After increasing the playoffs to 14 groups (seven in every convention) in 2020, the NFL has seen a brand new drawback develop in its postseason format.
There are three groups with superior data than their opponents who will play their respective wild-card games on the road this weekend.
The league’s present format rewards division winners, no matter report, a house playoff sport and that would lead to some odd-looking upsets.
Nonetheless, per CBS Sports activities’ Jonathan Jones on Saturday, the NFL may reevaluate that system this offseason and discover a new strategy to reward good groups.
Jones recommended the highest 4 groups in every convention by win share could possibly be rewarded with residence video games however that concept has but to be formally pitched.
He additionally famous staff homeowners haven’t proven an urge for food of late for altering the present format, probably signaling some if not most are cautious of tossing the significance of successful one’s division to the wayside.
The Minnesota Vikings (14-3, five-seed), Washington Commanders (12-5, six-seed) and Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, five-seed) all play highway video games this weekend in opposition to groups with simply 10 wins however gained their respective divisions.
If the win share format had been to be adopted, the Vikings would both be the 2 or three-seed relying on variable tiebreakers the league would make use of.
Washington can be the four-seed and earn the ultimate residence sport within the NFC whereas the Inexperienced Bay Packers (11-6, seven-seed) can be the five-seed and nonetheless must journey on wild-card weekend.
On the AFC facet, the Chargers can be boosted to four-seed and basically swapped locations with their wild-card opponent within the Houston Texans (10-7, AFC South champions).
Though, it is unclear if the sport would have been capable of go on as scheduled as a result of ongoing wildfire state of affairs in Los Angeles. The Rams’ residence playoff sport scheduled for Monday was moved to Glendale, Arizona within the wake of the worsening pure catastrophe.
