How the NFL Playoffs Structure Has Changed Over the Years
Introduction
The National Football League (NFL) playoffs are the culmination of the regular season, a single-elimination tournament to crown a Super Bowl champion. The structure of this tournament, however, has not been static. Over the decades, the league has continuously evolved its playoff format to adapt to expansion, conference mergers, and to increase fan interest and television revenue. This evolution reflects the changing landscape of professional football, from a small league with a single championship game to a 32-team powerhouse with a multi-round postseason spectacle.
1. Early Years (1920-1932)
In the NFL’s earliest days, there was no formal playoff tournament. The league champion was simply the team with the best regular-season record. The first official playoff game was held in 1932 when the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans tied for first place. A one-game playoff was held to break the tie and determine the champion, setting a precedent for future tie-breaking scenarios.
2. The First Championship Game (1933-1966)
In 1933, the NFL formalized a championship game. The league was split into two divisions, and the winners of each division would face off in the NFL Championship Game. This format continued for over three decades, with a one-game playoff used only if there was a tie for the division lead.
3. Expansion to a Four-Team Tournament (1967-1969)
With the expansion of the league, the playoff structure changed in 1967. The NFL was realigned into four divisions, with the four division champions competing in a two-round tournament: the Conference Championship games, followed by the NFL Championship Game. This era also marked the beginning of a predetermined playoff bracket, rather than just a championship game.
4. The Merger and the First Wild Card (1970-1977)
The 1970 merger of the NFL and the American Football League (AFL) created a new, 26-team league with two conferences, the AFC and NFC, each containing three divisions. The playoffs expanded to eight teams. The three division winners from each conference and one “wild card” team (the non-division-winning team with the best record) qualified for the postseason. This was the birth of the Wild Card system, a format that would become a staple of the NFL playoffs.
5. Adding a Second Wild Card (1978-1989)
The 1978 season brought another major change with the addition of a second wild card team in each conference, bringing the total number of playoff teams to ten. This led to the creation of the Wild Card Round, where the two wild card teams in each conference played each other. The three division winners, meanwhile, were seeded with the top two teams receiving a first-round bye.
6. The 16-Team Anomaly (1982)
The 1982 NFL players’ strike shortened the season to nine games. To address the unique circumstances, the league implemented a special 16-team playoff tournament, with the top eight teams from each conference qualifying, regardless of their division.
7. Twelve-Team Playoffs (1990-2019)
In 1990, the NFL added a third wild card team to each conference, expanding the playoff field to 12 teams (six from each conference). This format, which lasted for 30 years, had a clear structure: the top two seeds in each conference received a first-round bye, while the third seed hosted the sixth seed and the fourth seed hosted the fifth seed in the Wild Card Round.
8. The 2002 Realignment
While not a change in the number of playoff teams, the 2002 realignment of the league to eight four-team divisions had a significant impact on playoff qualification and tie-breaking procedures. The playoffs continued to feature four division winners and two wild cards from each conference.
9. The Current Format: 14-Team Playoffs (2020-Present)
The most recent major change came in 2020. The NFL expanded the playoff field to 14 teams, with seven teams from each conference. This added a third wild card team and an additional wild card game in each conference. The format now sees only the No. 1 seed in each conference receiving a first-round bye, while the other six teams play in three Wild Card games.
10. Modern Playoff Structure
The current playoff structure is a testament to the league’s history of evolution. It consists of four rounds:
- Wild Card Round: Three games in each conference: the No. 2 seed vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5.
- Divisional Round: The No. 1 seed plays the lowest remaining seed from the Wild Card round, and the other two winners face each other.
- Conference Championship Round: The two remaining teams in each conference compete for a spot in the Super Bowl.
- Super Bowl: The champions of the AFC and NFC face off for the league title.
Conclusion
The evolution of the NFL playoff structure is a story of continuous growth and adaptation. From a simple championship game between two division winners, the playoffs have expanded to a multi-round, 14-team tournament. Each change, whether due to a league merger, expansion, or a desire for more television games, has shaped the NFL postseason into the exciting and unpredictable event it is today. The current format, with its limited byes and expanded Wild Card Weekend, rewards regular-season success while also providing more opportunities for a wider range of teams to compete for the ultimate prize, the Lombardi Trophy. Sources
