The Detroit Lions proposed a change to the NFL playoff seeding format that would prioritize regular season record over divisional ranking.
The proposed change aims to reward teams with better regular season performance and increase competitiveness in late-season games.
The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings shared the best record in the NFC when they met in a winner-take-all game in Week 18 of the regular season last year. The winner got the No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and homefield advantage, the loser got a wild-card spot and road trips likely for the duration of the playoffs.
The Lions won the game and, like the Vikings, flamed out in their playoff opener, but now they want to change to playoff seeding format to reward teams for their regular season record.
The Lions submitted three rule- or bylaw-proposal changes for the NFL’s annual meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., later this month, including one that would “amend the current playoff seeding format to allow Wild Card teams to be seeded higher than Division Champions if the Wild Card team has a better regular season record.”
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0) dives after intercepting a pass from Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.
Had the proposal been in effect last season, the Lions would have been the No. 1 seed in the NFC, followed by the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 2, the Vikings at No. 3 and the Washington Commanders at No. 4, while the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams and NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have gone on the road in the wild-card round.
The Vikings lost to the Rams in Glendale, Arizona after the game was moved because of wildfires, the Commanders beat the Bucs in Tampa, the Eagles won a wild-card home game against the Green Bay Packers, and the Lions lost in the divisional round to the Commanders.
If the Lions’ proposal is adopted, playoff seeding in future years would be determined by record only, with division champs having the tie-breaker advantage over wild-card teams with the same record. In the second round, the top seed would continue to play the lowest remaining seed, like the format is now.
In literature about club-proposed changes released Wednesday, the reason for the proposal was “competitive equity” to provide “excitement and competition in late season games” and to reward “the best-performing teams from the regular season.”
The Lions, who have regularly submitted bylaw and rules proposals since Brad Holmes took over as general manager and Dan Campbell as head coach in 2021, also submitted proposals to exclude players placed on injured reserve from the 90-man roster limit, unless they are designated for return, and to eliminate an automatic first down as a penalty for defensive holding and illegal contact.
Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles scores a touchdown with the Tush Push play against the New York Giants during their game at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 20, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Last year, the Lions submitted four rule or bylaw proposals, including ones to push back the trade deadline and tweak the challenge rules.
The NFL adopted the Lions’ proposal to allow teams to get a third challenge if they won one of their first two challenges. Previously, teams were only allowed a third challenge if both of their first two challenges were successful.
Owners also modified the emergency quarterback rule following a Lions proposal in 2023.
Along with the Lions’ three proposals this year, NFL owners will consider playing rules proposals by the Green Bay Packers to ban the tush push short-yardage play popularized by the Eagles in recent years, and by the Eagles to align the postseason and regular season overtime rules by granting both teams at least one possession in overtime.
The Pittsburgh Steelers also submitted a proposal to allow teams to have one video or phone call with a prospective unrestricted free agent during the free agent negotiating period.
The NFL’s competition committee will submit additional proposals next week. The annual meeting is March 30-April 1.
Campbell, who previously said he was in favor of keeping the tush push a legal play, has said he is not interested in being on the competition committee.
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