When it comes to the NFL playoffs, one burning question that many fans have is, "How many teams make the NFL playoffs?" It's a topic of much curiosity and debate, as the answer determines which teams have a shot at the coveted Super Bowl title. In this article, we'll explore the answer to this question and delve into the playoff structure of the NFL.
How Many Teams Make the NFL Playoffs?
In the NFL, a total of 14 teams make the playoffs each season. This number has been in place since the 2020 season, when the league expanded the playoff field from 12 teams to 14 teams. The expansion was a result of the new collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association.
Prior to the expansion, the NFL playoffs consisted of 12 teams. The top six teams from each conference, the AFC and the NFC, would secure a playoff spot. The four division winners from each conference were guaranteed a spot, while the remaining two spots were given to the teams with the best records as Wild Card teams.
With the addition of two more playoff teams, the format changed slightly. Now, the top seven teams from each conference make the playoffs. The division winners from each conference still secure a spot, but now there are three Wild Card teams instead of two. The three Wild Card teams are the teams with the best records among the non-division winners.
Once the teams are determined, the playoffs follow a single-elimination format. The teams are seeded based on their regular season records, with the division winners receiving the top four seeds in each conference. The three Wild Card teams are then seeded fifth, sixth, and seventh in order of their regular season records.
The playoffs consist of three rounds before the Super Bowl. The Wild Card round features the three Wild Card teams from each conference facing off against the division winners with the lower seeds. The winners of the Wild Card round advance to the Divisional Round, where they face the division winners with the higher seeds. The winners of the Divisional Round then move on to the Conference Championship games, and the winners of those games represent their conferences in the Super Bowl.
So, to summarize, 14 teams make the NFL playoffs, with seven teams from each conference earning a spot. The playoffs are a thrilling and competitive time in the NFL, as teams battle it out for a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy and be crowned champions.