While most NFL fans are focused on the rookie classes from the 2025 draft or OTAs, which are getting underway across the league, owners of teams are currently debating and voting on rule changes that could have a major impact on the 2026 season.
Some of the most significant changes revolve around the inclusion of flag football in the 2028 Olympics or the potential ban of the "Tush Push" yet one of the more important conversations was about playoff seeding.
The Detroit Lions originally proposed to change seeding based on record instead of relying on division results. They withdrew the proposal, yet it could still have large implications on the Kansas City Chiefs going into the 2025 season.
Failed NFL Rule Change Proposal Could Hurt Chiefs
As reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Lions withdrew their proposal regarding playoff seeding. It's a curious decision, though likely suggests Detroit didn't have adequate support to make the actual change.
This impacts the Chiefs in a couple of ways. Based on the rise of the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos in the AFC West, as well as the Las Vegas Raiders landing Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty, this is a competitive division.
It hasn't happened for literally a decade, yet Kansas City could soon lose the division. Obviously, that's unlikely, though it remains a possibility as long as the rest of the conference continues to build up in an effort to defeat the dynastic Chiefs.
Should the Chiefs fall short of the division title, which would be a stunner, then they'd fall to the fifth seed at best in the AFC. Based on Andy Reid's history, that's not something even imaginable, though national media still believes it could happen.
It won't, but the Chiefs are in a poor spot based on the news if any significant injury were to happen. Mahomes can win on the road, though no fan wants to see him have to accomplish that goal.