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NFL’s late-season snoozefest may end soon—Roger Goodell wants new playoff format that makes every final weeks games more exciting

NFL’s late-season snoozefest may end soon—Roger Goodell wants new playoff format that makes every final weeks games more exciting

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 7, 2025, 08:09 IST

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The Detroit Lions proposed a change to the NFL playoff seeding, challenging the tradition of awarding home playoff games to all division winners. The proposal, supported by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, aims to maintain competitive intensity throughout the season, especially with the impending 18-game schedule. The idea may resurface in future league meetings.

NFL’s late-season snoozefest may end soon—Roger Goodell wants new playoff format that makes every final weeks games more exciting

Credit: Getty Images

As the NFL marches deeper into its regular season, an uncomfortable reality begins to surface for many fans: a sense of dullness in the final weeks. With some teams already booked for the playoffs and others completely out of contention, late-season matchups can start to feel like glorified exhibitions. The stakes diminish, intensity drops, and the excitement that defines NFL Sundays wanes. In some cases, it turns into “garbage time�?football �?with stars sitting out and coaching staffs tinkering with lineups rather than competing with urgency.

Can a playoff seeding shake-up turn ordinary NFL closing games into epic showdowns?

This issue, while not new, has reignited serious conversation thanks to a bold proposal from the Detroit Lions. The franchise has questioned a long-standing NFL tradition: automatically awarding a home playoff game to every division winner. Their motion to alter this rule was tabled during the latest league meetings, but not without making waves �?especially since it gained visible support from none other than NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
According to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, no vote was held on Detroit's proposal, but that doesn’t mean it’s off the table. In fact, insiders confirmed that some team executives favored the idea, and more crucially, Goodell himself "became visibly irritated at the resistance to the measure" during the discussions. It’s a rare public glimpse into the Commissioner’s passionate stance on a topic that could change postseason football as we know it.

“I thought it is a very healthy proposal and a very healthy point that we need to evaluate and continue to look at,�?Goodell remarked, via CBS Sports�?Jonathan Jones. “There was some great data to show that we should really look at some form or version of this.�?br/>

Roger Goodell Backs MAJOR Playoff Change - What It Means for NFL

At the heart of the debate lies a simple question: Should winning a division be enough to earn a home playoff game �?even if the team finishes with a losing record? In recent years, we’ve seen teams stumble into the postseason with sub-.500 records only to host opponents with significantly better win-loss tallies. This not only raises fairness concerns but also dilutes the drama of the season’s closing act. A team could lose a meaningless Week 18 matchup and still stroll into January with a home-field advantage.
Goodell’s push for change is motivated by a desire to keep competition alive through the very last snap of the regular season. The looming expansion to an 18-game schedule makes this even more urgent. The earlier teams clinch divisions, the more likely they are to rest starters �?robbing fans of marquee matchups and leaving broadcasters and sponsors wanting more.
While the proposal hasn’t been voted on yet, insiders suggest it may resurface in May. One source noted that when the league supports an idea, it often gets “tabled when the [Competition Committee] or Roger didn’t want the L.�?br/>One possible compromise could involve stripping sub-.500 division winners of the right to host Wild Card games or implementing a reseeding system post-Wild Card weekend. Though some argue this would devalue the act of winning a division, the move could inject new life into the final weeks and reignite late-season excitement.
Whether Goodell’s vision becomes reality remains to be seen. But his refusal to dismiss the Lions�?proposal signals a seismic shift in the league’s mindset �?and perhaps, the beginning of a new playoff era.
Also Read: Patrick Mahomes almost quit football before becoming the Chiefs�?franchise quarterback—His mom Randi's words remind us why he didn’t

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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