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| National Football League playoffs | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Football League playoffs |
| Sport | American football |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Organizer | National Football League |
| Country | United States |
| Current champion | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Most championships | Green Bay Packers (13 playoff-era titles including NFL Championship Game) |
National Football League playoffs are the postseason elimination tournaments that determine the league champion each season. Originating from the early National Football League postseason contests, the playoffs culminate in the Super Bowl and involve teams from the American Football Conference and National Football Conference. The playoffs have evolved through expansions, rule changes, and cultural shifts involving franchises such as the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, and San Francisco 49ers.
The postseason began after the 1932 season with a playoff game between the Portsmouth Spartans and the Chicago Bears, leading to the establishment of the NFL Championship Game in 1933. The Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Colts eras influenced the league during All-America Football Conference mergers, while the AFL–NFL merger of 1970 created the modern conference structure featuring the American Football Conference and National Football Conference. Landmark moments include the 1958 NFL Championship Game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts, the rise of dynasties from the Green Bay Packers under Vince Lombardi and the Pittsburgh Steelers under Chuck Noll, and the postseason dominance of the San Francisco 49ers with Joe Montana and Steve Young. Rule adjustments after the 1972 NFL season and the 1990s expansion that added teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers further reshaped qualification. Recent structural changes under commissioners such as Pete Rozelle and Roger Goodell expanded the postseason field and broadcast deals with networks including NBC Sports, CBS Sports, FOX Sports, and ESPN.
Teams qualify based on regular-season performance with division winners and wild card entrants. The current model awards berths to division champions from divisions like the AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, AFC West, NFC East, NFC North, NFC South, and NFC West, along with additional wild card teams. Seeding criteria reference head-to-head results, intra-division records, intra-conference records, and tiebreakers involving opponents such as the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, and Denver Broncos. The playoff calendar spans December and January, with the Pro Bowl and league scheduling affecting bye weeks and venue arrangements at stadiums like Lambeau Field, Arrowhead Stadium, Gillette Stadium, and MetLife Stadium.
The bracket includes multiple rounds: the Wild Card playoff round, the Divisional playoffs, the Conference Championships, and the Super Bowl. Seeding determines home-field advantage and bye privileges; historically, formats have changed from single-game championships to the expanded 12-team playoff and later the 14-team playoff era. Tiebreak procedures consider factors such as strength of schedule and point differentials involving teams like the Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings. Neutral-site events like the Super Bowl rotate among host cities and venues including Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, SoFi Stadium, Hard Rock Stadium, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Playoff history features iconic contests: the 1958 NFL Championship Game, the Ice Bowl between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys, the Immaculate Reception by the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Oakland Raiders, The Catch by Dwight Clark to defeat the Dallas Cowboys in a matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, the Music City Miracle involving the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills, and the Helmet Catch in Super Bowl XLII by the New York Giants that thwarted the New England Patriots' undefeated bid. Recent classics include overtime thrillers with the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs' comeback victories, and postseason performances by quarterbacks such as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes.
All-time playoff leaders and records highlight individuals and franchises: Tom Brady holds numerous postseason passing records, the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots amassed multiple championships, and the Green Bay Packers boast historic playoff win totals. Single-game records include rushing performances by players like Terrell Davis and passing feats by Kurt Warner and Joe Montana. Team streaks encompass consecutive appearances by franchises including the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots, while upset victories and seed-based records involve low-seeded teams such as the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.
Broadcast rights have been integral to the playoffs' growth, with networks NBC Sports, CBS Sports, FOX Sports, ESPN, and ABC airing games and producing ancillary programming. Iconic broadcasters like Al Michaels, John Madden, Joe Buck, Cris Collinsworth, and Troy Aikman shaped narratives alongside analysts such as Tony Romo and Tom Jackson. Innovations in coverage—from instant replay to on-field microphones and high-definition broadcasts—affected presentation, while streaming partnerships with platforms like Amazon Prime Video and league initiatives under NFL Network broadened distribution.
Playoff games influence American culture, drawing viewership spikes that intersect with holidays like Thanksgiving Day and events in cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston. The postseason affects franchise economics, local businesses near stadiums like Gillette Stadium and Lambeau Field, and careers of Hall of Famers including Jerry Rice, Reggie White, Ray Lewis, and Walter Payton. Memorable playoff moments enter popular media, referenced in works about athletes such as Michael Strahan and in documentaries produced by outlets like HBO Sports. The playoffs also intersect with labor discussions involving the National Football League Players Association and collective bargaining episodes that shaped season length and postseason format.
Category:National Football League postseason