The 2018 NFL playoff chart outlines how teams qualified, the seeding structure, and the path to the Super Bowl. This snapshot captures the format used for the 2017 season playoffs that concluded in February 2018.
Understanding the 2018 NFL playoff chart helps fans follow tiebreakers, division winners, and the order of games across Wild Card, Divisional, Conference, and Championship rounds.
| Round | Game Date Pattern | Teams Qualifying | Key Seeding Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card Round | January 5–7, 2018 | 2 from each conference (6 total) | Higher seed hosts lower seed |
| Divisional Round | January 12–14, 2018 | 4 teams per conference advance | No reseeding; matchups fixed by round |
| Conference Championships | January 20–21, 2018 | 2 per conference (4 total) | Road team hosts based on seeding |
| Super Bowl LII | February 4, 2018 | AFC vs NFC Champions | Site: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis |
2018 AFC Playoff Seeding Structure
The AFC chart followed standard rules with division winners earning top seeds and wild card teams filling the remaining spots. Seeding determined home-field advantage through the playoffs.
Chiefs and Patriots High Seeds
Kansas City and New England locked in top seeds based on strong regular season records, shaping the entire 2018 AFC playoff chart for their division and conference.
Wild Card Matchup Logic
Lower-seeded wild card teams traveled to higher seeds, with specific restrictions to avoid intra-division games in the Wild Card round unless necessary.
2018 NFC Playoff Seeding Structure
The NFC followed the same format, with the top-seeded teams holding favorable paths through the divisional round and beyond.
Vikings and Saints Lead the North and South
Minnesota and New Orleans claimed top seeds, influencing the overall 2018 NFL playoff chart by setting the framework for conference matchups.
Divisional Round Implications
Each NFC division winner hosted a wild card team or lower seed, creating key regional matchups that defined the road to the NFC Championship.
How Tiebreakers Impact the 2018 NFL Playoff Chart
When records tied, the 2018 NFL playoff chart used head-to-head results, division records, and conference records to break ties and assign seeding.
These tiebreaker rules affected at least two spots in each conference, ensuring a clear order for the playoffs and avoiding ambiguity in the chart.
Strategy and Home-Field Advantage Across the Playoffs
Coaching decisions and roster management aligned closely with positioning on the 2018 NFL playoff chart, especially for teams on the edge of qualification.
Higher seeds managed rotations in the regular season to preserve health, knowing that a bye week and home games provided significant momentum into January.
Key Takeaways from the 2018 NFL Playoff Chart
- Division winners earn top seeds and favorable early-round matchups.
- Wild card teams host no games in the Wild Card round.
- Seeding heavily influences home-field advantage through Divisional and Conference rounds.
- Tiebreakers follow a strict hierarchy to resolve tied records.
- Byes and higher seeds provide momentum heading into January playoffs.
FAQ
Reader questions
How were the AFC and NFC seeds determined in the 2018 playoffs?
Seeds were based on regular season records within the conference, with division winners receiving top seeds and wild card teams filling remaining spots using tiebreakers.
Which teams hosted games in the 2018 Wild Card round according to the playoff chart?
Higher-seeded teams hosted lower-seeded wild card teams, with specific matchups designed to avoid same-division games unless league rules required them.
Did the 2018 playoff chart allow for cross-conference seeding adjustments?
No, seeding was strictly within each conference, and no cross-conference adjustments were used in the standard playoff chart.
What happened to home-field advantage in the Super Bowl regardless of the playoff chart?
Home-field advantage for the Super Bowl was determined by the league’s annual rotation, with U.S. Bank Stadium hosting Super Bowl LII in 2018.