The Minnesota Vikings secured the second-best record in the NFC this season, yet their playoff journey begins on the road. This is due to the Detroit Lions' impressive 15-2 record, clinching the NFC North title and a first-round bye after defeating Minnesota in Week 18. As a result, the Vikings are set to face the Los Angeles Rams in Arizona, a game relocated from LA due to wildfires.

This unusual scenario, where a high-performing team plays its first playoff game away, has sparked discussions about potential changes to the NFL playoff format. Historically, there have been instances of teams with less impressive regular season records hosting playoff games, a situation that could be addressed in the upcoming offseason.

According to CBS Sports, the NFL is considering revisions to the playoff structure. One proposal suggests prioritizing the top four teams based on winning percentage when assigning home-field advantage, rather than automatically granting it to division winners. Had this system been in place for the current season, the Lions, Vikings, Eagles, and Commanders would have hosted games in the NFC, while the Chiefs, Bills, Ravens, and Chargers would have done so in the AFC.

This proposed change contrasts with the current situation, where teams like the Commanders and Chargers are playing their first playoff games on the road against the Buccaneers and Texans, respectively, due to the latter teams winning their respective divisions.

Despite these discussions, reports suggest that NFL team owners haven't shown significant interest in altering the current format. However, the topic gained attention earlier in the season when Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown questioned the fairness of high-winning teams playing on the road. He expressed his belief that while division winners deserve playoff spots, a 14-win team playing away seemed unusual.

The most recent change to the NFL playoff format occurred before the 2020 season, expanding the number of participating teams from 12 to 14. This resulted in only one team per conference receiving a first-round bye and increased the number of wild-card games from four to six. The ongoing debate regarding potential further changes highlights the complexities of balancing competitive fairness and traditional divisional structures in professional sports.