The NFL regular season has ended, and the playoff race is on. Some big teams didn’t make it, but many favorites are in. This guide will cover the NFL playoffs, including how teams qualify and the path to the Super Bowl.
The 2024 NFL Playoffs have the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers left. They made it after exciting wild card and divisional round games. Teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys didn’t make it far, making the championship round and Super Bowl more thrilling.
Understanding the NFL Playoff Format
The NFL playoffs are a thrilling part of the football season. But how do teams make it to the postseason? Let’s explore the nfl playoff format to understand this exciting part of the NFL calendar.
How Many Teams Make the Playoffs?
Currently, 14 teams make it to the playoffs. 7 come from the American Football Conference (AFC) and 7 from the National Football Conference (NFC). This change happened in the 2020 season, expanding from 12 teams.
How Do Teams Qualify for the Playoffs?
The nfl playoff qualification is simple. The top 4 spots in each conference go to division winners. The remaining three nfl wild card teams are the next top records that didn’t win their divisions.
How Are Teams Seeded at the Beginning of the Postseason?
After the 14 nfl postseason teams are chosen, they’re seeded 1 through 7 in each conference. The nfl division champions get the top 4 seeds. The 1 and 2 seeds go to the division winners with the top records. The 5, 6, and 7 seeds go to the three nfl wild card teams with the next top winning percentages.
This nfl playoff seeding means the teams get the spots. They also get home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Navigating the Postseason Rounds
The NFL postseason is a thrilling journey. It features three single-elimination rounds that determine the two teams for the Super Bowl. The first hurdle is the wild-card round, where six teams from each conference face off in six games. The winners then advance to the divisional round, with four matchups in each conference, narrowing the field to just four teams.
The victors of the divisional round move on to the conference championship games. Here, the AFC and NFC champions are decided. These two teams then earn the right to compete in the Super Bowl, the grand finale of the NFL season.
A key advantage goes to the top-seeded teams in each conference. They receive a first-round bye and automatically advance to the divisional round. They face the lowest-seeded team that emerged victorious from the wild-card round.
| Playoff Round | Number of Games |
|---|---|
| Wild Card | 6 |
| Divisional | 4 |
| Conference Championships | 2 |
| Super Bowl | 1 |
As the NFL playoff rounds unfold, the excitement and intensity only continue to build. It all culminates in the ultimate showdown at the Super Bowl. Fans and bettors alike eagerly await the thrilling journey that lies ahead.
NFL Playoffs
The NFL playoffs are heating up, leading to the Super Bowl. Teams from the AFC and NFC are competing. The AFC wild-card games feature the Jaguars vs. Chargers, Bengals vs. Ravens, and Bills vs. Dolphins. The NFC games include the Buccaneers vs. Cowboys, Vikings vs. Giants, and 49ers vs. Seahawks. The Chiefs and Eagles have already secured spots in the divisional rounds.
After Week 1, the Chiefs lead the AFC with a 91% chance to make the playoffs. The Ravens have a 60% chance, despite winning in Week 1. The Bengals’ chances dropped to 45% after losing to the Patriots. The Bills now have a 78% chance to make the playoffs, thanks to their win over the Dolphins.
In the NFC, the 49ers have an 84% chance to make the playoffs after beating the Jets. The Lions’ chances rose to 79% after defeating the Rams. The Eagles have an 83% chance after beating the Packers. The Falcons’ chances dropped to 39% after losing to the Steelers.
The NFL playoffs are a single-elimination tournament. Teams play 17 games and have one bye week. Each conference has four divisions, with seven teams qualifying for the playoffs. The top team in each conference gets a bye, and the other six teams play in Wild Card games.
| Team | Conference | Playoff Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | AFC | 91% |
| Baltimore Ravens | AFC | 60% |
| Cincinnati Bengals | AFC | 45% |
| Buffalo Bills | AFC | 78% |
| San Francisco 49ers | NFC | 84% |
| Detroit Lions | NFC | 79% |
| Philadelphia Eagles | NFC | 83% |
| Atlanta Falcons | NFC | 39% |
The NFL playoffs are shaping up to be exciting and unpredictable. Several nfl playoffs, nfl postseason, and super bowl contenders are emerging early. Fans can expect thrilling matchups and intense competition as teams fight for the Super Bowl.
Betting on the NFL Playoffs
The NFL playoffs draw a lot of betting each year. The American Gaming Association says $23.1 billion was bet on the 2024 Super Bowl. Fans can bet on many types, like who wins, point spreads, and more.
14 teams make it to the playoffs, with 13 games to bet on in 2025. Teams are ranked one to seven in each conference. The top team gets a week off. This makes the playoffs exciting and risky for bettors.
Prop bets focus on players or game events, offering many options. Parlay bets require guessing multiple outcomes. With 13 games, there’s a lot to bet on, from who wins to player stats.
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FAQ
How many teams make the NFL playoffs?
Fourteen teams from the NFL’s 32 teams make it to the playoffs. Seven come from the American Football Conference and seven from the National Football Conference.
How do teams qualify for the NFL playoffs?
The top four spots in each conference are given to division winners. The remaining six spots are for teams with the top record who didn’t win their division.
How are teams seeded at the beginning of the NFL postseason?
Division champions are seeded based on win percentages. The No. 1 seed gets home-field advantage up to the Super Bowl. The second seed goes to the team with the next- record.
The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds are assigned similarly. The 5, 6, and 7 seeds go to teams with the next highest win percentages, regardless of division.
What are the different rounds in the NFL playoffs?
The NFL playoffs have three rounds. The first is the wild-card round with six games. Then, there are four divisional round games.
Finally, there are two conference championship games. These rounds determine the Super Bowl matchup.
Who are the top contenders for the Super Bowl this year?
The NFL playoffs feature teams from the AFC and NFC. The No. 1 seeds, the Chiefs and the Eagles, have secured spots in their divisional rounds.
What are the different types of bets available for the NFL playoffs?
There are many betting options, including moneyline, point spread, totals, props, parlays, and futures. Moneyline bets predict the winner.
Point spread bets consider the margin of victory. Totals bets focus on the total points scored. Prop bets target specific player or game statistics.
Parlay bets combine multiple outcomes for higher payouts. Futures bets are for season-long outcomes, like who will win the Super Bowl.
