NFL Playoffs Briefing: Case for new seeding system; NFC wild-card games analysis

Editor's Note: Throughout the NFL playoffs, Chris Myers and his research team analyze upcoming matchups, while providing news, notes, and nuggets for inside access to the information an NFL broadcaster uses to prepare for calling a game.

The NFL has long given seeding priority to "division champions" even if they win their four-team pod with a losing record. And every year, there are complaints about the unfairness of a team with a great record behind an even greater record in another four-team pod starting the playoffs on the road. This year's prime example of the latter is the 14-3 Vikings, although in 2024 all eight division champions did at least achieve respectable 10-7 records at minimum.

Here is one possible alternate seeding system. Teams are lined up by their W-L records. Division champions (see Houston below) are always at the top of any win-loss ties, followed by wild cards. Ties between division champions would still be broken by the divisional tiebreakers (see: Rams-Buccaneers) and ties between wild cards would be broken by wild card tiebreakers (see: Steelers-Broncos).

For the 2024 season, the revamped order would look like this below — not much change in the AFC, just a flip between the Chargers and Texans, meaning Los Angeles would instead have hosted the wild-card meeting. (Changes in bold).

1. KANSAS CITY (15-2): West 1                    
2. BUFFALO (13-4): East 1                      
3. BALTIMORE (12-5): North 1                                  
4. LA CHARGERS (11-6): WC 1 (previous seed: 5)
5. HOUSTON (10-7): South 1 (previous seed: 4)
6. PITTSBURGH (10-7): WC 2                                    
7. DENVER (10-7): WC 3

Meanwhile, in the NFC, the seedings would receive a shake-up:

1. DETROIT (15-2):