The NFL needs to understand that the status quo is good and stop trying to implement so much goddamn change. If it ain't broke, don't fix it; the ultimate, greatest maxim of life. Don't violate it.
The rule changes have been bad and downright unfair on defenses; such that impressive QB seasons are almost mundane to watch because we all know about the PI, RTP, IC enforcements being more than a bit harsh with offensive holdings called at a record low rate in 2020.
The only 2 changes that the NFL has made in the past decade that is good is increasing the extra point distance to 33 yards (the chip shot was re ed) and now the change that we're about to see this weekend, expanding the brackets to 7 teams so that only the best team on either side gets to bye; that change is one I've called for for about a decade, ever since 10-6 teams were left out on the NFC side in 2009-2010 and who knows what the Cassell Patriots would have done in 2008.
Dumb rule changes:
-Kickoff touchbacks going from the 20 to the 25. Gives an unfair advantage to the receiving team/offense, especially in late game situations.
-Challenging PI calls; but they nixed it after one year, fortunately
Dumber rule changes:
-Consistent enforcement of DPI and RTP (though the more famous the QB, the more likely the RTP call) with lack of OPI and OH enforcement, especially holding on pass plays
Dumbest rule change:
-Increasing the likelihood of tied final scores (a TIE? Nobody wants a ing tie, except for dunces like Kliff Kingsbury and John Harbaugh I guess) by reducing OT in the regular season to a mere 10 minutes instead of 15, and not making a contingency plan to eliminate tie scores, like a kicker field-goal kick off, my idea and the best idea. [No, not the college OT rules; those suck and would just inflate scores artificially.]
Again, nobody likes a tied final score. The outcome is painful for both sides. Find a way to make sure there is a winner in every game. Preseason notwithstanding; ties in preseason are OK.
The Ultimate Dumbest Rule Change:
-Would be if they actually approve a change to a (re ed) 17 game regular season. Odd number, meaning disproportionate number of home and away games, meaning compe ive imbalance.
I would downright quit watching the NFL just like I quit watching the NBA after 2017, if this actually happened.