Jan 17, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; A NFL Wild Card playoff logo on the field at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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NFL Playoffs format : The League will review it this Spring

Is the NFL playoffs format living its last hours ?

Jan 17, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; A NFL Wild Card playoff logo on the field at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Every year, debates resurface about the NFL’s playoffs format. This year, the discussion gained even more traction after the Vikings set a record by finishing with a 14-3 record.

Indeed, no team had ever finished the regular season with 14 wins and been ranked as the No. 5 seed.

In total, three teams will play on the road against opponents with worse records: the Chargers, the Commanders, and the Vikings.

Once again, the relevance of the current system is being called into question. According to CBS Sports, the NFL has announced it will analyze and potentially reevaluate its playoff structure during the offseason.

Two years ago, the Chargers proposed a rule change following the Buccaneers’ playoff qualification with a losing record. The proposal suggested that if a team finished the season with at least four more wins than a division champion with a losing record, that team should host the Wild Card game.

It’s worth noting that any proposed changes must be approved by three-quarters of the competition committee, which includes all 32 team owners.

There are likely alternatives to the current system that could make the format fairer. A straightforward option would be a seeding system based purely on winning percentage.

Under such a system, the Lions, Eagles, Vikings, and Commanders would have hosted their respective Wild Card games.

While no system is perfect, the debate seems more open than ever, especially after the dramatic 2024 regular season and the thrilling rivalry between the Lions and Vikings, which kept fans on the edge of their seats until Week 18.

Perhaps that’s what the NFL should prioritize: 18 weeks of genuine competition instead of just 17.

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Charles Taudin

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Global Editorial Chief of The Playoffs, I created The Free Agent, which became The Playoffs FR, in 2020 during the pandemic. A longtime fan of the four major American sports, I now oversee the editorial strategy and social media for all versions of The Playoffs. I still occasionally write about sports I’m particularly passionate about, such as the NFL or MLB. If there’s one thing you should remember: Eli Manning is the true GOAT for beating Tom Brady twice.