NFL to Potentially Examine Changing Playoff Seeding Structure for 2025 Season

Street Knowledge

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The NFL made a major change to their playoff format heading into the 2020 season, adding two more teams—one in each conference—to the dance.

While the number of teams was been adjusted, the seeding structure still remains the same. Currently, the four division winners in each conference earn the top four seeds, with the three wild-card teams then being seeded No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7.

To start the 2024-25 playoffs, however, there are three teams with better records than their opponents playing on the road—a phenomenon that has sparked some conversation about the league potentially changing how they seed the playoffs.

According to CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones, the NFL plans to look at format this offseason.

"The NFL will take another look this offseason at potentially changing the playoff format," Jones said ahead of the Chargers taking on the Houston Texans on Saturday. "Maybe, top four teams in win percentage get a home game, instead of division winners."

Here's a look at the three teams playing on the road this weekend despite a better record:

Jones added that "team owners haven't shown much of an appetite for changing, though," so we'll have to wait and see how this ultimately plays out.

 

threattonature

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The NFL made a major change to their playoff format heading into the 2020 season, adding two more teams—one in each conference—to the dance.

While the number of teams was been adjusted, the seeding structure still remains the same. Currently, the four division winners in each conference earn the top four seeds, with the three wild-card teams then being seeded No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7.

To start the 2024-25 playoffs, however, there are three teams with better records than their opponents playing on the road—a phenomenon that has sparked some conversation about the league potentially changing how they seed the playoffs.

According to CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones, the NFL plans to look at format this offseason.

"The NFL will take another look this offseason at potentially changing the playoff format," Jones said ahead of the Chargers taking on the Houston Texans on Saturday. "Maybe, top four teams in win percentage get a home game, instead of division winners."

Here's a look at the three teams playing on the road this weekend despite a better record:

Jones added that "team owners haven't shown much of an appetite for changing, though," so we'll have to wait and see how this ultimately plays out.

I think that would be a smart change. It would make the last two weeks of the season more competitive IMO. Especially this past year where I think 6 of the divisions were locked up by week 16. If they aren't guaranteed a home game from winning a weak division they'd have more incentive to play it out.
 

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Should be 8 teams from each conference....no bye for the #1 seed.....but division winners should get that first round home game.
 

threattonature

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On one side, you had the Lions/Vikings which was essentially a double elimination game for both teams.

On the other side, you had the Chiefs pretty much forfeit their game against Denver.

I dunno :manny:
Good point. With this change the Lions/Vikings game wouldn't have taken on near as much meaning as both teams would be guaranteed home games no matter what and would be playing to secure a home game for the second round. I still would rather reward a team that's balled out all year and had the bad luck of having another team in the division just as dominant compared to rewarding a team that only snuck into the playoffs due to being in a shytty division.
 
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