner. This could be a big deal for the Lions, who play in a tough division with the Vikings and Packers. Last season, the Lions were the NFC’s No. 1 seed but had to fight until the last game of the season to win the NFC North. If this new rule had been in place, the Lions could have been in a better playoff position, potentially giving them a better shot at a deeper run.
These proposed changes could really shake things up, especially for the Lions, who are trying to get over the hump in the NFC North.
