Can a wild card play within the same division?

Answer 1

Three teams in the division can make it to the playoffs. 12 teams in total qualify for the playoffs, 6 in the AFC and 6 in the NFC. The division winners from each conference are the top 4 seeds. There are 4 divisions in each conference, so that's 8 teams. The remaining four make up the wild card teams. the next 2 best teams who are not division winners in the NFC and the next 2 best teams from the AFC also qualify for the playoffs, which are the 5 and 6 seeds. It is possible that both wildcard winners in either conference, are in the same division, as long as they have the next 2 best records.

Yes, in the 2006 playoffs, the Giants, Eagles, and Cowboys all made in from the NFC East.

Answer 2

Yes.

In the NFL playoffs, teams play each other strictly by seed (3 plays 6 and 4 plays 5). Also, if the division winner was a 3 or 4 seed and the two wildcard teams came from that division, it would not be possible to keep teams from the same division from meeting in the wildcard round.

This in different than the MLB playoffs where the wildcard team cannot play their division winner.

Answer 3

Yes. In fact, it might happen this year. The Carolina Panthers might win the NFC South, but the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers both could win wild card slots.

Answer 4

If you're asking whether two teams from the same division can be matched up against each other in the playoff wildcard round, the answer is yes.

Answer 5

Yes.