The Detroit Lions made waves at the NFL Annual League Meeting by proposing a major change to playoff seeding, but for now, the league has opted to table the discussion. The proposal, which would determine postseason seeding solely by record rather than guaranteeing division winners a home playoff game, wasn’t voted on—suggesting it has some level of support but not enough momentum to pass just yet.
Under the current system, the four division winners in each conference automatically receive a home game in the first round of the playoffs, even if their records are worse than some wild card teams. The Lions’ proposal aims to change that, arguing that teams with the best records, regardless of division placement, should be rewarded.
The idea has sparked debate across the league. Rams head coach Sean McVay, a member of the NFL’s Competition Committee, voiced his opposition, arguing that division titles should hold value.
“I’m hopeful that doesn’t go through,” McVay said in an interview with PFT Live. “If we played all 15 NFC teams and then two cross-conference games, I’d be all for it. But when you’re playing six divisional games and your schedule is shaped by last year’s record, it’s not all the same. Winning your division should mean something.”
McVay’s point highlights a key issue: the NFL’s scheduling formula creates imbalances, making it difficult to compare records across divisions directly. Unless the league alters its scheduling structure, many around the league feel removing the automatic home playoff game for division winners would be unfair.
The Lions, however, see things differently. Their push for this change likely stems from past seasons where teams with losing records have hosted playoff games over wild card teams with significantly better records. By removing the home-field guarantee for division winners, Detroit’s proposal would ensure that the teams with the best performances over the course of the season get rewarded in the playoffs.
Though the proposal was tabled rather than outright rejected, it’s clear that the discussion is far from over. The topic could resurface at the owners’ meeting in May or at future league gatherings. For now, the league’s postseason format remains unchanged—but with enough support, the Lions’ push for a fairer seeding system may eventually gain traction.
