NFL rethinking playoff seeding

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Part of the New York Giants' mojo in streaking to an unexpected Super Bowl XLII title in February was wrapped in their identity as road warriors. First stop, Tampa. Then Dallas. Then Green Bay. The Giants never had a home playoff game, but it didn't stop them from getting an opportunity to upset the undefeated New England Patriots. At the NFL meetings beginning Monday, owners will consider a proposed rule change that could have allowed the Giants to open the postseason at home. The proposal to re-seed the playoffs could have afforded the Jacksonville Jaguars, who also won a road playoff opener against a division champion (Pittsburgh) with a worse record, the same opportunity. The league's competition committee seeks to shuffle the third through sixth seeds in each conference, basing the order on regular-season record rather than reserving the third and fourth seeds — and a home game the first week of the playoffs — for division champions.