NFL Playoffs

AFC

NFC

Updated September 26, 2026

Recent Changes

CAR logo Panthers entered bracket (seed 4)
DAL logo Cowboys entered bracket (seed 7)
NE logo Patriots entered bracket (seed 7)
CHI logo Bears left bracket
PIT logo Steelers left bracket
TB logo Buccaneers left bracket
BAL logo Ravens left bracket
ARI logo Cardinals left bracket
LV logo Raiders (seed 5 → 1)
JAC logo Jaguars (seed 3 → 4)
NYG logo Giants (seed 5 → 6)
CIN logo Bengals (seed 2 → 3)
MIN logo Vikings (seed 2 → 1)
KC logo Chiefs (seed 3 → 5)
BUF logo Bills (seed 1 → 2)
SEA logo Seahawks (seed 6 → 5)
NYJ logo Jets (seed 5 → 6)
PHI logo Eagles (seed 1 → 2)

NFL Playoff Format and Rules

The NFL playoffs is a 14 team tournament, consisting of the top 7 teams from the NFC and AFC.

Seeds 1-4 for each conference will be reserved for the division champion. The seeds between these teams are based on their overall record

Seeds 5-7 will be reserved for wildcard teams, which are the teams in each conference with the best overall records that are not division champions.

Divisional Tiebreakers

  1. Head-to-head record
  2. Record within division
  3. Best record in common games
  4. Best record within conference
  5. Strength of victory
  6. Strength of schedule
  7. Conference ranking in points scored and allowed
  8. Total ranking in points scored and allowed
  9. Net points in common games
  10. Net points in all games
  11. Net touchdowns in all games
  12. Coin toss

Conference Tiebreakers

  1. Apply division tiebreakers to eliminate all but 1 team in each division.
  2. Head-to-head
  3. Record in conference games
  4. Record in common games
  5. Strength of victory
  6. Strength of schedule
  7. Combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and allowed
  8. Total ranking in points scored and allowed
  9. Net points in conference games
  10. Net points in all games
  11. Net touchdowns
  12. Coin toss