the Minnesota Vikings They are tied for the second-best record in the NFC this year, but their first playoff appearance will be on the road.
This is because the only team ahead of them is 15-2 Detroit Lionswhich won the NFC North Championship by defeating Minnesota in Week 18.
The Lions earn the top seed and a bye, while the Vikings head to Arizona to face the Los Angeles Rams. The match was originally scheduled to be held in Los Angeles, but was moved due to wildfires.
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The NFL shield logo on the field at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, November 25, 2024. (Kirby Lee/Imagine Images)
It's not the first oddity in the NFL playoffs. In the past, teams with seven wins have hosted wild-card round games.
However, that could soon change.
According to CBS Sportsthe NFL will take another look at this season to change the playoff format.
CBS's Jonathan Jones said one suggestion would be to award the top four teams based on home game winning percentage, rather than automatically awarding it to division winners.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell listens to a question during a pre-Super Bowl news conference at Allegiant Stadium on February 5, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
If that system is implemented this year, it would mean the Lions, Vikings, Eagles and Chiefs would host games on their NFC side. For the AFC, it would be the Chiefs, Bills, Ravens and Chargers.
The Leaders and Chargers are on the road this weekend against the Buccaneers and Texans, respectively, because the latter two teams won the NFC and AFC South divisions.
Jones later added that the team's owners had not shown “much desire” to change the format.
Before winning the division, Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown change.
“Obviously, if you win the league, obviously you have to get to a playoff spot, but having a 14-win team having to go on the road is kind of crazy. But I guess I don't make the rules,” he said. He said at the time.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell listens to a question during a news conference before the Super Bowl on February 8, 2023 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
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The last time the playoff format was changed was before the 2020 season, when it was expanded from 12 to 14 teams. This resulted in only one team in each conference getting a bye in the first round instead of two. It also resulted in six wild card round games instead of four.
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