The NFL playoffs are set to kick off with six wild-card teams, three from the AFC and three from the NFC, facing off against division winners in the postseason. As the No. 5, 6, and 7 seeds, these wild-card teams face an uphill battle as they will be playing on the road and need multiple upsets to secure a home game.
The wild-card format was introduced in 1980 and has since seen 11 wild-card teams play in the Super Bowl, with seven of them emerging as champions. The most recent wild-card team to win the Super Bowl was the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by Tom Brady, who defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55.
The Buccaneers joined the ranks of other wild-card teams, including the 1980 Oakland Raiders, the 1997 Denver Broncos, the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers, the 2007 New York Giants, and the 2010 Green Bay Packers, who have all won the Super Bowl as wild-card teams.
Four other wild-card teams have made it to the Super Bowl but fell short, including the 1975 Dallas Cowboys, the 1985 New England Patriots, the 1992 Buffalo Bills, and the 1999 Tennessee Titans.
As the playoffs approach, all eyes are on the wild-card teams as they aim to replicate the success of previous champions and make a historic run to the Super Bowl.
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