Football has an atmosphere like no other sport. Tailgating, NFL Sundays, the Super Bowl and much more all enjoyed by football fans.
One of these exciting football traditions, the NFL playoffs. With high stakes, underdog stories and chances for glory, it’s very exciting for fans.
“The playoffs are probably my favorite,” said eighth grader Xavier Garman.
Even though it is watched by many, some don’t fully understand how it works. The way it’s set up can be confusing, but it can be learned.
According to the USA Today online article, “What is the NFL playoff format? How the NFL playoffs work for the 2024-25 postseason” by Ayrton Ostly, the playoffs are a single elimination, 14 team bracket where seven teams each from the AFC and NFC fight for the title of Super Bowl Champions. The top teams from each division (North, East, South and West) are selected, as well as the three teams with the next best records from each conference battle for the second round.
This creates more pressure to win every game, especially at the end of the regular season when a win or loss can decide whether you’re in the playoffs or not.
“The teams play better in and near the playoffs,” said Garman.
Their records then decide their seeds in the bracket. The division champions then the teams with the next best records. The AFC and NFC are separate, so the only time they play each other in the playoffs is the Super Bowl.
The USA Today article by Ostly said the first round for each conference is set up as such:
“No. 1 seed has a bye
No. 2 seed hosts No. 7 seed
No. 3 seed hosts No. 6 seed
No. 4 seed hosts No. 5 seed.”
The teams that win move on to the next round, while the losers get eliminated. The winner of the second and seventh seed game plays the first seed team, who got a bye. Then, the winners of the third vs. sixth and fourth vs. fifth games play. The two winners of the second round battle for the right to play in the Super Bowl against the opposing conference champion.
This 2024-2025 season is the 59th Super Bowl. The game will be played at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La.
According to another USA Today article by Elizabeth Flores, “Printable NFL playoff bracket: Time, dates and TV for wild card and beyond,” the teams that made the playoffs in the NFL are as follows:
NFC
- Detroit Lions-first seed
- Philadelphia Eagles-second seed
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers-third seed
- Los Angeles Rams-fourth seed
- Minnesota Vikings-fifth seed
- Washington Commanders-sixth seed
- Green Bay Packers-seventh seed
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs-first seed
- Buffalo Bills-second seed
- Baltimore Ravens-third seed
- Houston Texans-fourth seed
- Los Angeles Chargers-fifth seed
- Pittsburgh Steelers-sixth seed
- Denver Broncos-seventh seed
Now, with the playoffs nearing one question remains, who are you rooting for?
