The National Football League (NFL) playoffs are one of the most exciting times in American sports. Teams battle for a spot in the Super Bowl, which will take place on 9 February in New Orleans.
The NFL playoff format rewards regular-season success while also enabling teams to start afresh, striking a strong balance. It also creates thrilling matchups in every round.
Understanding the format of the NFL playoffs can be helpful for online sports betting enthusiasts looking to bet on the action. The Kansas City Chiefs (6.49) are the defending champions this year but there are many other teams in contention for the Super Bowl at the time of writing, including the Philadelphia Eagles (5.63), Detroit Lions (6.01), Buffalo Bills (5.20), Minnesota Vikings (12.97), Green Bay Packers (14.03) and more.
How Many Teams Qualify?
A total of 14 teams qualify for the NFL playoffs. This includes seven teams from each conference: the AFC and NFC. Four are division winners, while three are wildcard teams.
The division winners are the teams with the best records in each division. The wildcard teams are those with the next-best records in the conference. Tiebreakers decide seeding if teams have identical records.
What is the Seeding Process?
Each conference’s teams are seeded 1 to 7. Division winners take the top four seeds based on their records. Wildcard teams fill seeds five to seven. The number one seed gets a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Other teams compete in the Wildcard Round.
This system incentivises teams to perform well during the regular season.
Wildcard Round Explained
The Wildcard Round includes six games. The second seed hosts the seventh seed, the third seed hosts the sixth, and the fourth seed hosts the fifth. These games are single-elimination. Winners advance to the Divisional Round. Losing teams are eliminated from the playoffs.
Divisional Round Breakdown
The Divisional Round features four games. The number one seed faces the lowest remaining seed. The other two matchups depend on seeding.
Home-field advantage goes to the higher seed in each game. Winners move on to the Conference Championships. This round often features intense and close contests.
Conference Championships and Super Bowl
For regular season rankings and playoff brackets, the NFL is divided into the AFC (American Football Conference) and NFC (National Football Conference). The AFC and NFC Conference Championships determine who reaches the Super Bowl. The highest remaining seed hosts each game.
Winners of these games face off in the Super Bowl. This is the biggest event in American sports, which crowns the NFL champion in a single-game contest. This makes it unlike the NBA finals which are contested as a best-of-seven series.
Tiebreakers and Rules
Tiebreakers are used for the regular season standings if teams have identical records. Head-to-head results are the first criterion. If still tied, other factors like conference records are used.
However, playoff games cannot end in a tie. Overtime rules ensure a winner is decided. This guarantees excitement until the final whistle. The NFL playoff format is designed to maximise competition. Fans can expect thrilling games at every stage.
