An adjustment to the playoff rules was on the table this offseason. But it didn’t happen – at least for now. Head coach Pete Carroll is likely pleased about that.

Every year, NFL owners discuss possible rule changes during the offseason. A few adjustments were approved for the upcoming season. The playoff system will remain unchanged, despite much discussion.

The Detroit Lions floated the idea of discussing the playoff seeding format.

The proposal was to seed teams strictly according to their regular season record, which would change home field advantage and matchups in favor of teams with better records.

In the current format, the four division winners from each conference are seeded as the top four teams in the AFC and NFC for the playoffs. The remaining three wild card spots go to the three non-division winners with the best records.

Carroll against playoff changes

However, the Lions withdrew the proposal over the summer. It could be discussed again next year.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll is unlikely to be too thrilled about that. In an interview on the “Get Got Podcast” (with former NFL star Marshawn Lynch), the veteran coach spoke out clearly against the change.

“I didn’t vote for this other rule. I voted for the division winners,” Carroll said. “I like the structure and I like the division championship. That’s part of it. Remember? Winning the NFC West was very important to us.”

Carroll cited a 2011 Seahawks wildcard game against the New Orleans Saints as an example. The Seahawks had won the division with a 7-9 record and, accordingly, a home game against the Saints (11-5 record).

Seattle won 41-36 in a surprise victory, thanks in part to an iconic run by Marshawn Lynch, the “Beast Quake.” If the rule change had been in effect, the Saints would have had home-field advantage.