Who Is In the NFL Playoffs for 2022?

The NFL playoffs for the 2022 season are set to begin on January 8th. Who is in the playoffs this year?

NFL Basics

The NFL playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held after the regular season to determine the NFL champion. From the Wild Card round through Super Bowl Sunday, a total of 11 NFL teams will have their season come to an end. So, who’s in the NFL playoffs for 2022?

How the NFL Playoffs Work

The National Football League (NFL) playoff system is a tournament that culminates in the Super Bowl, the league’s championship game. NFL playoffs are not based on a single elimination tournament, but rather a series of them. After the conclusion of the regular season, six teams from each conference (the NFL’s 16-team American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC)) advance to the playoffs. These teams are seeded based on their regular season record, with the division champions (teams with the best records in their respective divisions) receiving the top seeds. The two remaining spots in each conference go to the wild card teams with the next best records regardless of divisional alignment.

The NFL playoff bracket is composed of three rounds of games, all of which are single elimination. In the first round, dubbed the wild card round, the third-seeded team in each conference hosts the sixth seed while the fourth seed travels to play the fifth. The winners then proceed to play either the first or second seed in their conference in the divisional round. Finally, in each conference’s championship game (the NFC Championship Game and AFC Championship Game), held at a pre-determined site, the remaining two teams face off to determine who goes to the Super Bowl. The NFL playoff format is identical every year except for potentially slight changes to phase out divisions or conferences that result from realignment.

Who Qualifies for the Playoffs?

NFL teams that either win their division or are one of the two best teams in their conference (based on record) qualify for the playoffs. The playoff bracket is reset each year, so even though the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl in 2020, they’ll still have to qualify for the playoffs in 2021.

In total, 12 teams make the playoffs: Six from the NFC and six from the AFC. The four division winners from each conference get automatic berths, while the twowild card spots go to the next-best teams in each conference.

2022 NFL Playoff Picture

The playoffs for the 2022 NFL season are finally here and there are some great match-ups in store. The top seeded teams are the New England Patriots, the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Seattle Seahawks. These teams will all have a first round bye and will be looking to advance to the conference championships. Who do you think will be the last team standing?

AFC Playoff Picture

1. New England Patriots (AFC East winner, 13-3)
2. Denver Broncos (AFC West winner, 12-4)
3. Indianapolis Colts (AFC South winner, 11-5)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North winner, 10-6)
5. Kansas City Chiefs (AFC wild card, 11-5)
6. Houston Texans (AFC wild card, 10-6)

In the AFC Playoffs for 2022, the New England Patriots are the AFC East winner with a 13-3 record. The Denver Broncos are the AFC West winner with a 12-4 record. The Indianapolis Colts are the AFC South winner with an 11-5 record. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the AFC North winner with a 10-6 record. The Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans are both AFC wild cards with 11-5 and 10-6 records respectively.

NFC Playoff Picture

The NFC Playoff Picture for the 2022 season is starting to take shape. Here’s a look at the current standings and who is in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs.

1. Green Bay Packers (10-3)
2. Seattle Seahawks (9-4)
3. New Orleans Saints (9-4)
4. Los Angeles Rams (9-4)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-6)

In the hunt:
7. Chicago Bears (7-6)
8. Dallas Cowboys (6-7)
9. San Francisco 49ers (6-7)

Final Thoughts

The single elimination tournament will begin on Saturday, January 8, and the AFC and NFC Championship Games will be played on Sunday, January 22. The winner of each conference will advance to the Super Bowl, which will be played on Sunday, February 5, at a site to be determined.

What Could Change Between Now and the Playoffs?

The NFL regular season is over, but there is still plenty of football left to be played. The playoffs are set to begin in just a few weeks, and there are a few things that could still change between now and then.

First, let’s take a look at the current playoff picture. The top seed in each conference will have a bye week in the first round, while the other four teams in each conference will play each other. In the AFC, the top seed is the New England Patriots, followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Kansas City Chiefs. In the NFC, the top seed is the Philadelphia Eagles, followed by the Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, and New Orleans Saints.

Now, let’s take a look at some of the things that could still change between now and when the playoffs begin. First of all, any team could be injured before the playoffs begin. This is especially true for quarterbacks, who are often the most important players on their team. Additionally, teams could also be affected by coaching changes between now and then. For example, if a team firing their head coach or offensive coordinator could see a drop-off in performance as they adjust to new schemes.

Finally, it’s also worth noting that some teams could rest their starters in week 17 if they have already clinched their spot in the playoffs. This could give them an advantage in terms of being fresh for their playoff game, but it also means that they might not be as sharp as they would be if they had played all 16 games.

All of these factors could have an impact on who ultimately wins the Super Bowl this year. So while we know who is in the playoffs right now, anything can happen between now and then!