NFL Divisional Round Playoffs

NFL Divisional Round Playoffs
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Event information
Event	NFL Divisional Round Playoffs
Part of	NFL playoffs
Followed by	Conference Championship games
Preceded by	Wild Card round

The NFL divisional round playoffs are the second stage of the NFL postseason, played after the wild card round. Qualified teams compete in elimination games to advance to the conference championship games, and the winners proceed to the Super Bowl through their respective conference.

Overview

The divisional round is the penultimate playoff stage that determines which teams reach the AFC and NFC conference championship games. After the conclusion of the Wild Card games, teams are matched in single-elimination contests, and the winners advance.

In the National Football League postseason structure, the divisional round sits directly between the NFL Wild Card playoffs and the conference championships. Matchups are determined by regular-season standings and seeding, and home-field advantage is generally awarded to the higher seed for each conference.

Format and seeding

Each conference sends four teams into the divisional round, forming two games in the AFC and two games in the NFC. The overall schedule is organized under league postseason rules, and matchups follow the established seeding procedure used throughout the playoffs.

Teams that finish with top seeds in the regular season typically host lower-seeded opponents. This home-field structure is a key feature of the NFL postseason, and it influences the path teams take after qualifying, particularly for organizations such as the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots, which have historically benefited from favorable seeding.

Game importance and advancement

The divisional round is decisive because it determines the conference championship participants. Once a team wins its divisional round game, it advances to face the opponent that also emerges victorious from the other game in the same conference.

As a result, the stage is often characterized by heightened strategic planning, including adjustments in play calling, defensive matchups, and special teams execution. While the wild card round can produce unexpected outcomes, the divisional round typically features stronger alignment between regular-season performance and playoff success, leading to high-profile contests that draw national attention.

Notable outcomes and postseason narratives

Divisional round matchups are frequently central to NFL postseason storylines. For example, long-standing rivalries and storied franchises can reappear at this stage, shaping narratives that carry into the conference championship games and ultimately the Super Bowl.

Many notable performances—such as game-winning drives and defensive stops—have occurred in divisional round contests across eras of the quarterback position. Teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers have experienced both breakthroughs and setbacks in this round, with results often reflecting how well a team handles pressure when facing top-caliber opponents.

Historical context within the NFL playoffs

The NFL postseason has evolved over time, but the divisional round has remained a core elimination stage. It connects the first phase of qualification (wild card winners) to the final conference games that determine the Super Bowl representatives.

Today, the divisional round is best understood as a bridge between earlier playoff rounds and the conference championship matchups. Its role within the postseason bracket makes it a frequent setting for league-wide benchmarks of team strength, alongside the broader postseason framework of the NFL.