How do the NFL playoffs work and how many teams can qualify?

The goal for all 32 teams at the start of an NFL season is to reach the Super Bowl and lift the Vince Lombardi trophy.

However, to achieve this, teams must successfully navigate the playoffs to reach the NFL's showpiece game.

But how do the playoffs work? DAZN News explains. 

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How many teams will reach the NFL Playoffs? 

Come the end of the regular season, 14 teams advance to the playoffs, seven from the AFC and seven from the NFC. 

The four teams which win their respective divisions in each conference earn spots, while the remaining three places are given to the non-division-winning teams that have the best records in their respective conferences.

These are known as "Wild Card spots".​

Which teams made the 2026 NFL Playoffs?

Note: Win-loss records do not include playoff games.

Advanced to the Championship Games

NFC: 

• Seattle Seahawks (14-3). Defeated the 49ers to secure their spot in the NFC Championship Game. 
• Los Angeles Rams (12-5). Overcame the Bears in a narrow victory to book their spot in the NFC Championship Game. 

AFC: 

• Denver Broncos (14-3). Defeated the Bills to secure their place in the AFC Championship Game.
• New England Patriots (14-3). Defeated the Houston Texans to reach the AFC Championship Game.

Exited the playoffs in the Divisional Round

NFC:

• Chicago Bears (11-6). Eliminated by the Rams.
• San Francisco 49ers (12-5). Eliminated by the Seahawks.

AFC:

• Buffalo Bills (12-5). Eliminated by the Broncos.
• Houston Texans (12-5). Eliminated by the Patriots.

Exited the playoffs in the Wild Card round

NFC:

• Carolina Panthers (8-9). Eliminated by the Rams.
• Green Bay Packers (9-7-1). Eliminated by the Bears.
• Philadelphia Eagles (11-6). Eliminated by the 49ers.

AFC:

• Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7). Eliminated by the Texans.
• Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4). Eliminated by the Bills.
• Los Angeles Chargers (11-6). Eliminated by the Patriots.

How do the NFL Playoffs work? 

The NFL Playoffs begin with the Wild Card round, followed by the Divisional round.

The AFC and NFC Championship games then decide who will be each conference’s representation in the Super Bowl.

• Wild Card round
• Divisional round
• AFC and NFC Championship games
• Super Bowl

The wild card round uses the following format in each conference.

• Number two seed vs Number seven seed
• Number three seed vs Number six seed
• Number four seed vs Number five seed

The winner of these Wild Card games will advance to the divisional round and join the two No. 1 seeds from the AFC and NFC, who earned byes as the teams with the best regular-season records. 

The No.1 seeds will face the worst remaining team in their respective conference in the divisional playoffs, and once this matchup is confirmed, the remaining two teams in each conference (second-best and second-worst seeds) will go head-to-head.

Once the divisional games have concluded, the two remaining teams will meet in the AFC and NFC Championship games to determine who will represent each conference in the Super Bowl. 

Wild Card Weekend results

Saturday, January 10

• Carolina Panthers 31-34 Los Angeles Rams
• Chicago Bears 31-27 Green Bay Packers

Sunday, January 11

• Buffalo Bills 27 - 24 Jacksonville Jaguars
  San Francisco 49ers 23 - 19 Philadelphia Eagles
  New England Patriots 16 - 3 Los Angeles Chargers

Monday, January 12

• Houston Texans 30 - 6 Pittsburgh Steelers

Divisional Round results

Saturday, January 17

• Denver Broncos 33 - 30 Buffalo Bills

Sunday, January 18

• Seattle Seahawks 41 - 6 San Francisco 49ers
• New England Patriots 28 - 16 Houston Texans
• Los Angeles Rams 20 - 17 Chicago Bears

Conference Championship game schedule

Sunday, January 25

• AFC Championship Game: New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos - 3pm ET / 12pm PT / 8pm GMT
• NFC Championship Game: Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks - 6.30pm ET / 3.30pm PT / 11.30pm GMT

Super Bowl LX schedule

Sunday, February 8

• AFC champion vs. NFC champion - 6.30pm ET / 3.30pm PT / 11.30pm GMT