The Minnesota Vikings are tied for the second-best record in the NFC this year, but their first playoff game will be on the road.
That's because the team in front of them is the Detroit Lions, who beat Minnesota in Week 18 and clinched the NFC North with a 15-2 record.
The Lions earned the top seed and a bye, and the Vikings headed to Arizona to take on the Los Angeles Rams. The match was originally scheduled for Los Angeles, but was rescheduled due to wildfires.
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NFL shield logo on the field at SoFi Stadium on November 25, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
This isn't the first strange occurrence in the NFL playoffs. In the past, seven-win teams have hosted wild-card round games.
However, that could change quickly.
According to CBS Sports, the NFL plans to reconsider changes to its playoff format this offseason.
CBS' Jonathan Jones said one suggestion is to award the top four teams based on home game winning percentage, rather than automatically awarding the top four teams to the district champions.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell listens to questions during a press conference ahead of the Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on February 5, 2024. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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If that system were in place this year, the Lions, Vikings, Eagles and Commanders would be on the NFC side to host games. In the AFC, it would be the Chiefs, Bills, Ravens, and Chargers.
The Commanders and Chargers are scheduled to play the Buccaneers and Texans, respectively, this weekend, as the latter two teams won the NFC and AFC South.
But Jones later added that the team's owners have not shown “a lot of appetite” to change the format.
Ahead of the district championship, Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown hinted at a change.
“Obviously if you win your division you qualify for the playoffs, but it's kind of crazy that a team that wins 14 games has to go on the road. But I don't think I make the rules.” he said at the game. time.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell listens to questions during a press conference ahead of the Super Bowl on February 8, 2023 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
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The last time the playoff format changed was before the 2020 season, when the number of teams was expanded from 12 to 14. As a result, only one team in each conference would receive a first-round bye instead of two. Additionally, there will be six games in the wild card round instead of four.
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