The Minnesota Vikings’ First NFL Playoff Game Will Be on the Road
The Minnesota Vikings are tied for the second-best record in the NFC, but they will not host their first playoff game. Instead, they will travel to Arizona to face the Los Angeles Rams. The game was originally scheduled for LA, but it was moved due to wildfires.
The Vikings’ lack of a home game is a rarity in the NFL playoffs. In the past, seven-win teams have hosted wild-card round games. However, the NFL is considering changing its playoff format.
One proposal is to give the top four teams based on winning percentage home games, instead of automatically giving them to division winners. If this system were in place this year, the Detroit Lions, Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders would host games on the NFC side. On the AFC side, the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Chargers would host games.
However, team owners have shown little appetite for this change. Even Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who suggested the change, admitted that it is not his decision to make.
The last time the playoff format was changed was ahead of the 2020 season, when it was expanded from 12 to 14 teams. This resulted in just one team in each conference receiving a first-round bye, and six wild-card round games instead of four.