In this scenario, all 16 teams in each conference (AFC and NFC) are ranked purely by win-loss record. The top seven teams in each conference make the playoffs, with the No. 1 seed earning the only first-round bye.
AFC Playoff Standings (Ranked by Record)
Under the current system, the 7-6 Pittsburgh Steelers and the 7-7 Baltimore Ravens are in the playoff picture due to weak division strength. In this new system, their record is simply not good enough.
| Seed | Team | Record (W-L) | Division (Current) | Difference from Current System |
| 1 | Denver Broncos | 12-2 | AFC West | Secures No. 1 Seed |
| 2 | New England Patriots | 11-3 | AFC East | Secures Home-Field (No. 2 Seed) |
| 3 | Los Angeles Chargers | 10-4 | AFC West | Jumps to No. 3 Seed |
| 4 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 10-4 | AFC South | Slides to No. 4 Seed |
| 5 | Buffalo Bills | 10-4 | AFC East | Slides to No. 5 Seed |
| 6 | Houston Texans | 9-5 | AFC South | Jumps to No. 6 Seed |
| 7 | Indianapolis Colts | 8-6 | AFC South | NEW TEAM IN! (Replaces 7-6 Steelers) |
| OUT | Pittsburgh Steelers | 7-6 | AFC North | ELIMINATED! |
| OUT | Baltimore Ravens | 7-7 | AFC North | ELIMINATED! |
AFC Wild Card Round Matchups
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(7) Indianapolis Colts at (2) New England Patriots
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(6) Houston Texans at (3) Los Angeles Chargers
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(5) Buffalo Bills at (4) Jacksonville Jaguars
NFC Playoff Standings (Ranked by Record)
The NFC West would dominate the top seeds, demonstrating the strength of the division this season, while a weaker division winner gets replaced.
| Seed | Team | Record (W-L-T) | Division (Current) | Difference from Current System |
| 1 | Los Angeles Rams | 11-3 | NFC West | Secures No. 1 Seed |
| 2 | Seattle Seahawks | 11-3 | NFC West | Secures Home-Field (No. 2 Seed) |
| 3 | San Francisco 49ers | 10-4 | NFC West | Jumps to No. 3 Seed |
| 4 | Chicago Bears | 10-4 | NFC North | Slides to No. 4 Seed |
| 5 | Green Bay Packers | 9-4-1 | NFC North | Slides to No. 5 Seed |
| 6 | Philadelphia Eagles | 9-5 | NFC East | Slides to No. 6 Seed |
| 7 | Detroit Lions | 8-6 | NFC North | NEW TEAM IN! (Replaces 7-7 Buccaneers) |
| OUT | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7-7 | NFC South | ELIMINATED! |
| OUT | Carolina Panthers | 7-7 | NFC South | ELIMINATED! |
NFC Wild Card Round Matchups
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(7) Detroit Lions at (2) Seattle Seahawks
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(6) Philadelphia Eagles at (3) San Francisco 49ers
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(5) Green Bay Packers at (4) Chicago Bears
The Debate: Arguments For Eliminating Divisions
The primary argument for getting rid of divisions centers on Fairness and Rewarding Deserving Teams.
Pro-Elimination Arguments
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Eliminates Undeserving Division Winners: This is the most compelling argument. Under the current system, a team with a losing or middling record (like the current 7-7 Buccaneers or 7-6 Steelers) is guaranteed a playoff spot and a home game simply because they beat up on a weak divisional slate. Eliminating divisions ensures the seven teams with the best records in each conference advance.
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Solves the Schedule Imbalance: Every team currently plays six games against their division rivals, which can skew records. If a division is exceptionally strong (like the NFC West this year), a great team could finish 11-6 but be relegated to a lower seed than a weaker team from a poor division (like the 8-9 NFC South winner). A conference-only ranking minimizes the effect of unbalanced scheduling.
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Highlights True Strength: The new playoff picture is far more competitive. We see the 10-4 Chargers and 10-4 49ers rightfully earn higher seeds than they would under the current rules, better reflecting their season-long performance.
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Increases Wild Card Tension: Teams like the 8-6 Colts and 8-6 Lions would be firmly in the race, intensifying every regular-season game down the stretch for the final seeds.
Anti-Elimination Arguments
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Destroys Historic Rivalries: Divisional play is the core of the NFL schedule, creating intense, guaranteed rivalries like Packers vs. Bears, Steelers vs. Ravens, and Cowboys vs. Eagles. Eliminating the division format would make these annual home-and-home games optional, stripping the league of its most historic and marketable matchups.
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Increases Travel: The divisions are (mostly) organized geographically to reduce travel costs and fatigue. A pure conference format could necessitate a more random schedule, forcing more cross-country trips and potentially impacting player health and environmental impact.
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Less Intrigue: The drama of the “winner-take-all” division championship in Week 17 or 18 would disappear. The final weeks would simply be a generic battle for seed numbers, rather than the focused goal of winning a specific, historic title.
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Creates Top-Heavy Conferences: If one conference is dominant, you could have a 9-7 team make the playoffs in one conference and a 10-6 team miss out in the other (though this happens already).
Ultimately, while the pure conference format ensures the most deserving teams reach the playoffs, the NFL prioritizes the traditional drama and marketable rivalries that the division structure guarantees.
