Explaining How Reseeding Works in the NFL Playoffs – NBC Connecticut

How reseeding works in the NFL playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea

The NFL playoffs can be unpredictable, especially when it comes to matchup decisions.

of the league Revamped postseason system Already unusual given the odd number of teams participating from each conference.

Reseeding in the NFL playoffs is intended to benefit the higher seeds, but it also creates more uncertainty as those teams figure out their divisional round opponents.

Here’s a breakdown of the NFL’s reseeding system for the playoffs:

How are the NFL playoffs seeded?

The team with the highest regular-season record in the conference will earn the #1 seed. His next three seeds (2nd to his 4th) went to the remaining division winners in the conference, and his last 3 seeds (5th to 7th) went to the three wild card teams. You can Record high.

How does reseeding work in the NFL Playoffs?

The No. 1 seed will host the fewest remaining seeds in the divisional round. The other out of the wildcard round in that conference, he will host the higher seeded lower seed of the two teams in the divisional round. From there, the higher seed will host the lower seed in the conference championship game.

The 1st seed does not automatically match the winner of a specific wild card game in the Division Round, so that team may have to wait to find out who their opponent is. The same goes for certain teams that won early in the wild card weekend.

Let’s use this year’s NFC Playoffs as an example. philadelphia eagles Say goodbye to wild card weekend.

The first NFC wildcard game was between 2nd place San Francisco 49ers No. 7 Seattle Seahawks on Saturday. Had the Seahawks won, they would have faced Philadelphia in the divisional round as they were the lowest seed in the NFC playoffs. But the 49ers won, so either they or the Eagles would know their opponent the next day.

No. 3 Minnesota Vikings welcome No. 6 new york giants on sunday. The Vikings were the highest seed among his four teams still looking to advance, so in the divisional round, No. 2 automatically faced the 49ers and won. The Giants were the bottom seed for the remainder of the game, so he automatically faced the No. 1 Eagles in the Divisional Round.

By defeating the Vikings, the Giants set up a matchup against the Eagles, leaving the 49ers with the 4th and 5th place winners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. dallas cowboysDallas won 31-14 in Tampa Bay and faces San Francisco this Sunday.

Are there other leagues using reseeding in the playoffs?

The NFL is the only major American sports league to reseed in the playoffs. While the NBA and NHL use a traditional bracket system, teams with a bye in the new MLB postseason format will play against the winner of a specific wild card series instead of the highest or lowest remaining seed.