The NFL playoffs are a single-elimination tournament with 14 teams, seven from the AFC and seven from the NFC. Every game is one and done, and the two conference champions meet in the Super Bowl. Here is how the format works for the 2026-27 postseason.
Who Qualifies and How Seeding Works
In each conference, the four division winners qualify automatically, and the three non-division winners with the best records take the wild-card spots. Division winners are seeded 1 through 4 and wild cards 5 through 7. Since 2020, only the No. 1 seed in each conference receives a first-round bye.
The Wild-Card Round
Six games open the playoffs, three in each conference. The No. 2 seed hosts the No. 7 seed, the No. 3 seed hosts the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed hosts the No. 5 seed. The higher-seeded team always plays at home.
The Divisional Round
The No. 1 seed enters here and hosts the lowest-remaining seed. The other two surviving teams play each other. The NFL does not use a fixed bracket, so the wild-card results determine the matchups, and there are no restrictions on teams from the same division meeting in any round.
Conference Championships and the Super Bowl
The two survivors in each conference meet in the AFC and NFC championship games, hosted by the higher seed. The winners then play in the Super Bowl at a neutral site. Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the ninth Super Bowl in the Los Angeles area, with ESPN holding the telecast.
When It Happens
The regular season ends in early January 2027, and Wild Card Weekend follows in mid-January. Sources list slightly different weekend dates, so check the NFL’s official schedule for exact days. To see which teams are chasing a spot, read our pieces on the Lions and the Bengals.
Sources: National Football Post, Wikipedia, 2025-26 NFL playoffs (Wikipedia).