The Detroit Lions may not say it out loud, but there’s a growing sense they’re already uneasy about what Ben Johnson’s presence could mean for the Chicago Bears. While the Bears haven’t been playoff threats recently—finishing with losing records the past three seasons—Johnson’s arrival as head coach has dramatically shifted expectations for 2025.
With a revamped offensive line, Caleb Williams paired with a true offensive-minded leader, and momentum building in Chicago, many believe the Bears could emerge as this season’s surprise playoff contender. The Lions appear to be taking that possibility seriously.
According to Albert Breer, Detroit has submitted a revised proposal to the NFL that will be reviewed next week. The proposal calls not only for playoff seeding to be determined by record—regardless of division winner or Wild Card status—but also for reseeding after the first round. As Breer explains, “A change in Detroit’s proposal from March is for the teams then to be reseeded after the first round. So, in this case, the No. 1 seed would play the lowest-remaining seed in the conference, rather than automatically facing the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup.”
Could this be the Lions subtly trying to avoid an early clash with the new-look Bears? If passed, the rule change could significantly impact the NFC North. Should the Bears live up to the hype with Johnson and the Vikings continue progressing under JJ McCarthy, the division might become the most competitive in the NFC. In that scenario, Detroit’s proposed changes could allow them to sidestep a tougher divisional opponent like the Bears in the early playoff rounds and instead face a weaker Wild Card team.
Of course, that hinges on the Bears finally reaching a level of success they haven’t seen since 2018. But with Ben Johnson at the helm, that future suddenly looks a lot more plausible.
