How do NFL playoffs work? Understanding the American Football playoff system

How do NFL playoffs work? Understanding the American Football playoff system

Ciku Njuguna
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:25 PM

With a viewership of about 36.8 million fans, it is evident that the playoffs are the most-watched NFL games yearly. Dig in and discover the journey teams make to the playoffs and how the NFL playoffs work.

Who played in the Super Bowl this year?
DeMarcus Lawrence of the Dallas Cowboys leads a huddle before a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in January 2023 in Santa Clara, California. Photo by Michael Owens.
Source: Getty Images

Every year, religious fans turn up or tune in to watch their favourite teams battle for the title of the NFL Champions. In 2023, the playoffs were held between the 14th of January to the 12th of February. This article will explain how NFL playoffs work and the outcome of the 2023 tournaments.

How do the new NFL playoffs work

Would you like to find out how the 2022 NFL Playoff works? The NFL changed post season playoff format for the first time in 30 years thanks to a collective bargaining agreement.

The changes modified the playoff format increasing participating teams, introducing new bye rules, and changing schedules. Scroll down for a complete summary of the NFL playoff format in 2022/23.

How do football teams qualify for playoffs?
Schultz of the Cowboys scores a touchdown against the 49ers during an NFL Divisional round playoff game at Levi's Stadium in January 2023 in Santa Clara, California. Photo by Michael Owens.
Source: Getty Images

How many NFL teams made the playoffs in 2023?

The NFL has two conferences that have four divisions each. The reconstruction of the playoff format increased the number of teams from 12 to 14, with seven teams from the American Football Conference and seven from the National Football Conference.

The first four division champions advance to the post-season tournaments from each conference. The three remaining spots are filled with Wild Card teams who did not win their divisions but have the best win-loss records.

How does the NFL playoff Wild Card work?

In the NFL, Wild Card teams are football teams that make it to the playoffs despite losing the division title. As a result of finishing the regular season with the best win-loss records, the teams can advance to the annual post-season tournaments.

NFL Wild Card
Buccaneers QB Tom Brady throws a pass during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Cowboys in January 2023 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire.
Source: Getty Images

What determines a tiebreaker in the NFL?

The NFL has set various tie-breaking procedures to break standing ties. For example, tied teams from different divisions can be broken by any of the following steps when determining the three Wild Card teams.

  1. Head-to-head stats
  2. The best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
  3. The best won-lost-tied percentage in a minimum of four common games.
  4. The strength of victory in all games.
  5. Strength of the schedule in all games.
  6. The best-combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed for all games.
  7. The best-combined ranking among all teams in points scored and the points allowed in all games.
  8. The best net points in conference games.
  9. The bet points in all games.
  10. The best net touchdowns in all games.
  11. The coin toss.
NFL playoff pictures
Lewis of the Buffalo Bills tackles Williams of the Cincinnati Bengals during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Highmark Stadium in January 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. Photo by Bryan M. Bennett.
Source: Getty Images

How do NFL playoff brackets work?

Eight teams who advanced to the playoffs occupy eight seeds, with the top squad occupying the first seed. The seeding informs the playoff bracket and schedule. The team in the highest seed plays against the team in the lowest seed.

NFL playoff rounds: how do they work?

There are three rounds in the NFL Playoffs. Teams go through the Wild Card, Divisional, and Championship rounds before the ultimate game at the Super Bowl. Scroll down and learn more about the teams in the NFL playoffs 2022-23 bracket.

The Wild Card round

How does NFL Wild Card round work? In this round, the second seed team hosts and plays against the seventh seed, the third hosts and plays the sixth seed, and the fourth plays the fifth. Here is the scheduled format for the 2022-23 Wild Card round for the American and National conferences.

How many wild cards are there in the NFL?
Jaguars QB Lawrence dives in for a two-point conversion during the AFC Wild Card game against the LA Chargers at TIAA Bank Field in January 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. Photo by Don Juan Moore.
Source: Getty Images

American Football Conference

Team

Opponent

Date of the game

Los Angeles Chargers (5)

Jacksonville Jaguars (4)

14th January 2023

Baltimore Ravens (6)

Cincinnati Bengals (3)

15th January 2023

Miami Dolphins (7)

Buffalo Bills (2)

16th January 2023

National Football Conference

Team

Opponent

Date of match

Seattle Seahawks (7)

San Francisco 49ers (2)

14th January 2023

New York Giants (6)

New York Giants (3)

15th January 2023

Dallas Cowboys (4)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5)

16th January 2023

How do the NFL Divisional playoffs work?

Following the Super Wild Card weekend, the NFL Divisional playoff round is held between four teams, including the number one seed and the previous round's champions. Here is an overview of the teams that played in the round for each conference.

How many games do you have to win to make the playoffs in the NFL?
49ers players celebrate during a Divisional round game against the Cowboys at Levi's Stadium in January 2023 in Santa Clara, California. Photo by Michael Owens.
Source: Getty Images

American Football Conference

Team

Opponent

Date played

Jacksonville Jaguars (4)

Kansas City Chiefs (1)

21st January 2023

Cincinnati Bengals (3)

Buffalo Bills (2)

22nd January 2023

National Football Conference

Team

Opponent

Date played

New York Giants (3)

Philadelphia Eagles (1)

21st January 2023

Dallas Cowboys (4)

San Francisco 49ers (2)

22nd January 2023

The Conference championships

Before the much-awaited finals, winning teams from the NFL Divisional playoff round meet in the semifinals for the third elimination process. Which teams were in the AFC and NFC Championship Games in 2022-23?

  • Philadelphia Eagles (1) vs. San Francisco 49ers (2)
  • Kansas City Chiefs (1) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (3)
Who are the 4 teams in the NFL playoffs 2023?
Ja'Marr Chase of the Bengals catches a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in January 2023 in Missouri. Photo by Kevin C. Cox.
Source: Getty Images

The Super Bowl

Annually, the finals are played during the Super Bowl, one of the largest sporting events in the world. As the National Football League champion is crowned, millions of fans enjoy world-class entertainment.

During the 2023 Super Bowl LVII, the semifinals champions, the Philadephia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, battled tirelessly for the crown. Ultimately, the Kansas City Chiefs won the 2023 Super Bowl.

What teams are in the 2022-23 playoffs?
A close-up view of the Vince Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in February 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. Photo by Kevin Sabitus.
Source: Getty Images

The annual NFL playoffs and Superbowl events are regarded as the greatest sports events in the world of sports in the US. This article lets enthusiasts and fans get a clear picture of how the NFL playoffs work, including the NFL playoff format and brackets.

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Authors
Ciku Njuguna photo
Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.