NFL Playoff Format: How does the NFL postseason work?

Back in 2020, the NFL introduced a new playoff format focused on two key areas — more teams and an expanded wild-card round.

Here’s everything you need to know about the NFL postseason format:

How many teams make the NFL playoffs?

Fourteen teams will make the NFL playoffs — seven from both the NFC and AFC. This is an increase over the previous format, which had 12 teams.

This is broken out with four division winners in each conference as well as three wild-card teams.

How are the teams seeded?

Each league uses the same seeding format below:

No. 1 seed: Best record in the NFC or AFCNo. 2 seed: Second-best record for a division winnerNo. 3 seed: Third-best record for a division winnerNo. 4 seed: Fourth-best record for a division winnerNo. 5 seed: Best record for Wild-Card teamsNo. 6 seed: Second-best record for Wild-Card teamsNo. 7 seed: Third-best record for Wild-Card teams

Does any team receive a bye?

The No. 1 seed in each conference receives a bye and advances automatically to the divisional round. The wild-card round features the below format in each league:

No. 7 seed at No. 2 seedNo. 6 seed at No. 3 seedNo. 5 seed at No. 4 seed

How many rounds are in the NFL Playoffs?

There are four rounds:

Wild-card roundDivisional roundConference championship roundSuper Bowl

Will the NFL playoffs have re-seeding?

While there is no reseeding in the NFL playoffs, the host of each game is determined by seeding number, not position in the bracket. After the wild-card games are completed, the matchups of the divisional playoffs feature the lowest remaining seed in each conference traveling to the highest remaining seed and the second-lowest remaining seed traveling to the second-highest remaining seed.

What are the division-title tiebreakers?

Tiebreakers are categorized into two sections – within a division or within Wild-Card teams.

Breaking ties in a division

If two or more teams in a division finish with the same won-loss-tied percentages, the following tiebreaker rules will be…

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Publish date : 2023-11-15 17:37:10

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