When Do the NFL Playoffs Start?
Contents
It’s never too early to start thinking about the NFL playoffs. Here’s a look at when they start and how the teams are seeded.
Introduction
The NFL playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held after the regular season to determine the NFL champion. From the league’s inception in 1920 to 1965, only two teams qualified for the playoffs each year, representing each conference. Since 1966, when the league expanded to four teams (two from each conference), postseason play has included four rounds. The four division champions receive Seeds 1 through 4 based on their regular-season records, while two “wild card” teams from each conference (the Seeds 5 and 6 seeds) also qualify for playoff berths.
What are the NFL Playoffs?
The NFL playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held after the end of the National Football League’s (NFL) regular season to determine the NFL champion. Six teams from each of the league’s two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records, and a seeding system is used to determine which team plays which in the opening round. The tournament culminates with the Super Bowl, the league’s championship game.
How Do the Playoffs Work?
The National Football League (NFL) playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held after the end of the regular season to determine the NFL champion. Six teams from each of the league’s two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records, and a tie-breaking procedure exists in the case of equal records. The tournament brackets are made up of Wild Card weekend, Divisional playoffs, Conference championships (AFC and NFC), and the Super Bowl. The AFC and NFC champions receive berths in the Super Bowl, while the other four teams compete in Wild Card weekend.
Who Qualifies for the Playoffs?
The 2020 NFL playoff field is almost set with 14 of the 16 slots accounted for.
There are still two wild-card spots up for grabs in Week 17, however, as the NFC East and AFC South crowns have yet to be decided.
In the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys currently sit atop the East at 8-7. The New York Giants are right behind them at 7-8, while the Philadelphia Eagles (6-9) and Washington Redskins (6-9) are both still alive mathematically.
In the AFC South, the 10-5 Tennessee Titans have a one-game lead over the 9-6 Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts own the tiebreaker over Tennessee due to their head-to-head victory in Week 2, meaning they would win the division if they finish with the same record as the Titans.
What is the NFL Playoff Schedule?
The playoffs begin on Wild Card weekend, which is always the weekend after the last Sunday of the NFL regular season. The four NFL divisional winners will have a bye in the first round of playoffs. The four wild card teams will each play one playoff game on Saturday, January 4th and Sunday, January 5th. The divisional playoffs will be held on Saturday, January 11th and Sunday, January 12th. The conference championships will be played on Sunday, January 19th. The Super Bowl will be played on Sunday, February 2nd.
Conclusion
The NFL playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held after the regular season to determine the NFL champion. From its inception in 1933, the tournament has been conducted every year except 1943, when it was canceled due to World War II.
