NFL Playoff Changes: What Does This Mean for the Buccaneers?

What does the change consist of?

The proposal was submitted by the Detroit Lions and appears as Rule Proposal No. 4 on the official agenda. Under this new format:

• The seven conference qualifiers would remain: four division champions and three wild cards.
• However, teams would be ranked solely by record, regardless of whether they won their division or not.
• If two teams have the same record, the first tiebreaker would be having won the division, even over the result between them.

This doesn’t change who qualifies, but it does change who plays whom and where each match is played.

How would this have affected the Bucs in 2024?

Last season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the NFC South with a 10-7 record, giving them the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. Changes to the NFL playoffs are coming. However, under the Lions’ proposal, they would have dropped to the No. 6 seed, behind several wild-card teams with better records.

Actual NFC standings in 2024:

1. Lions (15-2)
2. Eagles (14-3)
3. Buccaneers (10-7)
4. Rams (10-7)
5. Vikings (14-3)
6. Commanders (12-5)
7. Packers (11-6)

NFC standings with the Lions’ proposal:

1. Lions (15-2)
2. Eagles (14-3)
3. Vikings (14-3)
4. Commanders (12-5)
5. Packers (11-6)
6. Buccaneers (10-7)
7. Rams (10-7)

Matchup Changes:

Instead of hosting the Eagles at home (as they did), the Bucs would have traveled to play on the road, possibly against the Packers or Commanders, depending on the exact matchup. The impact is significant: changing the home field in a playoff game can be the difference between advancing or going home.

Why is this change proposed?

The rationale behind the proposal can be summed up in three key words: competitive equity. According to the official NFL memo, this measure seeks to:

• Reward the teams with the best performance in the regular season.
• Prevent teams with worse records from gaining an advantage by winning weak divisions.
• Generate more excitement in the final weeks of the season.

Drop in interest in Week 18

The league is concerned about the growing number of teams resting their starters in Weeks 17 and 18 because they have their spots secured. This past season:

• The Texans rested players knowing they were the No. 4 seed.
• The Rams knew it would be 3 or 4.
• The Eagles had secured the No. 2 pick.

They all lost in Week 18 but won in the playoffs, which indirectly rewarded that strategy. The new format would make seeding up for grabs until the final minute, forcing a race to the finish. That’s what the changes to the NFL playoffs are all about.

What does Roger Goodell think?

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was enthusiastic about the idea:

“It’s a healthy proposal, based on real data, and we should continue evaluating it,” he said in April.

An unofficial vote was held in March, but only a few teams were ready to approve it. Since then, more data and projections have been presented that could tip the balance.

What about the “Tush Push”?

Although the focus is on the playoffs, another hot topic at the meeting will be the possible ban on the famous “tush push,” or assisted quarterback sneak, a play popularized by the Eagles with enormous success. The proposal, originally presented by the Packers, seeks to outlaw the immediate push of a player behind center.

For now, the text hasn’t changed since March, and further discussion is expected in Minneapolis. The NFL wants more clarity on what type of pushing would be allowed, if any.

And other rules?

The possibility of allowing onside kicks at any point during a game, not just the fourth quarter, will also be discussed, as will allowing NFL players to compete in flag football at the 2028 Olympics.

When will all this be decided?

On May 20 and 21, at the owners’ meeting in Minneapolis. If Detroit’s proposal is approved, the change will take effect immediately for the 2025 season.

Is this move good for the Bucs?

It depends. In a historically weak division like the NFC South, the Buccaneers have managed to make the playoffs without needing spectacular records. This change could eliminate some of that structural advantage, but it also forces them to improve if they want to truly compete for a Super Bowl. In 2024, under this new system, they would have had a much tougher road.