We’re past the midway point of the NFL season, and while each week brings unexpected twists, the contenders for the 2024/2025 NFL Playoffs are starting to emerge. Fans are eagerly watching to see which teams will solidify their positions and compete for the Super Bowl.
While some teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions are demonstrating their dominance, and others are already looking towards the next draft, the question remains for many fans: exactly How Many Teams In Nfl actually make it to the playoffs? The answer might surprise you, as the playoff structure is designed to be inclusive yet highly competitive.
14 Teams Vie for Super Bowl Glory
For the 2024/2025 NFL season, a total of 14 teams will advance to the playoffs. This structure is divided equally between the two conferences:
- 7 teams from the National Football Conference (NFC)
- 7 teams from the American Football Conference (AFC)
Within each conference, the playoff berths are further broken down:
- 4 Division Winners: The team that finishes with the best regular season record in each of the four divisions (North, South, East, and West) within each conference automatically qualifies for the playoffs.
- 3 Wild Card Teams: Beyond the division winners, the three teams with the next best records in each conference, regardless of their division, earn “Wild Card” spots.
This system ensures that division winners are rewarded for their regular season success while also giving other strong teams a chance to compete for the championship. It creates a dynamic and exciting playoff picture every year.
Playoff Seeding and the Importance of Regular Season Wins
Once the 14 playoff teams are determined, they are seeded from No. 1 to No. 7 within their respective conferences. Seeding is based on regular season record, and tiebreakers are applied when necessary. The higher the seed, the greater the advantage:
- No. 1 Seed Advantage: The team with the best record in each conference earns the coveted No. 1 seed. This seed provides a significant advantage: a first-round bye. This means the No. 1 seed team gets to skip the Wild Card round, receiving valuable rest and preparation time while lower-seeded teams battle it out.
- Home Field Advantage: Higher seeded teams also host playoff games, providing a home-field advantage throughout their playoff journey, except for the Super Bowl which is played at a neutral site.
The playoff bracket is structured so that higher seeds play against lower seeds in the initial rounds, rewarding regular season performance and creating a pathway for the best teams to advance deeper into the playoffs.
Evolution of the NFL Playoff Format
The NFL Playoff format hasn’t always included 14 teams. The expansion to 14 teams is a relatively recent change, implemented for the 2020 NFL season. Prior to this, from 1990 to 2019, only 12 teams made the playoffs (6 from each conference).
The decision to expand the playoffs was made to:
- Increase Excitement and Fan Engagement: More playoff teams mean more teams remain in contention later in the season, creating more compelling storylines and fan interest.
- Enhance Competitive Balance: Giving more “wild card” contenders a chance to qualify can lead to more unpredictable and exciting playoff matchups.
Key Dates for the 2024-2025 NFL Playoffs
Mark your calendars for these important dates as the journey to Super Bowl glory unfolds:
- Wild Card Round: Saturday, January 11; Sunday, January 12; and Monday, January 13, 2025
- Divisional Round: Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, 2025
- Conference Championship Games: Sunday, January 26, 2025
- Super Bowl: Sunday, February 9, 2025
As the regular season progresses, keep an eye on the standings and watch the playoff picture take shape. Every game matters as teams battle to secure one of the coveted 14 playoff spots and embark on their quest for the Super Bowl championship. Don’t miss the excitement of Sunday Night Football on NBC and Peacock to follow the playoff races closely!
