Chargers Propose Change that Gives Wild-Card Teams Higher Seeding than Division Champs

Your Los Angeles Chargers are seeking a prominent change for the NFL's postseason structure moving forward. Up until now, the winners of every division have always had home-field advantage over wild card teams.

However, LA has came forward with a proposal that would give these wild card teams a higher seeding if they have at least four more wins than the division champions and if the divisions champions also finished with a losing record. This news was first reported by NBC Sports.

Chargers propose change to rules on seeding, allowing for wild cards to outrank division champs in certain circumstances. pic.twitter.com/O4oLgkNeDU
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 13, 2023

This potential rule change comes directly after the 2022-2023 playoffs that saw the wild card Dallas Cowboys serve as the visiting team against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite winning exactly four more games than them. There actually is a good amount of sense to it and if a team wins their division, they should undoubtedly be in the postseason.

However, if they have a losing record, that should definitely be taken into consideration and the league should ponder whether the amount of games won and lost should affect the champions' home-field advantage. With some strict guidelines attach dot this proposal, it still makes it fair and the hypothetical wild card squad would have to clearly perform better.

It is worth noting that this could help the Chargers themselves moving forward and that isn't such a bad thing. They are in the same division as the reigning Super Bowl Champions in the Kansas City Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes at the throne and the division is likely theirs for many seasons to come. LA would benefit greatly from this rule change and it will be up to the entire league to see the results.

How are fans reacting to this news?

Should be kind of like March Maddness where the division champs(Conference champ in college) automatically make it, but the seeding is based on record.
— John Lewis (@john_Lewis95) March 13, 2023

What’s the advantage of winning the division if you could lose a home game?
— Tony Baker (@NMTXsports) March 13, 2023

I'm a fan of two teams, which won their divisions (over the years) with a losing record. In both instances, I said they didn't deserve to even BE in the playoffs.
— J Natt Evans (@jnattevans19) March 13, 2023