The stage for the National Football League (NFL) playoffs has been set, with 14 teams securing their spots in the post-season matches. This year’s highly anticipated ‘Super Wild Card Weekend’ will host 12 out of the 14 teams. The top-seeded teams from both American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC) benefit from a first-round bye. Let’s delve deeper into understanding the playoff structure for the 2024-25 season.
The NFL playoffs consist of fourteen teams in total, evenly split between both conferences. Over the years, the count of participating teams has seen different thresholds. For instance, from 1933 to 1966, it was as low as two teams, while it reached a peak of 16 teams in 1982. In 2020, the NFL decided to expand the number from 12 to 14 teams for the playoffs.
One vital part of understanding the playoffs is the format itself. Primarily, these are single-elimination matches. Every conference sends its four division winners to the playoffs, and they are ranked from numbers 1 to 4 predicated on their season record.
Apart from the division champions, the top three teams from each conference, based on their performance in the season, get a direct ticket to the playoffs as wild-card teams. These teams are then ranked from 5th to 7th in each conference. Even though a wild card team might have a better record, its seeding still remains lower than division winners, normally falling between 5, 6, and 7.
The privilege of having the first seed in either conference includes two main perks. Not only do they get a first-round bye, but they also get to enjoy home advantage for all their conference playoff matches.
In terms of seeding, it is important to note that the NFL playoffs do not follow reseeding. However, the playoffs aren’t set in stone like the March Madness tournament organized by the NCAA. Instead, the first round match-ups, often referred to as the wild-card round, include 2nd seed facing the 7th, 3rd seed against the 6th, and 4th seed playing the 5th. The higher seed is always the host team.
The divisional round follows the wild-card round and here, the privilege of the first seed team comes into play. The top-seeded team plays host to the team with the lowest seed remaining from the wild-card round. The other two victorious teams from the wild-card round play against each other, with the higher seeded team hosting the game.
In the conference championship, the practice of the higher-seeded team playing the host continues. The location of the much-anticipated Super Bowl, however, is prearranged. This season, Super Bowl 59 is slated to be held at the Caesars Superdome, located in New Orleans.
The NFL playoffs will unfold in the following sequence: The wild-card round matches occur from January 11 to January 13. Then, the divisional round takes place on January 18 and 19. The conference championships are scheduled for January 26. It all culminates with Super Bowl 59 on February 9.
Now, let’s consider the teams that are participating in the playoffs for the AFC. First up, we have the Kansas City Chiefs who secured a strong 15-2 record. Following them are the Buffalo Bills with a 13-4 record, the Baltimore Ravens with a 12-5 record, and the Houston Texans with a 10-7 record. The Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Denver Broncos, each with records of 11-6, 10-7, and 10-7 respectively, complete the lineup for AFC.
Switching over to the NFC, we have the Detroit Lions at the top with a 15-2 record. They are followed by the Philadelphia Eagles with a 14-3 record, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams each with a 10-7 record. The Minnesota Vikings (14-3), Washington Commanders (12-5), and the Green Bay Packers (11-6) fill out the remaining spots.
Eager fans would be interested in the wild-card round’s schedule. For the AFC, it goes as follows: On Saturday, January 11, the Houston Texans host the Los Angeles Chargers, scheduled for 4:30 P.M., and it’ll be aired on CBS. Later that night, the Baltimore Ravens play against the Pittsburgh Steelers, at 8 P.M., exclusively on Prime Video. The following day, the Buffalo Bills host the Denver Broncos at 1 P.M., again on CBS. The Kansas City Chiefs get to rest with a bye.
For the NFC, the schedule is as follows: On Sunday, January 12, the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Green Bay Packers, at 4:30 P.M., which can be viewed on FOX. Later that evening, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers go head-to-head against the Washington Commanders at 8 P.M., shown on NBC.
On Monday, January 13, the Los Angeles Rams will host either the Minnesota Vikings or Detroit Lions, the wild-card round concluding at 8 P.M. This game can be tuned in on ESPN or ABC. Similar to the AFC’s top-seeded team, the Detroit Lions enjoy a bye for this round.
With these details, you are now equipped with the comprehensive knowledge on the structure and schedule of the 2024-25 NFL playoffs. Let the games begin!