Short answer: 14 teams make the NFL playoffs each season — seven from the AFC and seven from the NFC. This format has been in place since the 2020 season. Details
- Structure: Each conference sends four division winners plus three wild-card teams, for a total of seven teams per conference. The top seed in each conference receives a first-round bye, while the remaining six teams in each conference play in the wild-card round.
- Schedule flow: Winners advance to the divisional round, then the conference championships, culminating in the Super Bowl between the AFC and NFC champions.
- Bye rules: Only the No. 1 seed in each conference enjoys a bye through the wild-card weekend; seeds 2–7 compete in the opening round.
If you’d like, I can provide a concise comparison of the 14-team format with the old 12-team format and show how byes and byes have evolved over time.
