NFL Playoff Preview How the Wild-Card Round Determines Divisional Matchups
The AFC bracket features some intriguing matchups. The Denver Broncos, the No. 7 seed, face the No. 2 Buffalo Bills, while the No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers take on the No. 3 Baltimore Ravens. The No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers will battle the No. 4 Houston Texans in the first round, with the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs sitting out as the AFC West champions.
But here’s the twist that sets the NFL apart from other major sports: the divisional round matchups are not set in stone before the playoffs begin. Instead, they depend on the results of the wild-card games. In the AFC, the Chiefs will face the lowest remaining seed in the second round. For example, if the Broncos pull off an upset over the Bills, the Chiefs will face Denver. If the Bills win but the Steelers defeat the Ravens, Kansas City will play Pittsburgh. The Chiefs could also face the winner of the Chargers-Texans game, depending on the results.
This unique reseeding structure adds an extra layer of excitement and unpredictability to the NFL postseason, with the potential for surprising outcomes to shake up the playoff landscape. As teams battle for survival, the path to the Super Bowl remains uncertain, with anything possible in this thrilling tournament.
