The NFL’s playoff system has long been a topic of debate, especially as it becomes increasingly clear that the current structure may not be serving the best interests of the league or its fans. While the College Football Playoff Selection Committee might not be involved in this matter, it’s high time for the NFL to reconsider its rules on who qualifies for the playoffs and how teams are seeded.

Currently, the NFL’s playoff format could result in a team with a losing record hosting a playoff game. This is not only counterintuitive but also raises questions about fairness. In fact, a divisional “champion” could simply be one game above .500, while teams with 12 wins might be sent on the wild-card road, facing off against other elite competitors. This situation doesn’t sit right with many fans and analysts alike.

One recent example was the waterlogged game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers, where the Bucs won 16-14. It was hard to argue that either team deserved a home playoff game based on their performance. The NFC South, which includes the Bucs and Panthers, is currently dominated by teams like the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, who have been playing much better football. There’s a strong case for giving these teams an at-large bid, but that’s a separate discussion.

The issue isn’t new. A fourth-seeded team can still end up hosting a conference championship game if enough chaos occurs among higher-seeded teams. However, it’s possible that five teams could finish with 11 wins or more yet have little hope of a postseason home game. This was evident last year when the Minnesota Vikings, despite having the most wins ever by a non-divisional winner, were stuck with a wild card.

This situation is akin to Boise State receiving a CFP bye week, which was quickly corrected. The NFL could have addressed this issue in 2025, as the Detroit Lions proposed a change to the playoff seeding format that would allow Wild Card teams to be seeded higher than Division Champions if they had a better regular season record. This proposal was reasonable and aligned with the principles of rewarding excellence.

Old-school purists may argue that winning a division is sacred, but this argument is becoming less compelling. The NFL realigned in 2002, creating eight four-team divisions across both conferences. With the 17-game regular season, 65% of a team’s schedule is against non-divisional opponents. This means that teams can thrive against weaker intra-divisional rivals while struggling against the rest of the league and still win their division.

In the Super Bowl era, five sub-.500 teams have reached the playoffs, a trend that started after the 2010 campaign. The upcoming AFC North battle between the Baltimore Ravens (8-8) and Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) will confer a similar reward, even though six other AFC teams have already qualified for the playoffs with at least 11 wins.

Divisions do make sense in the NFL, maintaining geographic rivalries and informing the annual scheduling process. They also provide a way to break ties for playoff entry. However, winning a division should not guarantee a higher seed. Teams like the San Francisco 49ers or Los Angeles Rams, who have made the NFC West the league’s preeminent division in 2025, deserve to be seeded higher than the Bucs or Panthers.

Some may argue that this problem will solve itself, but history shows otherwise. The last playoff team with a losing record, the 2022 Bucs, got eliminated at home by the Cowboys. Two of the four teams that have won divisions with losing records actually advanced to the divisional round.

Tradition is nice, but fairness is better. The NFL needs to consider changes to its playoff format to ensure that teams are rewarded based on their performance rather than just their divisional status. This would create a more competitive and fair environment for all teams.