How does super bowl playoffs work

Here you can see how the NFL has broken down the playoff bracket in its new team playoff field. Instead of two byes, just one team in each conference gets a first-round bye. Then the No. Despite the playoff expansion, the alteration of the bye total means that there's the same number of rounds although two additional playoff games overall. The wild card round will feature 12 teams competing, up from the previous eight, with 12 being the same number as the total qualifiers in past postseasons.

Here's a look at the latest NFL playoff bracket for , updated through Week Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns 2. Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens. Kansas City Chiefs bye 2. Indianapolis Colts 3. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns 4. Tennessee Titans vs. Green Bay Packers vs. The playoff teams are then ranked, or seeded, according to their finish in the conference, as follows:.

Both conferences use the same format. Here is a breakdown of each round:. She will be the first woman to referee a Super Bowl. Thomas will join the seven-person crew of on-field game officials as the down judge. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. At the end of the season, the teams with the best record in each of the four divisions per conference, along with the two teams with the next-best records in each conference the wild card teams , qualify for the play-offs.

This means that a total of 12 teams - six from each conference - progress from the regular season on the road to the Super Bowl, with each seeded accordingly based on their win-loss records to determine the schedule for the play-offs. Wild card round: The wild card teams are automatically seeded 5th and 6th in each conference and are drawn to play on the road against the 4th and 3rd seeded teams, respectively, while the 1st and 2nd ranked teams all receive byes. Divisional round: The No 1 seed in each conference then hosts the lowest-ranked team left after the wild card round, with the No 2 seed playing the other.

Conference championship round: Next up the two remaining teams in each conference play against each other - the higher-ranked seed having home advantage - to determine the respective champions of the NFC and the AFC and, therefore, the two teams who will compete in the Super Bowl. Watch highlights from some of the returning superstars to the NFL for the season. Play the NFL Challenge Follow all the excitement of the season by playing the NFL Challenge, with weekly prizes and the chance to win a pair of season tickets to the games in London.

The was different for the NFL and not only because of the coronavirus, but because the NFL decided to expand the playoffs to 14 teams. Previously only 12 teams were allowed , the modification in the format added 3 wildcards for each conference. The divisions are known as East, North, South, West. Each division within the conferences is made up of four teams fighting to win the division with the best record.

The two winners of the divisions in each conference with the best record do not have to play in the Wildcard Round, they get a special pass called BYE and go to the next round Divisional Round to play against the winners of the wildcard round. The division winners are numbered 1 through 4 and are known as Seed No. The wildcard round is a bit more complex but easy to understand even for people who don't know anything about American football.