NFL Playoff System: Simple Explanation

How does the NFL determine who plays who, and where, in the playoffs? Many pro football fans won't need this explanation but personally I had to search a bit more than expected to find out for myself who the Falcons might play next and where.

Overall Concept

The playoffs consist of two brackets, one for each conference, that each produce a champion: one AFC champion, and one NFC champion. Each champion is then sent to play the other in the Super Bowl. Only then does a team from one conference play against a team from the other conference.

First Round aka Wildcard Weekend

The first round, called the Wildcard Round or Wildcard Weekend, includes twelve teams, the top six teams from each conference.

The games are set based on the ranking of teams based on regular season play. The number one team based on regular season play in each conference is called the number 1 seed, the second place team is called the number 2 seed, and so on to the number 6 seed.

Within each of the two conference brackets the number 3 seed hosts the number 6 seed, and the number 4 seed hosts the number 5 seed.

For example the number 3 seed of the AFC hosts the number 6 seed of the AFC, and the number 4 seed of the NFC hosts the number 5 seed of the NFC.

The number 1 and number 2 seeds from each conference have a bye.

Second Round aka Divisional Playoffs

The second round, the Divisional Playoffs, includes eight teams, four from each conference.

Within each conference bracket the number 1 seed (that rested in the first round) hosts the lowest surviving seed from the first round, and the number 2 seed (also rested) hosts the other surviving team.

(This is why it's good to be the number 1 seed within your conference. Not only do you get a bye the first round but you get a home game in the second round and that game is against the lowest surviving seed from your conference.)

Third Round aka Conference Championship

The third round, the Conference Championship, includes the final four teams, two from each conference.

The surviving two teams from the AFC play each other, and the surviving two teams from the NFC play each other, to produce the AFC and NFC champions respectively.

Super Bowl

The AFC champion plays the NFC champion.

(For more information including sample brackets and explanation of how they handle ties and such click here.)

(For the official NFL graphical brackets of this year's playoffs click here.)

-Forsyth