6
3
2
See Re-seeding below
AFC
5 AFC Championship
4
1
Wild Card playoffs
Divisional playoffs
6 Super Bowl XL
3
2
See Re-seeding below
NFC
5 NFC Championship
4
1
  • Re-seeding: Home field is determined by seeding number, not position on the bracket. The NFL does not use a fixed bracket system. The outcome of the games between the sixth and third seeds in each conference determine where the Wild Card winners will play in the next round. When a third seed wins, they next travel to the second seed. When the sixth seed wins, they travel to the first seed. The winner between the fifth and fourth seeds will play the remaining second round host team in that conference.
  • Conference Championship home field goes to the higher seed remaining.
                                   
January 8 - Paul Brown Stadium   January 15 - RCA Dome          
 6  Pittsburgh  31
   Pittsburgh  21
 3  Cincinnati  17     January 22 - INVESCO Field
 1  Indianapolis  18  

See "Re-seeding"

AFC
January 7 - Gillette Stadium  6  Pittsburgh  34
January 14 - INVESCO Field  
 2  Denver  17  
 
 5  Jacksonville  3 AFC Championship
   New England  13
 4  New England  28   February 5 - Ford Field
 2  Denver  27  
Wild Card Playoffs  
Divisional Playoffs
January 8 - Giants Stadium  A6  Pittsburgh  21
January 15 - Soldier Field
   N1  Seattle  10
 5  Carolina  23 Super Bowl XL
 5  Carolina  29
 4  N.Y. Giants  0     January 22 - Qwest Field
 2  Chicago  21  
NFC
January 7 - Raymond James Stadium  5  Carolina  14
January 14 - Qwest Field  
 1  Seattle  34  
 
 6  Washington  17 NFC Championship
 3  Washington  10
 3  Tampa Bay  10  
 1  Seattle  20  
  • "Re-seeding": The NFL Playoffs are re-seeded after each round. The outcome of the games between the third and sixth seeds in each conference determine where the Wild Card winners will play in the Divisional Playoffs. When a third seed wins, they face the second seed, but the sixth seed plays the first seed.