The NFL could revamp the playoffs for the 2025/26 season by following in the footsteps of the NCAA, after facing criticism from the Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown regarding the Wild Card homefield advantage rules.

The final day of the regular season saw both the Lions and Minnesota Vikings head into Week 18 with a 14-2 record, to contest the lead of the NFC North and NFC Conference. The winner would clinch a bye for the First Round, whilst the loser would drop to the fifth seed.

It ensured a 14-2 team would play a side with a considerably worse record on the road, and that’s what happened as the Vikings were due to take on the 10-6 Los Angeles Rams at the So-Fi Stadium prior to the breakout of wildfires.

The rule attracted criticism by the Lions’ receiver on the grounds of being unfair to whichever NFC North team lost the game (the Vikings lost 31-9), effectively finding themselves being punished for being in a competitive division.

Now it seem as though the NFL has heard the criticism and plans to respond with an updated playoffs format similar to college football that will see the teams earn homefield advantage based on their regular season records, not because they won their division, according to CBS Sports.

“Obviously, if you win the division, you should obviously make a playoff spot, but having a 14-win team having to go on the road is kind of crazy,” St. Brown, who scored 12 touchdowns, told reporters and Commissioner Goodell appears to have heard him loud and clear.

Related:

When is the Vikings vs Rams?

The Los Angeles Rams will ‘welcome’ the Minnesota Vikings to the State Farm Stadium in Arizona on Sunday, December 12. Kick-off is due at 20:00 ET/17:00 PT and will be live on ABC and ESPN.

The game was initially scheduled to take place in Inglewood, Los Angeles, but had to be moved due to multiple wildfires in the region.

At least 16 people have been killed and over 130,000 displaced, with 10,000 structures and buildings being destroyed. The fires are still ongoing and are still spreading.