The NFL postseason underwent a minor rebuild ahead of the 2020 regular season. While a 14-team postseason is a norm for the NFL now, it wasn’t that long ago that the league’s playoff structure was different.
It used to be that 12 total teams made the playoffs with six from each conference standings. Two teams from each conference received bye weeks, while the remaining eight teams were matched up in wildcard matchups.
Now, there are fewer bye weeks to start the playoffs and more games, just the way the NFL likes it.
Many are still getting used to the new playoff format. Jugo Mobile is here to break down the NFL playoffs for those who need a refresher on how they work.
Here’s everything you want to know about the 2023 postseason and the race to get there.
How many teams make the NFL playoffs?
A total of 14 teams will make the NFL playoffs in 2023. This will be the third season during which the NFL has used a 14-team playoff; the league had used a 12-team playoff prior to the 2020 NFL season
Seven teams from each conference will make the postseason. The only impact of adding a seventh team to the fold is that there is an extra wild card game that will take place between the No. 2 and No. 7 seeds. The second seed in each conference no longer receives a bye.
The 14-team format means 43.75 percent of NFL teams will make the playoffs. That includes four division winners in each conference and three wild cards.
Under the new format, it is conceivable that an entire division could make the postseason. It would have to fill all three wild-card spots for that to be possible, but we could see that happen in 2023 because of the strength of the AFC and NFC East divisions.
NFL Playoff Pool 2023
The NFL playoff bracket will feature seven teams on each side of the bracket. The No. 1 seed in each conference will receive a bye while the other six teams play wild-card games. They will be between the No. 2 and 7 seeds, the No. 3 and 6 seeds and the No. 4 and 5 seeds.
After the opening round, the teams are reseeded so that the No. 1 seed will play the remaining lower seed. The two remaining seeds will then face each other in the divisional round. From there, it works as a traditional bracket.
Here’s a look at the final NFL playoff bracket for 2022, updated through Week 14:
AFC
Buffalo Bills (bye) 2.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. 7. New England Patriots 3.
3. Baltimore Ravens vs. 6. Miami Dolphins
4. Tennessee Titans vs. 5. Cincinnati Bengals
NFC
Philadelphia Eagles (FAREWELL) 2.
2. Minnesota Vikings vs. 7. New York Giants
3. San Francisco 49ers vs. 6. Washington Commanders
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. 5. Dallas Cowboys
How many teams get a first-round bye?
Only one team in each conference will get a first-round bye under the current NFL playoff format. The playoff expansion adds a wild-card game to the fold that eliminates the bye for the No. 2 seed that existed in the previous bracket.
The elimination of the bye for the No. 2 seed was necessary for the expansion of the playoff field. Having the No. 2 seed play ensures that half of the 12 teams playing on wild-card weekend will be eliminated. That means eight will play in the divisional round and the NFL will continue to halve the total number of teams from there until one is left standing after the Super Bowl.
Why did the NFL expand the playoff field?
The expansion of the playoffs was largely about money. The NFL can generate additional revenue by having two more primetime postseason telecasts, one of which is an additional “Monday Night Football” game, during the first week of the playoffs.
In addition, the additional playoff berth in each contest keeps teams alive in the postseason race longer. In turn, that keeps fans of mid-major teams interested as the season progresses. It also gives teams off to a slow start, like the 2022 Lions, a better chance to turn it around and make a legitimate playoff push.
Does the No. 2 seed have any benefit without a bye?
The No. 2 seed certainly loses some of its lusters compared to its position under the old playoff format. Not having a bye means the No. 2 seed will have to win four games to win a Super Bowl, whereas before it only needed to win three.
Still, the No. 2 seed comes with an advantage. Each of its first two playoff games will be at home and if the No. 1 seed in the conference is eliminated, the No. 2 seed retains a home-field advantage.
In addition, the No. 2 seed has a 4-0 record over the No. 7 seed in the first four iterations of 2 vs. 7 play. The second seed won by an average of 13 points per game, and all but one were decided by double digits.
The difficulty of the 2 vs. 7 game could change from year to year, but it still looks like the No. 2 seed has a bigger advantage over its opponents than the No. 3 and 4 seeds.
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Does the NFL’s 17th game have an impact on the playoffs?
The NFL expanded to a 17-game season in 2021. The additional competition hasn’t had much impact on the playoffs, but it does slightly lengthen the playoff race at the end of the regular season.
The other major change is that the Super Bowl now takes place on the second Sunday in February instead of the first. That move was made because the NFL preferred to add an additional week to its season rather than change its preseason schedule to add a game in early September.
NFL Playoff Pool
Here’s a look at the complete NFL playoff bracket for 2023, updated through Week 14:
AFC
Buffalo Bills (bye) 2.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots 7.
3. Baltimore Ravens vs. 6. Miami Dolphins
4. Tennessee Titans vs. 5. Cincinnati Bengals
NFC
Philadelphia Eagles (FAREWELL) 2.
2. Minnesota Vikings vs. 7. New York Giants
3. San Francisco 49ers vs. 6. Washington Commanders
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. 5. Dallas Cowboys
2023 NFL Playoff Schedule
The 2023 NFL playoff schedule for 2023 will be provided once the matchups, schedules and television channels for each contest are available.
