How Do NFL Wildcards Work?

How do NFL Wildcards work? Find out all you need to know about the NFL Playoffs and how the Wildcard system works.

What is an NFL Wildcard?

In the NFL, a Wildcard team is a divisional playoff qualifier that is not a division champion. The four Wildcard teams with the best record in each conference play each other in the Wildcard round. The NFL Wildcard round is a single-elimination tournament where the winners advance to the divisional round.

What are the requirements for an NFL Wildcard?

In order to be eligible for a Wild Card berth, a team must have a record that is at least as good as any other team in its conference that did not win its division. For example, if the NFC has two divisions with four teams each and one team that wins its division with a 10-6 record and three other teams that finish second with 9-7 records, the two second-place teams with the best records will be Wild Card teams.

How does an NFL Wildcard work?

In the NFL, the Wild Card Round is the first round of the playoffs. The four teams with the best record in each conference who did not win their division play each other in this round. The two winners advance to the Divisional Round to play the top two seeds in their conference.

In each conference, the team with the better record will be seeded higher than the team with the worse record. The higher seed will host the lower seed.

The Wild Card Round is a single-elimination tournament, meaning that once a team loses, they are out of the playoffs. The four winning teams from this round will move on to the Divisional Round, where they will play against the top two seeds in their respective conferences.

How does an NFL Wildcard differ from other NFL playoffs?

The NFL Wildcard is the first round of the NFL playoffs. In this round, there are four teams total, two from each conference. These teams are the two best teams from each conference that did not win their division. The winners of each Wildcard game will then go on to play the division winners in the next round.

What are the benefits of an NFL Wildcard?

An NFL Wildcard is a single game that is played between two teams in order to decide which team will advance to the next round of the playoffs. The Wildcard round is typically held on the weekend following the conclusion of the regular season, with four games being played total.

The two teams that win their Wildcard games will advance to the Divisional Round, where they will face off against the top seed from each conference. The team that wins the Wildcard game with the best record will play the worst seed from the conference, while the other team will play the second-worst seed.

The benefits of an NFL Wildcard are that it allows for more than just the top two seeds from each conference to have a chance at winning the Super Bowl. In some cases, a lower seeded team that gets hot at the right time can make a deep run in the playoffs and emerge victorious.

In addition, an NFL Wildcard provides more meaning to regular season games since there is an added incentive for teams to try and earn a higher seed in order to avoid having to play in a potentially difficult Wildcard game.

What are the drawbacks of an NFL Wildcard?

The most glaring drawback of an NFL Wildcard is that a team can have what amounts to a “home field disadvantage.” This is because the team with the better record will get to play the Wildcard team at their stadium. So, if the Wildcard team is from a colder climate, they may have to play in a warmer climate – which can be a big advantage for the home team. Also, the Wildcard team may have to travel further than the other teams in the playoffs, which can also be tiring and give them a disadvantage.

How can I get tickets to an NFL Wildcard game?

The NFL Wildcard game is a single elimination game that is held between two teams who did not win their divisional title. The game is held at a neutral site and the winner moves on to the divisional round. The loser is eliminated from the playoffs.

What are the ticket prices for an NFL Wildcard game?

The cost of a Wild Card game ticket will depend on the matchup, location, and demand. Most often, ticket prices for Wild Card games are lower than Divisional Playoff game tickets and significantly lower than tickets to the Conference Championships or Super Bowl.

To get the best deal on Wild Card game tickets, it is recommended that you purchase them in advance from a reputable online ticket marketplace like StubHub or SeatGeek. You can also check with your local NFL team’s ticket office to see if they are offering any special deals on Wild Card game tickets.

How can I find out if an NFL Wildcard game is sold out?

You can visit the official website of the team that is playing at home. The team’s official website will have a link to purchase tickets. If the game is sold out, the team’s website will usually have a waiting list for fans who want to purchase tickets.

What are some of the most memorable NFL Wildcard moments?

The NFL Wildcard is a single-elimination tournament that takes place each year in January. The four teams with the best record in each conference who did not win their division qualify for the tournament. In the Wildcard round, the team with the better record plays at home against the team with the worse record.

The “Miracle in the Meadowlands”

Few moments in NFL history are more iconic than “The Miracle in the Meadowlands.”

With just seconds remaining in the 1978 NFC Championship game, the Dallas Cowboys were leading the Philadelphia Eagles 17-14. The Eagles had the ball on their own 26-yard line, and quarterback Ron Jaworski completed a short pass to running back Herman Edwards. Edwards ran towards the sideline, but instead of going out of bounds to stop the clock, he turned upfield and was immediately tackled by Cowboys defensive end Larry Cole.

The clock kept running, and the Cowboys held on to win the game and advance to the Super Bowl.

The play has come to be known as “The Miracle in the Meadowlands,” and it is considered one of the most famous moments in NFL history.

The “Immaculate Reception”

On December 23, 1972, the Oakland Raiders were leading the Pittsburgh Steelers 7-6 with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter when quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw a pass to running back John Fuqua in the end zone. The ball was then deflected by Raiders safety Jack Tatum into the waiting arms of Steelers running back Franco Harris, who ran it in for a touchdown. The play came to be known as the “Immaculate Reception” and is considered one of the most famous plays in NFL history.

The “Sea of Hands”

In the 1974 NFL season, the Miami Dolphins were looking to return to the Super Bowl for the third consecutive year. Standing in their way was the Oakland Raiders, led by star quarterback Ken Stabler. The two teams met in the AFC Wild Card game, and what followed was one of the most incredible comebacks in NFL history.

Trailing 14-0 in the second quarter, the Dolphins rallied to tie the game at 14. Then, in the fourth quarter, Raiders running back Clarence Davis fumbled, and Miami defensive end Vern Den Herder scooped up the ball and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown.

The Raiders responded with a touchdown of their own to take a 21-20 lead, but Miami quarterback Bob Griese led his team down the field for one final score. With 22 seconds left on the clock, Griese found wide receiver Nat Moore in the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Dolphins a 26-21 victory.

The play that sealed the victory came to be known as “the Sea of Hands,” as several Raiders defenders tried unsuccessfully to keep Moore from making the catch. It was an incredible moment in NFL history, and one that dolphins fans will never forget.