The NFL playoffs are one of the most exciting times in sports, where every snap counts and legends are made. But for many, it can be tricky to keep track of all the rules, tiebreakers, and seeding details that make the postseason unique. The race to the Super Bowl begins after 18 weeks of grueling regular-season action, and the stakes only get higher from there.
Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the NFL playoffs.
How Many Teams Qualify For The NFL Playoffs?
Since the format changed in 2020, 14 teams have made the playoffs each year. This includes seven teams from the AFC and seven from the NFC:
Four division winners (teams with the best records in their respective North, South, East, and West divisions).
Three wild-card teams (the three teams in each conference with the best records that didn’t win their division).
How Does Seeding Work?
Seeding determines not only the playoff matchups but also which teams get home-field advantage:
- No. 1 seed: The team with the best record in its conference.
- No. 2–No. 4 seeds: The remaining division winners, ranked by record.
- No. 5–No. 7 seeds: The wild-card teams, ranked by their records.
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The No. 1 seed in each conference is especially important because it’s the only team that gets a first-round bye, skipping the Wild Card round and advancing straight to the Divisional round.
Also Read: Ranking The 10 Most Crucial NFL Games Left That Could Impact The 2024 Playoffs
NFL Playoff Format
The NFL postseason is made up of four rounds, each leading closer to the Super Bowl. It starts with the Wild Card Round from January 11 to 13, 2025. In this round, the No. 2 seed plays the No. 7 seed, the No. 3 seed faces the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed takes on the No. 5 seed. There are six games in total—three for each conference. The winners move on to the Divisional Round on January 18 and 19, 2025. Here, the No. 1 seed finally joins the action, playing the lowest remaining seed while the other two teams in each conference compete. By the end of this round, just four teams are left—two from the AFC and two from the NFC.
Next up are the Conference Championships on January 26, 2025, where the last two teams in each conference battle for a spot in the Super Bowl. Finally, everything comes down to Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025. The AFC champion and NFC champion go head-to-head to decide who takes home the title of NFL champion. It’s the ultimate showdown of the season.
Reseeding And Home-Field Advantage
One unique aspect of the NFL playoffs is reseeding. After the Wild Card round, the matchups in the Divisional Round are reshuffled so the highest-seeded team always plays the lowest-seeded team remaining.
Home-field advantage in the playoffs is determined by seeding—higher seeds host games. The Super Bowl, however, is always held at a neutral site (in 2025, it’s the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans).
Tiebreaker Rules
Tiebreakers come into play when teams have identical records, and the NFL has an intricate system for deciding who advances:
- Head-to-head record.
- Division record.
- Record in common games.
- Conference record.
- Strength of victory.
- Strength of schedule.
If none of these resolve the tie, it can come down to net points or even a coin toss.
Also Read: NFL Playoff Tiebreakers: How Division And Wild Card Tiebreaking Rules Work?
Overtime Rules In The Playoffs
Unlike regular-season games, postseason games cannot end in a tie. Overtime rules ensure there’s a winner:
Teams play 15-minute periods until one scores.
Both teams are guaranteed at least one possession unless the first team scores a touchdown on its opening drive.
Important Dates For The 2024-25 NFL Playoffs
- Wild Card Round: Jan. 11-13, 2025
- Divisional Round: Jan. 18-19, 2025
- Conference Championships: Jan. 26, 2025
- Super Bowl LIX: Feb. 9, 2025
What’s At Stake?
The NFL playoffs are where careers are defined. For the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s a shot at becoming the first team to win three straight Super Bowls. For everyone else, it’s about knocking them off the throne and earning a chance to lift the Lombardi Trophy. With the field set at 14 teams, anything can happen—just ask underdogs who’ve shocked the world before.
