Home › Learn › The season and standings

The season and standings

13 questions new fans ask, answered in plain English. Each answer links the rulebook or league page it comes from.

How is the NFL organized?

There are 32 teams in two conferences, the AFC and NFC. Each conference has four divisions (East, North, South, West) of four teams.

Source: NFL Tie-breaking Procedures (NFL Football Operations) · Trade press (Sports Illustrated): Does the NFL reseed after each round? · NFL Franchise Histories (Pro Football Hall of Fame) · link to this answer

How many games does each team play?

Seventeen regular-season games over 18 weeks, so every team gets one bye week off. The 2020 labor deal allowed the move to 17 games.

Source: Trade press (FBSchedules): NFL schedule release 2026, complete 18-week slate · NFL, NFLPA ratify new collective bargaining agreement (Giants.com, 2020) · link to this answer

When does the 2026 season run?

It opened Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, with New England at Seattle. Week 18, the last regular-season week, is Jan. 9–10, 2027.

Source: NFL announces important dates for 2026-2027 (Seahawks.com, relaying the league calendar) · Trade press (FBSchedules): NFL schedule release 2026, complete 18-week slate · link to this answer

How many teams make the playoffs?

Fourteen: seven from each conference. The four division winners get seeds 1–4, and the three best other teams (wild cards) get seeds 5–7.

Source: NFL Tie-breaking Procedures (NFL Football Operations) · Trade press (Sports Illustrated): Does the NFL reseed after each round? · link to this answer

Who gets a first-round bye?

Only the No. 1 seed in each conference. Seeds 2 through 7 play in the wild-card round, with the higher seed hosting.

Source: Trade press (Sports Illustrated): Does the NFL reseed after each round? · link to this answer

Does the bracket stay fixed?

No, the NFL reseeds after the wild-card round. The top remaining seed always hosts the lowest remaining seed.

Source: Trade press (Sports Illustrated): Does the NFL reseed after each round? · link to this answer

Can a division winner with a worse record host a playoff game?

Yes. Division winners always get the top four seeds, so a division champ can host a wild-card team that had a better record.

Source: NFL Tie-breaking Procedures (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

How are ties in the standings broken?

For two teams in the same division, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head record. Next come division record, record in common games and conference record, then strength of victory and strength of schedule. A coin toss is the very last resort.

Source: NFL Tie-breaking Procedures (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

How about wild-card ties?

For teams in different divisions, the order is head-to-head (if they played), conference record, common games (minimum four), strength of victory and strength of schedule, followed by point-based steps.

Source: NFL Tie-breaking Procedures (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

When are the 2026–27 playoffs?

Wild Card Weekend is Jan. 16–18, 2027. The Divisional round is Jan. 23–24, and both conference championships are Jan. 31.

Source: NFL announces important dates for 2026-2027 (Seahawks.com, relaying the league calendar) · link to this answer

When and where is Super Bowl LXI?

Sunday, Feb. 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (Los Angeles area).

Source: NFL announces important dates for 2026-2027 (Seahawks.com, relaying the league calendar) · Trade press (FBSchedules): NFL schedule release 2026, complete 18-week slate · Trade press (FOX 11 Los Angeles): Where will Super Bowl 2027 be held? · link to this answer

Who won the last Super Bowl?

The Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29–13 in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8, 2026. It was Seattle's second Super Bowl title.

Source: Trade press (CBS Sports): Every Super Bowl winner, score and MVP · link to this answer

Is the Super Bowl a home game for anyone?

The site is picked years in advance, so it's usually neutral. SoFi Stadium is home to the Rams and Chargers, so one of them could end up playing at home.

Source: Trade press (FOX 11 Los Angeles): Where will Super Bowl 2027 be held? · List of current NFL stadiums (Wikiwand mirror of Wikipedia) · link to this answer