When did the first NFL Championship Game take place?
The first NFL Championship Game took place in 1933. It featured the two division winners of that single season with no other teams qualifying for postseason play during those early years.
Questions about NFL playoffs
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many teams qualified for the NFL playoffs starting in the 2020 season?
The current fourteen-team system began in the 2020 season. This format settled after a period where twelve teams joined the mix starting in 1990 and eight teams entered the tournament by 1970 following the American Football League merger.
What is the longest overtime game in NFL playoff history?
The longest contest lasted 82 minutes and 40 seconds on the 25th of December 1971. Garo Yepremian kicked a 37-yard field goal to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in this historic match.
Which team holds the record for most total playoff appearances through the end of the 2025 regular season?
The Green Bay Packers hold the record with thirty-eight total playoff appearances through the end of the 2025 regular season. Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers follow closely with thirty-six berths each.
When did the league institute a seeding system based on overall won-lost-tied records?
In 1975, the league instituted a seeding system based on overall won-lost-tied records. Higher seeds gained home-field advantage in all rounds while the top seed received a bye while lower seeds played immediately.