NFL Exec Reveals Possible Tweaks to Playoff Format Rule Change Proposal

Possible adjustments to the proposed NFL playoff format change were revealed by Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer on Monday.

"One executive I talked to did say some ideas were raised during the league’s March meeting," Breer reported. "One was to require a team have a winning record to guarantee a home playoff game. Another was to create a provision where a division champion couldn’t be a certain number of games worse than the wild cards and still host a game."

Breer previously reported that NFL owners are set to meet and vote on a change to the current playoff seeding format, which was introduced by the Detroit Lions.

The proposal would still result in division champions earning automatic playoff spots, while the three best non-division winners will also clinch postseason berths. All seven playoff teams will be seeded by their records without division titles being factored in, though.

The change would affect teams in situations such as the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. The Vikings ended the year with a 14-3 record, tied for the second-best mark in the NFC.

They ultimately entered the playoffs as the No. 5 seed, as they finished behind the 15-2 Lions in the NFC North.

The latest tweak to the proposal could impact teams at the top of weaker divisions hosting a playoff matchup. In 2022, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earned a home playoff game for winning the NFC South despite finishing with a mere 8-9 record.

Tampa Bay suffered a quick postseason exit, falling to the 12-5 Dallas Cowboys by the final score of 31-14 in the wild card round.

Owners will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss potential playoff format modifications.