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NFL Playoff Seeding Simulator
Predict playoff scenarios by toggling game results and watch live AFC and NFC playoff seedings update automatically. Our simulator applies all official head-to-head, division record, common games, strength of victory, and strength of schedule tiebreaker rules to determine the 7 playoff seeds in each conference. Perfect for analyzing three-team or four-team tie scenarios and understanding how wild card positioning changes with each game result.
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AFC Playoff Seeding
NFC Playoff Seeding
How the Playoff Seeding Simulator Works
• Toggle game outcomes: Click on either team in any matchup to set them as the winner. The simulator instantly recalculates playoff standings for both conferences based on your selections.
• Automatic tiebreaker application: When teams finish with identical records, the simulator applies all official NFL tiebreaker rules in order: head-to-head record, best division win percentage, common games record, conference record, strength of victory, and strength of schedule.
• Division winners get priority: The four division winners in each conference automatically earn seeds 1-4, with the top seed getting a first-round bye. The remaining three best teams become wild card seeds 5-7.
• Complex tie scenarios: The simulator handles three-team and four-team tiebreakers within divisions and across conferences, applying the appropriate rules for each scenario to determine final seeding.
• Live updates: Every game you toggle immediately triggers a complete recalculation of playoff positioning. Watch how a single result can dramatically shift seeding and create or eliminate playoff spots.
Pro Tip: Use the "Randomize" button to simulate realistic game outcomes, or manually set results to explore specific playoff scenarios. The reset button clears all selections so you can start fresh and test different possibilities for your team's postseason chances.
Related NFL Tiebreaker Tools
Head-to-Head Tiebreaker
Calculate head-to-head records between teams to determine tiebreaker winners.
Division Record Calculator
Analyze division game records to break ties within the same division.
Common Games Tiebreaker
Compare team records against common opponents (minimum 4 games).
Strength of Victory
Calculate combined winning percentage of teams you've beaten.
Strength of Schedule
Determine strength of schedule by analyzing all opponents' records.
Wild Card Seeding
Understand how wild card spots are determined across conferences.
NFL Playoff Seeding Simulator FAQ
How many teams make the NFL playoffs from each conference?
Seven teams from each conference make the playoffs: four division winners (seeds 1-4) and three wild card teams (seeds 5-7). The #1 seed earns a first-round bye, while seeds 2-7 play in the wild card round. Our simulator automatically determines all 14 playoff teams based on the game results you select.
What tiebreakers does the simulator use?
The simulator applies official NFL tiebreaker rules in order: head-to-head record (if teams played), division record (for division ties), common games (minimum 4 shared opponents), conference record, strength of victory, and strength of schedule. These rules handle both two-team ties and complex three-team or four-team scenarios.
How are division winners seeded?
Division winners always get seeds 1-4, ranked by their overall records with tiebreakers applied if necessary. A division winner with a worse record than wild card teams will still get a higher seed (4th at worst) because they won their division. However, the wild card team with the better record would get home field advantage in their playoff matchup.
Can I see specific tiebreaker details?
While this simulator shows final seeding results, you can use our dedicated tiebreaker calculators for detailed breakdowns: head-to-head calculator for direct matchups, common games tool for shared opponent analysis, and strength of victory calculator for opponent record comparisons.
What happens in three-team or four-team ties?
Multi-team ties require special tiebreaker procedures. For three-team ties, if one team swept the others head-to-head, they win. Otherwise, division record and other factors apply. Four-team tiebreakers follow similar logic but require all four teams to share head-to-head results before applying that criterion. Our simulator handles these complex scenarios automatically.
Does the simulator account for conference vs division record?
Yes! The simulator distinguishes between conference games (games within AFC or NFC) and division games (games within your specific division). Division record is used first for division tiebreakers, while conference record applies later in the tiebreaker sequence for both division and wild card seeding.