By Blessing 
The NFL introduced record-based home-field advantage in the playoffs back in 1975, but it wasn’t until 1990 that every division winner was guaranteed a home game in the postseason. For years, this home-field advantage has been a hallmark of the playoff structure, but the Detroit Lions have recently challenged this long-standing tradition. Their proposal seeks to remove the automatic guarantee that division champions secure at least one home game in January.
Although no changes to the playoff structure were made at the league meetings this week, the Lions’ proposal didn’t face rejection either. The league chose to table the measure rather than voting on it. Notably, several teams showed support for the idea. Roger Goodell, the NFL Commissioner, even spoke positively about the proposal, acknowledging its potential for a major change in the NFL playoff landscape—one that had already been discussed informally before the Lions made their formal pitch.
Goodell shared his thoughts on the matter: “I thought it is a very healthy proposal and a very healthy point that we need to evaluate and continue to look at,” he said, as reported by CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. He went on to explain that the idea had gone through various stages of development, with substantial data suggesting that a revised approach to playoff seeding was worth exploring. However, Goodell also recognized the strong view that division championships still hold significant value. “When you come into training camp, that’s the goal: win that division first,” Goodell continued. “And should that reward for winning that division be you’re in the playoffs and a home game?”
The idea of removing the guaranteed home game for division winners has sparked a range of reactions. Mike Tomlin, a member of the NFL competition committee, voiced opposition to the proposal. He argued against taking away the first-round home game for division champions, emphasizing the importance of winning a division title. On the other hand, the Dallas Cowboys, along with a few other teams, showed support for a system where a team’s record, rather than its divisional standing, would determine playoff seeding.
This kind of change would have had an impact on recent seasons. For example, last year, the Detroit Lions’ Week 18 victory over their divisional rival pushed the Minnesota Vikings, with a 14-3 record, to the fifth seed in the NFC playoff bracket. As a result, the Vikings, despite having one of the best records in the league, were forced to play on the road against the Los Angeles Rams, a team that had a much worse 10-7 record but had secured a home game due to winning the NFC West title.
Historically, the NFL’s playoff structure has evolved over the years. For the first five years following the NFL-AFL merger, the playoffs operated on a rotating basis for home-field advantage. The league didn’t use record-based home-field seeding, and the Miami Dolphins, despite their perfect 14-0 regular season in 1972, had to play their AFC Championship game in Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium. The 1975 change to record-based seeding ensured that division winners were rewarded with home games, but under the previous format, even the third-best division winner could find themselves playing on the road due to the limited number of playoff spots. The system was adjusted again in 1990 when the NFL expanded to a six-team playoff format, ensuring home games for division champions.
While this structure has worked well for many seasons, it has also led to some unexpected and dramatic playoff results. Teams with sub-.500 records have used their home games to upset superior opponents, with notable examples such as the 2008 Chargers defeating the 12-4 Indianapolis Colts in overtime, or the 7-9 Seahawks eliminating the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in 2010. In 2011, the 8-8 Denver Broncos pulled off a dramatic win over the 12-4 Pittsburgh Steelers, and the 7-8-1 Carolina Panthers overcame the 11-5 Arizona Cardinals in 2014. More recently, Washington (2020) and Tampa Bay (2022) managed to host playoff games despite having losing records. These instances seem to have played a role in the discussion at this week’s meetings.
Goodell acknowledged the debate surrounding this issue, stating, “There was some discussion potentially about if you’re .500 or less and you won that division, should you also get the home game? I think there was some interest in that also. But I think the reality is it was very healthy, and I think there will be more discussion of it.”
As the NFL moves toward expanding the regular season to 18 games, the implications of this change could become even more pronounced. The possibility of teams clinching divisional titles earlier in the season could lead to more teams resting starters in Week 18, a common practice that has already emerged with the current schedule. A shift in playoff seeding, where records—not just divisional titles—determine home-field advantage, could create more competitive matchups, with teams that hold strong home-field advantages being motivated to secure higher seeds, rather than coast through the final weeks of the season.
Of course, there are potential downsides to stripping division champions of guaranteed home games. It would likely reduce the prestige of winning a division, an accomplishment that has long been a source of pride for teams. However, this change might not lead to a situation where division titles become as inconsequential as they sometimes appear in the NBA, where team records often outweigh the significance of winning a division.
Goodell is known for driving significant changes in the league, and the fact that he has not dismissed Detroit’s proposal outright suggests that this conversation is far from over. As the league continues to evolve and adapt to the changing landscape of professional football, it’s clear that the playoff format, particularly the way home-field advantage is determined, will be a topic of ongoing discussion in the coming years.