Divisional Round NFL Playoffs

Divisional Round NFL Playoffs
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Event information
Part of	NFL playoffs
Followed by	Conference championships
Preceded by	Wild card round
Number of games	8

The divisional round is the second round of the National Football League (NFL) postseason, occurring after the wild-card round and before the conference championships. It features four playoff matchups in each conference, with winners advancing to the AFC and NFC Championship Games. The round’s structure is closely tied to the NFL’s seeding and bye system for the top regular-season teams in each conference.

Format and qualification

In the NFL’s postseason tournament, the divisional round is contested by the four teams that advance from the wild-card round in each conference: the two wild-card winners plus the two top-seeded teams that received byes. Since the NFL’s introduction of the current seven-team-per-conference playoff format, divisional round matchups reflect regular-season seeding, with higher seeds receiving home-field advantage.

The teams in the divisional round are determined through the NFL’s league-wide postseason bracket described in NFL playoffs and the regular-season seeding described under NFL standings. The wild-card teams advance to play the surviving higher seeds, preserving the seeding logic established through the NFL Playoff System.

Matchups and home-field advantage

Each divisional round game is hosted by the higher-seeded team among the two remaining opponents in that matchup pairing. This means the regular-season performance of a team—often summarized by its division title and overall conference standing—can directly influence where it plays in the postseason.

In practice, the round includes matchups that can pit division rivals against each other, or it can create cross-division encounters that feature distinct tactical styles. The NFL’s approach to game matchups, schedules, and playoff travel is discussed in broader coverage of NFL regular season and the league’s overall postseason structure.

Path to the conference championships

Winners of the divisional round advance to their respective conference’s championship game—either the AFC Championship Game or the NFC Championship Game. Those winners then proceed to the Super Bowl, making the divisional round a critical gateway to the league’s final contest.

Because the divisional round is the final stage of postseason play before the conference championship, it is often where teams face the highest concentration of remaining starters, particularly for clubs that secured byes. Analysts frequently consider roster health and quarterback readiness in the lead-up to divisional contests, reflecting how the round functions as a transition point between early elimination games and championship-caliber matchups.

Notable records, moments, and trends

Over the course of NFL postseason history, the divisional round has produced widely discussed comebacks, dominant rushing performances, and quarterback performances that shaped subsequent narratives for the season. Many of these moments are interpreted in the context of playoff history covered across NFL playoffs, including how the round has evolved with changes to seeding and the number of teams reaching the postseason.

Recent eras have also emphasized the importance of consistency in the regular season—since higher seeds are more likely to host divisional games and avoid early road schedules. For players and coaches, divisional-round outcomes can define legacies and careers, contributing to how media and historical retrospectives frame NFL quarterbacks and postseason coaching.

Broadcasting, officiating, and league operations

The divisional round is nationally televised and generally involves prominent studio and sideline coverage across U.S. networks, following the NFL’s broader approach to playoff broadcasting. The round’s games are also subject to league-wide officiating standards, replay review, and procedural rules that are governed through the NFL’s officiating and rules framework.

Operationally, the NFL coordinates game administration through its league structure and competition policies, which are summarized in references to National Football League and official postseason rule mechanisms. The combination of high leverage and standardized procedures makes the divisional round a consistent benchmark for evaluating team performance under playoff conditions.