During the recent owners’ meetings in Florida, none of the Detroit Lions’ three proposed rule changes for the 2025 NFL season were approved. Notably, the league rejected the idea to eliminate automatic first downs for illegal contact and chose to postpone discussion on the other two proposals regarding injured reserve regulations and a significant alteration to the NFL playoff seeding process.
However, NFL insider Albert Breer reports that another crucial meeting is scheduled for next week in Minneapolis, where owners will vote on the playoff seeding proposal. The suggested change maintains the structure of the playoffs, allowing four division winners and three Wild Card teams from each conference to qualify. Yet, the critical shift lies in the fact that seeding will be determined solely by overall win-loss records, meaning division winners will no longer automatically secure a top four seed.
A vital element of this proposal revolves around the tiebreaker system; being a division champion will remain the primary tiebreaker, taking precedence even over head-to-head matchups. This ensures that winning the division retains its significance in the playoff landscape.
While some teams have expressed concerns about diminishing the rewards for division winners, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has reportedly highlighted a potential benefit: it may reduce the tendency for teams to rest players in the last week of the regular season. For instance, in 2024, teams like the Eagles and Rams had little incentive to change their playoff positions, as their seeds were essentially locked in. Under the proposed adjustment, the pressure to secure a favorable seed would keep even eliminated Wild Card teams competing vigorously.
The outcomes of next week’s meeting will reveal whether this proposed rule will advance, be rejected, or delayed further. This change could lead to a more competitive final week of games in the regular season, benefiting fans and players alike.