As football fans get ready for the NFL 2023 postseason playoffs, check out the new playoffs format, playoff bracket, total number of teams, byes and seeding, and playoff expansion.
The NFL postseason previously followed a 12-team format before eventually changing to a 14-team format ahead of the 2020 season.
NFL 2022-2023 playoffs format explained, bracket and teams
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The previous format featured 12 teams in the playoffs with six from each conference. Two of the teams from each conference received bye weeks while the rest of the eight teams faced off in wild-card stand-offs.
However, following the new format, there are fewer bye weeks and more games.
Total number of NFL playoffs teams
The NFL playoffs 2023 will feature a total of 14 teams. It is the third season that the NFL will use a 14-team playoff after previously using a 12-team playoff before the 2020 NFL season.
This means that seven teams from each conference will be included in the postseason. An extra seventh team will add one more wild-card game between the Nos. 2 and 7 seeds.
The 14-team format will allow 43.75 percent of the NFL teams to make it into the playoffs. The teams will include four division winners in each conference and the three wild cards.
Interestingly, an entire division could possibly all feature in the new format. Although this would take up three wild-card spots it is still possible.
NFL playoff bracket 2023
The 2023 NFL playoff bracket will feature seven teams on both sides of the bracket. Given below is the latest NFL playoff bracket for 2023:
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs (BYE)
- Buffalo Bills vs. 7. Miami Dolphins
- Cincinnati Bengals vs. 6. Baltimore Ravens
- Jacksonville Jaguars vs. 5. Los Angeles Chargers
NFC
- Philadelphia Eagles (BYE)
- San Francisco 49ers vs. 7. Seattle Seahawks
- Minnesota Vikings vs. 6. New York Giants
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. 5. Dallas Cowboys
First-round byes and seeding
The No. 1 seed in each conference of the NFL 2023 will receive a bye. The other six teams will then play wild-card games. The wild card games will be between the Nos. 2 and 7 seeds, the Nos. 3. and 6 seeds and the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds.
Following the opening round, the teams will then be re-seeded and the No. 1 seed will play the lowest remaining seed. The remaining two seeds will then face off in the divisional round, following which it will be a traditional bracket.
In the NFL’s current playoff format, only one team in each conference will get a first-round bye. Moreover, the playoff expansion will add another wild-card game, which will eliminate the bye for the No. 2 seed.
NFL 2023 Playoff expansion
The NFL 2023 playoff expansion will primarily generate extra revenue for the NFL. This is because it will add two more prime-time postseason broadcasts.
Moreover, the extra playoff spot will keep teams alive in the postseason race for longer periods. The extra playoffs will also give teams that usually undergo slow starts with a better chance to make a stronger playoff push.