NFL teams propose changes to playoff seeding, overtime

The NFL revealed several team proposals for rule and bylaw changes Wednesday that the league will vote on at its annual meeting, including adjustments to seeding and regular-season overtime.

The Detroit Lions submitted the most drastic proposal: a change to playoff seeding that would favor teams with the best records, regardless of division standings. For example, the Minnesota Vikings (14-3), Washington Commanders (12-5), and Green Bay Packers (11-6) were wild-card teams last season despite owning better records than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) and Los Angeles Rams (10-7), who won their divisions. The Vikings, Commanders, and Packers would be seeded higher than the Buccaneers and Rams under the proposed change.

The Philadelphia Eagles proposed adopting the league’s playoff overtime rules during the regular season. Both teams would possess the ball in a 15-minute overtime period (extended from its current 10 minutes) rather than one team being able to win the game with a touchdown on the first possession of the extra frame. Rare exceptions would include a safety being scored on the first possession of overtime – a rule already in place.

Detroit also proposed to eliminate granting an automatic first down to the offense when the defense commits a holding or illegal contact penalty. The team cited “competitive equity” as a reason for the change, stating that the “current penalty enforcement is too punitive for the defense.”

The final suggested rule change, made by the Packers, seeks to ban the tush push that the Eagles made popular over the last several seasons. The amended rule would prohibit an offensive player from “immediately at the snap, push(ing) or throw(ing) his body against a teammate, who was lined up directly behind the snapper and received the snap, to aid him in an attempt to gain yardage.”

Owners will discuss and vote on potential changes during the league’s annual meeting, which starts March 30. At least 75% (24 of the 32 teams) must vote in favor of a new rule for it to pass. The NFL’s competition committee has yet to reveal its own proposals, which will also be voted on during the meeting. In February, the committee indicated it was considering changes to the regular-season overtime rules and expanding the number of fouls that qualify for replay assist.

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