NFL Playoff Format Explained: Seeding, Byes and the Road to the Super Bowl
Fourteen teams, one bye per conference and a bracket that reseeds. Here is how the NFL playoffs work.
Since the 2020 season, the NFL has used a 14-team playoff. The format rewards division winners and the best record in each conference, while giving three wild cards per conference a shot.
Who Qualifies
Each conference (AFC and NFC) sends seven teams:
- Seeds 1 to 4: the four division winners, ranked by record
- Seeds 5 to 7: the three best non-division winners (wild cards)
A division winner always hosts at least one game, even if a wild card team has a better record.
The No. 1 Seed Bye
Only the top seed in each conference gets a bye past the opening round. That makes the race for No. 1 one of the most important storylines late in the season.
Wild Card Round
- 2 hosts 7
- 3 hosts 6
- 4 hosts 5
Divisional Round and Reseeding
The NFL reseeds after the Wild Card round. The No. 1 seed always plays the lowest remaining seed, and the other two winners meet, with the higher seed hosting.
Conference Championships
The two remaining teams in each conference play for the AFC and NFC titles, hosted by the higher seed.
The Super Bowl
The conference champions meet at a neutral site chosen years in advance. Overtime in the playoffs follows special rules. See our NFL overtime guide.
Tiebreakers
When teams finish with the same record, the NFL uses a long list of tiebreakers, starting with head to head results and division or conference record.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams make the NFL playoffs?
Fourteen: seven from the AFC and seven from the NFC.
Does the NFL reseed in the playoffs?
Yes. After the Wild Card round, the highest remaining seed in each conference hosts the lowest remaining seed.
How many teams get a bye in the NFL playoffs?
Only the No. 1 seed in each conference gets a first round bye.
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