The Detroit Lions may have been the face of a recent controversial playoff proposal, but it turns out they weren’t the original driving force behind the idea—rather, it came straight from the league office. At the NFL’s annual meetings, a rule change was proposed that could alter playoff seeding, giving higher-seeded Wild Card teams home-field advantage over division winners with worse records. It’s a suggestion that challenges the current structure, which guarantees all division winners a home game, regardless of win totals.
The issue came to light during Week 18 of the 2024 season, when the 14-2 Lions faced the equally 14-2 Minnesota Vikings. While the winner secured the NFC’s top seed, the loser dropped all the way to the No. 5 seed due to playoff rules favoring division champions. That meant a 14-win team—regardless of season dominance—was forced into a Wild Card slot with a tougher road through the playoffs.
Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was vocal about how flawed that scenario felt, calling for change even before the game was played. His comments sparked interest from NFL executive Troy Vincent, who reached out to Detroit president Rod Wood to formally propose the idea at the owners meetings. The timing made sense for the league—more competitive fairness, and fewer chances for marquee matchups to be lost early.
Although the Lions ended up winning the division, their proposal helps protect against this exact scenario happening again. For example, had they lost, they would have faced a brutal Wild Card path despite their 14-3 finish. The Vikings lived that reality, going one-and-done in the playoffs after losing to the Rams in the opening round.
While the idea is gaining traction, the league still has to decide how to preserve the value of division titles. One option would allow Wild Card teams to host games if they have significantly better records than their division-winning opponents. Another idea is to re-seed the playoffs strictly based on record while still ensuring all division winners make the field.
The proposal is now on the agenda for May’s Spring League Meetings in Minnesota, and with both league officials and teams interested in leveling the playing field, change could be on the horizon.
Surprise Twist: NFL Prompted Lions to Propose Playoff Seeding Overhaul
