What Does Wildcard Mean In Nfl?
Contents
If you’re a football fan, you’ve probably heard the term “wildcard” used a lot. But what does it actually mean?
In the NFL, the wildcard is the name given to the four teams that qualify for the playoffs each year, but don’t win their division. These teams are seeded fifth through eighth, and they play each other in the first round of the playoffs.
So, if you’re wondering what the wildcard is all about, there
What is the Wildcard?
In the National Football League, the wildcard teams are the two teams in each conference who qualify for the playoffs but don’t win their division. The NFL introduced the wildcard system in 1967.
In each conference, the four division winners are seeded one through four based on their won-loss record, with the top seed getting a first-round bye. The two wildcard teams are seeded fifth and sixth.
The fifth seed plays the fourth seed, and the sixth seed plays the third seed in the first round of the playoffs. The winners of those games advance to play the top seed in each conference in the second round of the playoffs, calledthe divisional playoff.
The NFL expanded to a 32-team league in 2002, which meant that eight teams qualified for the playoffs each year. But even with eight teams qualifying, only four make it to the divisional playoff round.
The league considered expandingthe playoffs again to include more teams, but tabledthe idea in 2017 because too few owners were in favorof it.
How does the Wildcard work?
In the NFL, the team with the best record in each conference is awarded a playoff berth. The other two spots in each conference go to the Wildcard teams, who are the two clubs with the next-best records.
The Wildcard round is a single game played at the home of the lower-seeded team. The divisional playoffs consist of four teams: the two Wildcard survivors and the two division winners with the best records. These four teams play each other in two matches, with one club resting during each Wildcard weekend.
What teams are in the Wildcard?
In the National Football League, the Wild Card refers to the two teams in each conference who make the playoffs despite not winning their division. The NFL’s playoff system is setup so that there are six teams from each conference who make the playoffs each year. The four division winners from each conference are given automatic berths into the playoffs, while the two Wild Card teams from each conference must play an extra game in order to advance.
The term “Wild Card” can also be used in other sports leagues, but it is most commonly associated with the NFL.
What is the schedule for the Wildcard?
The NFL 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. The four division winners (seeded 1-4) occupy the first four seeds, while the two wild-card teams (seeded 5-6) occupy the final two seeds.
The schedule for the Wildcard weekend is as follows:
Saturday, January 7
AFC: No. 5 Buffalo Bills at No. 4 Houston Texans, 4:35 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)
NFC: No. 6 Minnesota Vikings at No. 3 New Orleans Saints, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
Sunday, January 8
AFC: No. 6 Baltimore Ravens at No. 3 Los Angeles Chargers, 1:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
NFC: No. 5 Seattle Seahawks at No. 4 Dallas Cowboys, 4:40 p.m ET (Fox)
How can I watch the Wildcard?
The NFL Wildcard games are the first round of the NFL playoffs. The four teams with the best record in each conference who did not win their division compete in these games. The two winners advance to the next round, the Divisional Playoffs.