With the conclusion of Week 16, the “Fairness vs. Tradition” debate has reached a fever pitch. Under the current NFL rules, the 7-7 Carolina Panthers would host a playoff game as the NFC South leader, while the 9-5-1 Green Bay Packers would be fighting for their lives as a Wild Card.
If we stripped away the automatic division-winner bids today, December 22, 2025, and seeded purely by conference record, the bracket would transform into a “Best of the Best” tournament. Here is the updated look at the playoff picture.
AFC Playoff Standings (Pure Record)
In the AFC, the 9-6 Pittsburgh Steelers are currently the No. 4 seed as the AFC North leaders. In a pure record system, they would plummet to the final seed, narrowly avoiding elimination by a 10-win team.
| Seed | Team | Record | Division | Change from Current System |
| 1 | Denver Broncos | 12-3 | AFC West | Remains No. 1 (Tiebreaker over NE) |
| 2 | New England Patriots | 12-3 | AFC East | Remains No. 2 |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 11-4 | AFC South | Remains No. 3 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Chargers | 11-4 | AFC West | Jumps to No. 4 Seed (Hosts home game) |
| 5 | Buffalo Bills | 11-4 | AFC East | Jumps to No. 5 Seed |
| 6 | Houston Texans | 10-5 | AFC South | Jumps to No. 6 Seed |
| 7 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 9-6 | AFC North | Drops to No. 7 Seed |
| OUT | Indianapolis Colts | 8-6* | AFC South | Still on the bubble (Plays tonight) |
-
The Big Shift: The Pittsburgh Steelers lose their home-field advantage. Under this system, they would have to travel to Foxborough to face the Patriots in the first round rather than hosting a game as a division winner.
-
The Logjam: With three teams at 11-4, the tiebreakers (Conference Record) become the primary seeding factor rather than “Division Winner” status.
NFC Playoff Standings (Pure Record)
The NFC South continues to be the primary argument for this system. The 8-7 Carolina Panthers would be officially ELIMINATED today under a pure record format, replaced by a team with a better record and a tie.
| Seed | Team | Record | Division | Change from Current System |
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks | 12-3 | NFC West | Remains No. 1 |
| 2 | Chicago Bears | 11-4 | NFC North | Remains No. 2 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Rams | 11-4 | NFC West | Jumps to No. 3 Seed (Hosts home game) |
| 4 | San Francisco 49ers | 10-4* | NFC West | Jumps to No. 4 Seed (Hosts home game) |
| 5 | Philadelphia Eagles | 10-5 | NFC East | Drops to No. 5 Seed (Loses home game) |
| 6 | Green Bay Packers | 9-5-1 | NFC North | Jumps to No. 6 Seed |
| 7 | Detroit Lions | 8-7 | NFC North | NEW TEAM IN! (Replaces Carolina) |
| OUT | Carolina Panthers | 8-7 | NFC South | ELIMINATED! (Losses tiebreaker to DET) |
-
The “NFC West” Invitational: The West would host three playoff games in the first round (Seattle, LA, and San Francisco).
-
The Panthers’ Exit: Despite leading their division, Carolina’s 8-7 record is currently inferior to the Packers’ 9-5-1 mark. In this system, they lose their spot to the Detroit Lions, who hold a tiebreaker over them.
Final Argument: Why the Shift Matters Now
As we enter Week 17, the current system allows the Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) to rest easy with a home game locked up, while the San Francisco 49ers (10-4)—who many consider a Super Bowl favorite—might have to play every single playoff game on the road.
Pro-Change Argument: A 10-win team (49ers) traveling to play an 8-win team (Panthers) feels like a “robbery” of season-long excellence.
Anti-Change Argument: The Panthers-Buccaneers race in the South is currently some of the most dramatic football on TV. Without the “Automatic Bid,” that entire division’s season would effectively be over already.
