How Many Teams From Each Conference Make the NFL Playoffs?
The NFL playoffs are a big deal, and every year there are a few teams that sneak in and make a run. But how many teams from each conference actually make the playoffs?
Introduction
In the National Football League (NFL), the playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held after the regular season to determine the NFL champion. Six teams from each of the league’s two conferences qualify for the playoffs. A tie-breaking procedure exists if required. The tournament culminates in the Super Bowl, played between the champions of the NFC and AFC.
AFC Playoffs
In the American Football Conference (AFC), there are a total of 16 teams that play. Of those 16 teams, 6 teams make the playoffs each year. The playoff system used by the AFC is a bit different from the one used by the National Football Conference (NFC). In the AFC, the top 4 seeds earn a first-round bye while seeds 5 and 6 play in a Wild Card game. The winner of that game goes on to play the 1 seed while the other team goes on to play the 2 seed. This system was put into place starting with the 2020 NFL season.
NFC Playoffs
In the National Football Conference (NFC), there are four division winners and two wild card teams. The four division winners are seeded 1-4 based on their record, with the 1 seed hosting the 4 seed and the 2 seed hosting the 3 seed. The two wild card teams are seeded 5 and 6. The 5 seed hosts the 6 seed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, to answer the original question, a total of 12 teams make the NFL playoffs every year. Six teams come from the AFC and six teams come from the NFC.
