Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has voiced his disapproval of the current NFL playoff structure.
Heading into Week 18, the 14-2 Lions are set to face the 14-2 Minnesota Vikings with the NFC North title at stake. The game’s winner will secure the No. 1 seed and a bye into the Divisional Round, while the loser will face a road playoff game during the Wild Card Round.
St. Brown expressed that while division winners deserve a playoff spot, it’s unfair for a 14-win team to be forced into a road game. “I think the rule should be changed,” St. Brown said. “Obviously, if you win the division, you should make the playoffs, but having a 14-win team play on the road is kind of crazy. I don’t make the rules. Hopefully, we can win and secure home-field advantage.”
The Lions currently hold the tiebreaker over the Vikings due to their October 20 victory. However, the winner of the upcoming matchup will gain a critical edge, while the loser will likely face a division-winning team with just nine or ten wins in the Wild Card Round.
Though this playoff format has been a longstanding NFL tradition, it is rare for two teams with such outstanding regular-season records to face this level of uncertainty. There’s also the possibility that both teams could meet again in the Divisional Round, despite having better records than other teams in that round due to seeding rules.
Regardless of the outcome, Detroit’s impressive 14-2 season demonstrates their ability to compete with any team, whether at home or on the road.
