The NFL revamped its playoff format before the 2020 season, expanding the postseason by adding two more teams—one per conference.
This change increased the number of playoff teams from 12 to 14 while maintaining the traditional structure of four division winners and three wild-card teams in each conference.
Although the number of teams grew, the seeding system largely stayed the same.
As the 2024-25 season nears, concerns about the current playoff structure have sparked renewed discussions.
Despite the expanded playoff field, the system still favors division winners by awarding them the top four seeds, with wild-card teams ranked fifth through seventh.
This setup has led to situations where teams with superior records must play road games against lower-performing division winners, raising questions about whether the NFL should adjust its seeding rules.
According to CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones
, the league plans to reevaluate its playoff structure in the upcoming offseason.A potential change under consideration is to move away from granting top seeding exclusively to division winners.
Instead, the NFL may adopt a format where the top four teams by win percentage earn home-field advantage, regardless of their division standings.
The current system, which prioritizes division championships over overall performance, has occasionally disadvantaged higher-performing teams.
For instance, in the 2024-25 season, three teams with better records than their opponents are scheduled to play on the road, exposing a weakness in the current approach.
By transitioning to a win-percentage-based seeding model, the NFL could ensure that the most successful teams are rewarded with home-field advantage, irrespective of their division titles.
The league’s willingness to explore this potential reform demonstrates its commitment to fairness and improving the playoff experience for teams and fans alike.
If implemented, this change could significantly alter postseason dynamics, offering a system that better reflects team performance throughout the season.
As the NFL moves toward finalizing its plans for the 2025 season, fans and teams will be closely watching for updates that could reshape the playoff landscape.