List of National Football League seasons

Last updated

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league in the United States and the highest professional level of American football in the world. [1] It was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before adopting its current name for the 1922 season. After initially determining champions through end-of-season standings, a playoff system was implemented in 1933 that culminated with the NFL Championship Game. Following an agreement to merge the NFL with the rival American Football League (AFL) in 1966, the Super Bowl was first held in 1967 to determine a champion between the best teams from the two leagues and has remained as the final game of each NFL season since the merger was completed in 1970. After the merger, all AFL Championship Games and records were included in NFL record books, and the teams have been divided between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). [2]

Contents

Since 2002, the league has consisted of 32 teams based across the United States. Each NFL season since 2021 has started with a three-week preseason in August, followed by the 18-week regular season which runs from early September to early January, with each team playing 17 games and having one bye week. Following the conclusion of the regular season, seven teams from each conference (four division winners and three wild card teams) advance to the playoffs, a single-elimination tournament that culminates in the Super Bowl, which is contested in February and is played between the AFC and NFC conference champions.

Early years (1920–1932)

Early championships between 1920 and 1932 were awarded to the team with the best won-lost record, initially rather haphazardly, as some teams played more or fewer games than others, or scheduled games against non-league, amateur or collegiate teams; this led to the 1920 title being determined during a league meeting after the season, [3] the 1921 title being decided on a controversial tiebreaker, [4] a disputed 1925 title, [5] and the scheduling of an impromptu 1932 indoor playoff game. [6]

SeasonNo. of
teams		ChampionRef.
1920 14 Akron Pros [lower-alpha 1] [7]
1921 21 Chicago Staleys [lower-alpha 2] [8]
1922 18 Canton Bulldogs [9]
1923 20 Canton Bulldogs [10]
1924 18 Cleveland Bulldogs [11]
1925 20 Chicago Cardinals [lower-alpha 3] [12]
1926 22 Frankford Yellow Jackets [13]
1927 12 New York Giants [14]
1928 10 Providence Steam Roller [15]
1929 12 Green Bay Packers [16]
1930 11 Green Bay Packers [17]
1931 10 Green Bay Packers [18]
1932 8 Chicago Bears [lower-alpha 4] [19]
  1. ↑ No official standings were recorded for the 1920 season and teams played games against opponents outside of the league. The championship was awarded to Akron Pros during the league meeting on April 30, 1921. [3]
  2. ↑ The Chicago Staleys defeated the Buffalo All-Americans on a controversial tiebreaker to decide the 1921 league championship. [4]
  3. ↑ The Chicago Cardinals were awarded the 1925 championship controversially because the Pottsville Maroons had been suspended from the NFL for playing an exhibition game against a group of Notre Dame All-Stars. [5]
  4. ↑ The Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans finished with identical win–loss records, tying for first place in the 1932 season. To solve the tie, a playoff game was held between the two, counting towards the regular-season total. Chicago won the game and the championship while Portsmouth's loss dropped them to third place, behind the Green Bay Packers. [6]

1933–1959

In 1933, the teams were divided between the Eastern Division and Western Division. This became the American and National conferences in 1950 after absorbing the rival All-America Football Conference (AAFC), then the Eastern and Western conferences in 1953. The two division/conference regular season champions then played in the NFL Championship Game. If two teams tied for the division/conference championship at the end of the regular season, then a one-game playoff was played to determine who would advance to the NFL Championship Game. [20] [21]

SeasonNo. of
teams		Division/Conference championNFL Championship GameRef.
Eastern Division (1933–1949)
American Conference (1950–1952)
Eastern Conference (1953–1959)		Western Division (1933–1949)
National Conference (1950–1952)
Western Conference (1953–1959)		YearChampion
1933 10 New York Giants Chicago Bears 1933 Chicago Bears [22]
1934 11 New York Giants Chicago Bears 1934 New York Giants [23]
1935 9 New York Giants Detroit Lions 1935 Detroit Lions [24]
1936 9 Boston Redskins Green Bay Packers 1936 Green Bay Packers [25]
1937 10 Washington Redskins Chicago Bears 1937 Washington Redskins [26]
1938 10 New York Giants Green Bay Packers 1938 New York Giants [27]
1939 10 New York Giants Green Bay Packers 1939 Green Bay Packers [28]
1940 10 Washington Redskins Chicago Bears 1940 Chicago Bears [29]
1941 10 New York Giants Chicago Bears [lower-alpha 1] 1941 Chicago Bears [30]
1942 10 Washington Redskins Chicago Bears 1942 Washington Redskins [31]
1943 8 Washington Redskins [lower-alpha 2] Chicago Bears 1943 Chicago Bears [32]
1944 10 New York Giants Green Bay Packers 1944 Green Bay Packers [33]
1945 10 Washington Redskins Cleveland Rams 1945 Cleveland Rams [34]
1946 10 New York Giants Chicago Bears 1946 Chicago Bears [35]
1947 10 Philadelphia Eagles [lower-alpha 3] Chicago Cardinals 1947 Chicago Cardinals [36]
1948 10 Philadelphia Eagles Chicago Cardinals 1948 Philadelphia Eagles [37]
1949 10 Philadelphia Eagles Los Angeles Rams 1949 Philadelphia Eagles [38]
1950 13 Cleveland Browns [lower-alpha 4] Los Angeles Rams [lower-alpha 5] 1950 Cleveland Browns [39]
1951 12 Cleveland Browns Los Angeles Rams 1951 Los Angeles Rams [40]
1952 12 Cleveland Browns Detroit Lions [lower-alpha 6] 1952 Detroit Lions [41]
1953 12 Cleveland Browns Detroit Lions 1953 Detroit Lions [42]
1954 12 Cleveland Browns Detroit Lions 1954 Cleveland Browns [43]
1955 12 Cleveland Browns Los Angeles Rams 1955 Cleveland Browns [44]
1956 12 New York Giants Chicago Bears 1956 New York Giants [45]
1957 12 Cleveland Browns Detroit Lions [lower-alpha 7] 1957 Detroit Lions [46]
1958 12 New York Giants Baltimore Colts 1958 Baltimore Colts [47]
1959 12 New York Giants Baltimore Colts 1959 Baltimore Colts [48]
  1. ↑ The 1941 Chicago Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers in a one-game playoff.
  2. ↑ The 1943 Washington Redskins defeated the New York Giants in a one-game playoff.
  3. ↑ The 1947 Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in a one-game playoff.
  4. ↑ The 1950 Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Giants in a one-game playoff.
  5. ↑ The 1950 Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears in a one-game playoff.
  6. ↑ The 1952 Detroit Lions defeated the Los Angeles Rams in a one-game playoff.
  7. ↑ The 1957 Detroit Lions defeated the San Francisco 49ers in a one-game playoff.

War with the AFL (1960–1969)

The rival American Football League (AFL) began play in 1960 with its own Eastern and Western divisions and AFL Championship Game. Following an agreement to merge the NFL with AFL, the Super Bowl was first held at the conclusion of the 1966 season to determine a champion between the best teams from the two leagues. The NFL then established a four-team postseason tournament in 1967, and the AFL did the same in 1969. [49]

NFLAFLSuper Bowl
(1966–1969)		Ref.
SeasonNo. of
teams		Conference championsNFL Championship GameSeasonNo. of
teams		Division championsAFL Championship GameGameChampion
Eastern
Conference		Western
Conference		YearChampionEastern
Division		Western
Division		YearChampion
1960 13 Philadelphia Eagles Green Bay Packers 1960 Philadelphia Eagles 1960 8 Houston Oilers Los Angeles Chargers 1960 Houston Oilers — [50] [51]
1961 14 New York Giants Green Bay Packers 1961 Green Bay Packers 1961 8 Houston Oilers San Diego Chargers 1961 Houston Oilers [52] [53]
1962 14 New York Giants Green Bay Packers 1962 Green Bay Packers 1962 8 Houston Oilers Dallas Texans 1962 Dallas Texans [54] [55]
1963 14 New York Giants Chicago Bears 1963 Chicago Bears 1963 8 Boston Patriots [lower-alpha 1] San Diego Chargers 1963 San Diego Chargers [56] [57]
1964 14 Cleveland Browns Baltimore Colts 1964 Cleveland Browns 1964 8 Buffalo Bills San Diego Chargers 1964 Buffalo Bills [58] [59]
1965 14 Cleveland Browns Green Bay Packers [lower-alpha 2] 1965 Green Bay Packers 1965 8 Buffalo Bills San Diego Chargers 1965 Buffalo Bills [60] [61]
1966 15 Dallas Cowboys Green Bay Packers 1966 Green Bay Packers 1966 9 Buffalo Bills Kansas City Chiefs 1966 Kansas City Chiefs I Green Bay Packers [62] [63]
1967 16 Dallas Cowboys Green Bay Packers 1967 Green Bay Packers 1967 9 Houston Oilers Oakland Raiders 1967 Oakland Raiders II Green Bay Packers [64] [65]
1968 16 Cleveland Browns Baltimore Colts 1968 Baltimore Colts 1968 10 New York Jets Oakland Raiders [lower-alpha 3] 1968 New York Jets III New York Jets [66] [67]
1969 16 Cleveland Browns Minnesota Vikings 1969 Minnesota Vikings 1969 10 New York Jets [lower-alpha 4] Oakland Raiders 1969 Kansas City Chiefs IV Kansas City Chiefs [68] [69]
  1. ↑ The 1963 Boston Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills in a one-game playoff for the AFL Eastern Division.
  2. ↑ The 1965 Green Bay Packers defeated the Baltimore Colts in a one-game playoff for the NFL Western Conference.
  3. ↑ The 1968 Oakland Raiders defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in a one-game playoff for the AFL Western Division.
  4. ↑ The New York Jets were defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the expanded four-team 1969 AFL playoffs.

Modern era (1970–present)

The AFL–NFL merger between the two leagues was completed before the 1970 season. The teams were divided between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The two conference playoff champions then played in the Super Bowl to determine the NFL champion. [70]

SeasonNo. of
teams		Regular seasonPlayoffsSuper BowlRef.
No. of
games		AFC top seedNFC top seedPostseasonAFC championNFC championGameChampion
1970 2614— [lower-alpha 1] — [lower-alpha 1] 1970–71 Baltimore Colts Dallas Cowboys V Baltimore Colts [71]
1971 2614— [lower-alpha 1] — [lower-alpha 1] 1971–72 Miami Dolphins Dallas Cowboys VI Dallas Cowboys [72]
1972 2614— [lower-alpha 1] — [lower-alpha 1] 1972–73 Miami Dolphins Washington Redskins VII Miami Dolphins [73]
1973 2614— [lower-alpha 1] — [lower-alpha 1] 1973–74 Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings VIII Miami Dolphins [74]
1974 2614— [lower-alpha 1] — [lower-alpha 1] 1974–75 Pittsburgh Steelers Minnesota Vikings IX Pittsburgh Steelers [75]
1975 2614 Pittsburgh Steelers [lower-alpha 2] Minnesota Vikings [lower-alpha 3] 1975–76 Pittsburgh Steelers Dallas Cowboys X Pittsburgh Steelers [76]
1976 2814 Oakland Raiders Minnesota Vikings 1976–77 Oakland Raiders Minnesota Vikings XI Oakland Raiders [77]
1977 2814 Denver Broncos [lower-alpha 2] Dallas Cowboys 1977–78 Denver Broncos Dallas Cowboys XII Dallas Cowboys [78]
1978 2816 Pittsburgh Steelers [lower-alpha 2] Los Angeles Rams [lower-alpha 2] [lower-alpha 4] 1978–79 Pittsburgh Steelers Dallas Cowboys XIII Pittsburgh Steelers [79]
1979 2816 San Diego Chargers [lower-alpha 5] Dallas Cowboys [lower-alpha 2] [lower-alpha 6] 1979–80 Pittsburgh Steelers Los Angeles Rams XIV Pittsburgh Steelers [80]
1980 2816 San Diego Chargers [lower-alpha 2] [lower-alpha 7] Atlanta Falcons [lower-alpha 8] 1980–81 Oakland Raiders Philadelphia Eagles XV Oakland Raiders [81]
1981 2816 Cincinnati Bengals San Francisco 49ers 1981–82 Cincinnati Bengals San Francisco 49ers XVI San Francisco 49ers [82]
1982 289 [lower-alpha 9] Los Angeles Raiders Washington Redskins 1982–83 Miami Dolphins Washington Redskins XVII Washington Redskins [83]
1983 2816 Los Angeles Raiders [lower-alpha 2] [lower-alpha 10] Washington Redskins 1983–84 Los Angeles Raiders Washington Redskins XVIII Los Angeles Raiders [84]
1984 2816 Miami Dolphins San Francisco 49ers 1984–85 Miami Dolphins San Francisco 49ers XIX San Francisco 49ers [85]
1985 2816 Los Angeles Raiders [lower-alpha 11] Chicago Bears 1985–86 New England Patriots Chicago Bears XX Chicago Bears [86]
1986 2816 Cleveland Browns New York Giants [lower-alpha 2] [lower-alpha 12] 1986–87 Denver Broncos New York Giants XXI New York Giants [87]
1987 2815 [lower-alpha 13] Denver Broncos San Francisco 49ers 1987–88 Denver Broncos Washington Redskins XXII Washington Redskins [88]
1988 2816 Cincinnati Bengals [lower-alpha 2] [lower-alpha 14] Chicago Bears [lower-alpha 2] 1988–89 Cincinnati Bengals San Francisco 49ers XXIII San Francisco 49ers [89]
1989 2816 Denver Broncos San Francisco 49ers [lower-alpha 2] 1989–90 Denver Broncos San Francisco 49ers XXIV San Francisco 49ers [90]
1990 2816 [lower-alpha 15] Buffalo Bills San Francisco 49ers 1990–91 Buffalo Bills New York Giants XXV New York Giants [91]
1991 2816 Buffalo Bills Washington Redskins 1991–91 Buffalo Bills Washington Redskins XXVI Washington Redskins [92]
1992 2816 Pittsburgh Steelers [lower-alpha 16] San Francisco 49ers 1992–93 Buffalo Bills Dallas Cowboys XXVII Dallas Cowboys [93]
1993 2816 [lower-alpha 17] Buffalo Bills [lower-alpha 18] Dallas Cowboys 1993–94 Buffalo Bills Dallas Cowboys XXVIII Dallas Cowboys [94]
1994 2816 Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers 1994–95 San Diego Chargers San Francisco 49ers XXIX San Francisco 49ers [95]
1995 3016 Kansas City Chiefs Dallas Cowboys 1995–96 Pittsburgh Steelers Dallas Cowboys XXX Dallas Cowboys [96]
1996 3016 Denver Broncos Green Bay Packers 1996–97 New England Patriots Green Bay Packers XXXI Green Bay Packers [97]
1997 3016 Kansas City Chiefs San Francisco 49ers [lower-alpha 19] 1997–98 Denver Broncos Green Bay Packers XXXII Denver Broncos [98]
1998 3016 Denver Broncos Minnesota Vikings 1998–99 Denver Broncos Atlanta Falcons XXXIII Denver Broncos [99]
1999 3116 Jacksonville Jaguars St. Louis Rams 1999–2000 Tennessee Titans St. Louis Rams XXXIV St. Louis Rams [100]
2000 3116 Tennessee Titans New York Giants 2000–01 Baltimore Ravens New York Giants XXXV Baltimore Ravens [101]
2001 3116 [lower-alpha 20] Pittsburgh Steelers St. Louis Rams 2001–02 New England Patriots St. Louis Rams XXXVI New England Patriots [102]
2002 3216 Oakland Raiders [lower-alpha 21] Philadelphia Eagles [lower-alpha 22] 2002–03 Oakland Raiders Tampa Bay Buccaneers XXXVII Tampa Bay Buccaneers [103]
2003 3216 New England Patriots Philadelphia Eagles [lower-alpha 23] 2003–04 New England Patriots Carolina Panthers XXXVIII New England Patriots [104]
2004 3216 Pittsburgh Steelers Philadelphia Eagles 2004–05 New England Patriots Philadelphia Eagles XXXIX New England Patriots [105]
2005 3216 Indianapolis Colts Seattle Seahawks 2005–06 Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks XL Pittsburgh Steelers [106]
2006 3216 San Diego Chargers Chicago Bears 2006–07 Indianapolis Colts Chicago Bears XLI Indianapolis Colts [107]
2007 3216 New England Patriots Dallas Cowboys [lower-alpha 24] 2007–08 New England Patriots New York Giants XLII New York Giants [108]
2008 3216 Tennessee Titans New York Giants [lower-alpha 25] 2008–09 Pittsburgh Steelers Arizona Cardinals XLIII Pittsburgh Steelers [109]
2009 3216 Indianapolis Colts New Orleans Saints 2009–10 Indianapolis Colts New Orleans Saints XLIV New Orleans Saints [110]
2010 3216 New England Patriots Atlanta Falcons 2010–11 Pittsburgh Steelers Green Bay Packers XLV Green Bay Packers [111]
2011 3216 New England Patriots Green Bay Packers 2011–12 New England Patriots New York Giants XLVI New York Giants [112]
2012 3216 Denver Broncos Atlanta Falcons 2012–13 Baltimore Ravens San Francisco 49ers XLVII Baltimore Ravens [113]
2013 3216 Denver Broncos Seattle Seahawks 2013–14 Denver Broncos Seattle Seahawks XLVIII Seattle Seahawks [114]
2014 3216 New England Patriots [lower-alpha 26] Seattle Seahawks [lower-alpha 27] 2014–15 New England Patriots Seattle Seahawks XLIX New England Patriots [115]
2015 3216 Denver Broncos [lower-alpha 28] Carolina Panthers 2015–16 Denver Broncos Carolina Panthers 50 [lower-alpha 29] Denver Broncos [116]
2016 3216 New England Patriots Dallas Cowboys 2016–17 New England Patriots Atlanta Falcons LI New England Patriots [117]
2017 3216 New England Patriots [lower-alpha 30] Philadelphia Eagles [lower-alpha 31] 2017–18 New England Patriots Philadelphia Eagles LII Philadelphia Eagles [118]
2018 3216 Kansas City Chiefs [lower-alpha 32] New Orleans Saints 2018–19 New England Patriots Los Angeles Rams LIII New England Patriots [119]
2019 3216 Baltimore Ravens San Francisco 49ers [lower-alpha 33] 2019–20 Kansas City Chiefs San Francisco 49ers LIV Kansas City Chiefs [120]
2020 3216 Kansas City Chiefs Green Bay Packers 2020–21 Kansas City Chiefs Tampa Bay Buccaneers LV Tampa Bay Buccaneers [121]
2021 3217 Tennessee Titans [lower-alpha 34] Green Bay Packers [lower-alpha 35] 2021–22 Cincinnati Bengals Los Angeles Rams LVI Los Angeles Rams [122]
2022 3217 Kansas City Chiefs Philadelphia Eagles 2022–23 Kansas City Chiefs Philadelphia Eagles LVII Kansas City Chiefs [123]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Prior to 1975, there were no official seeds, because the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly rotation of division winners instead of regular season records.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 This conference top seed hosted the third-seeded team in the divisional playoff round rather than the last-seeded wild card team because, prior to 1990, two teams from the same division could not meet during this postseason round.
  3. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Los Angeles Rams, the Minnesota Vikings clinched the 1975 NFC top seed by winning the point rating system tiebreaker.
  4. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles Rams clinched the 1978 NFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
  5. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Pittsburgh Steelers, the San Diego Chargers clinched the 1979 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
  6. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys clinched the 1979 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
  7. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, the San Diego Chargers clinched the 1980 AFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
  8. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Philadelphia Eagles, the Atlanta Falcons clinched the 1980 NFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
  9. ↑ A player's strike shortened the 1982 regular season to 9 games, the divisions were temporarily suspended, and eight teams from each conference qualified for a special 16-team playoff tournament.
  10. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Miami Dolphins, the Los Angeles Raiders clinched the 1983 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
  11. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Miami Dolphins, the Los Angeles Raiders clinched the 1985 AFC top seed by virtue of having a better record against common opponents.
  12. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Chicago Bears, the New York Giants clinched the 1986 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
  13. ↑ A player's strike shortened the 1987 regular season to 15 games.
  14. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Buffalo Bills, the Cincinnati Bengals clinched the 1988 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
  15. ↑ 1990 was the first regular season in which each team was given a bye week.
  16. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers, the Pittsburgh Steelers clinched the 1992 AFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
  17. ↑ Each team was given two bye weeks in 1993 instead on one.
  18. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Houston Oilers, the Buffalo Bills clinched the 1993 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
  19. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Green Bay Packers, the San Francisco 49ers clinched the 1997 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
  20. ↑ In the wake of the September 11 attacks in 2001, a number of games were re-scheduled.
  21. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Tennessee Titans, the Oakland Raiders clinched the 2002 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
  22. ↑ Despite having the same record as both the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the 2002 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
  23. ↑ Despite having the same record as the St. Louis Rams, the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the 2003 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
  24. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys clinched the 2007 NFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
  25. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Carolina Panthers, the New York Giants clinched the 2008 NFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
  26. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Denver Broncos, the New England Patriots clinched the 2014 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
  27. ↑ Despite having the same record as both the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks clinched the 2014 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
  28. ↑ Despite having the same record as both the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots, the Denver Broncos clinched the 2015 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season games against both teams.
  29. ↑ Game was officially rendered as Super Bowl 50 in Arabic numerals instead of "Super Bowl L" in Roman numerals.
  30. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots clinched the 2017 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
  31. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Minnesota Vikings, the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the 2017 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better record against common opponents.
  32. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Los Angeles Chargers, the Kansas City Chiefs clinched the 2018 AFC top seed by virtue of having a better division record.
  33. ↑ Despite having the same record as both the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints, the San Francisco 49ers clinched the 2019 NFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season games against both teams.
  34. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Kansas City Chiefs, the Tennessee Titans clinched the 2021 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
  35. ↑ Despite having the same record as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Green Bay Packers clinched the 2021 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.

Future seasons

Listed below is the current schedule of division match-ups for the next few upcoming regular seasons, based on the three-year intra-conference and four-year inter-conference rotations in place since 2021. In each year, besides the home and away games against their three division rivals, all four teams in each division listed at the top will play one game against all four teams in both of the divisions to which it has been assigned — one from the AFC, the other from the NFC. Each team will also play an additional inter-conference "17th game" from another division based on the prior season's standings, with the AFC team hosting it in odd years and the NFC team hosting it in even years. This table also lists the sites of the regular season games that are planned to be held outside the United States as part of the NFL International Series, as well as the sites and US TV networks of the corresponding Super Bowls.

Current listing of International Series games are based on extant contracts. The league stated in 2017 that it was using "inventory management" to wait until current agreements expire before potentially expanding the series, particularly into Germany. [124] The current agreement with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London runs through 2027. [125] Germany will host four games between 2022 and 2025, two each in Allianz Arena, Munich and Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt, starting with Munich. [126]

SeasonScheduled division match-ups [127] NFL International Series [128] [129] Super Bowl
AFC East AFC North AFC South AFC West NFC East NFC North NFC South NFC West
2023 AFC West South North East East West South North
NFC East West South North West South North East
17th Game NFC South NFC North NFC West NFC East at AFC West at AFC North at AFC East at AFC South
2024 AFC South West East North North South West East
NFC West East North South South West East North
17th Gameat NFC North at NFC South at NFC East at NFC West AFC South AFC East AFC North AFC West
2025 AFC North East West South West North East South
NFC South North West East North East West South
17th Game NFC East NFC West NFC South NFC North at AFC East at AFC West at AFC South at AFC North

See also

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References

General
Specific
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  4. 1 2 Snyder, Gib (January 6, 2012). "Buffalo: A city cursed with bad sports luck". The Observer . Ogden Newspapers. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Nelson, Robert (January 11, 2007). "The Curse". Phoenix New Times . Archived from the original on October 19, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Campbell, Rich (December 9, 2019). "The 1932 NFL championship. Indoors at Chicago Stadium. How one of the strangest — and most influential — games in Bears history changed the league". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on January 13, 2022.
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  8. ↑ "1921 APFA Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  9. ↑ "1922 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  10. ↑ "1923 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  11. ↑ "1924 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  12. ↑ "1925 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  13. ↑ "1926 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  14. ↑ "1927 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  15. ↑ "1928 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  16. ↑ "1929 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  17. ↑ "1930 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  18. ↑ "1931 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  19. ↑ "1932 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  20. ↑ Lyons, Robert S. (2010). On Any Given Sunday, A Life of Bert Bell. Temple University Press. p. 50. ISBN   978-1-59213-731-2.
  21. ↑ 2021 NFL Record & Fact Book, pp. 351–353.
  22. ↑ "1933 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  23. ↑ "1934 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  24. ↑ "1935 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  25. ↑ "1936 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  26. ↑ "1937 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  27. ↑ "1938 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  28. ↑ "1939 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  29. ↑ "1940 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  30. ↑ "1941 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  31. ↑ "1942 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  32. ↑ "1943 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  33. ↑ "1944 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  34. ↑ "1945 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  35. ↑ "1946 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  36. ↑ "1947 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  37. ↑ "1948 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  38. ↑ "1949 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  39. ↑ "1950 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  40. ↑ "1951 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  41. ↑ "1952 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  42. ↑ "1953 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  43. ↑ "1954 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  44. ↑ "1955 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  45. ↑ "1956 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  46. ↑ "1957 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  47. ↑ "1958 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  48. ↑ "1959 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  49. ↑ 2021 NFL Record & Fact Book, pp. 354–356.
  50. ↑ "1960 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  51. ↑ "1960 AFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  52. ↑ "1961 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  53. ↑ "1961 AFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  54. ↑ "1962 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  55. ↑ "1962 AFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  56. ↑ "1963 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  57. ↑ "1963 AFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  58. ↑ "1964 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  59. ↑ "1964 AFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  60. ↑ "1965 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  61. ↑ "1965 AFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  62. ↑ "1966 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  63. ↑ "1966 AFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  64. ↑ "1967 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  65. ↑ "1967 AFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  66. ↑ "1968 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  67. ↑ "1968 AFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  68. ↑ "1969 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  69. ↑ "1969 AFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  70. ↑ 2021 NFL Record & Fact Book, pp. 356.
  71. ↑ "1970 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  72. ↑ "1971 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  73. ↑ "1972 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  74. ↑ "1973 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  75. ↑ "1974 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  76. ↑ "1975 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  77. ↑ "1976 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  78. ↑ "1977 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  79. ↑ "1978 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  80. ↑ "1979 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  81. ↑ "1980 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  82. ↑ "1981 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  83. ↑ "1982 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  84. ↑ "1983 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  85. ↑ "1984 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  86. ↑ "1985 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  87. ↑ "1986 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  88. ↑ "1987 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  89. ↑ "1988 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  90. ↑ "1989 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  91. ↑ "1990 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  92. ↑ "1991 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  93. ↑ "1992 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  94. ↑ "1993 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  95. ↑ "1994 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  96. ↑ "1995 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  97. ↑ "1996 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  98. ↑ "1997 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  99. ↑ "1998 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  100. ↑ "1999 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  101. ↑ "2000 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  102. ↑ "2001 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  103. ↑ "2002 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  104. ↑ "2003 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  105. ↑ "2004 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  106. ↑ "2005 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  107. ↑ "2006 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  108. ↑ "2007 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  109. ↑ "2008 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  110. ↑ "2009 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  111. ↑ "2010 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  112. ↑ "2011 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  113. ↑ "2012 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  114. ↑ "2013 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  115. ↑ "2014 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  116. ↑ "2015 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  117. ↑ "2016 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  118. ↑ "2017 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  119. ↑ "2018 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  120. ↑ "2019 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  121. ↑ "2020 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  122. ↑ "2021 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  123. ↑ "2022 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  124. ↑ Breer, Albert (September 21, 2017). "Game Plan: NFL Believes London is Ready for Team; 2022 Target is Doable". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  125. ↑ "Tottenham Hotspur will host NFL matches at new stadium". BBC Sport . July 8, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  126. ↑ "Munich to host first-ever regular-season NFL game in Germany during 2022 season; Frankfurt also to host future games". NFL.com. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  127. ↑ 2022 NFL Record & Fact Book, pp. 12.
  128. ↑ Wilson, Ryan (July 8, 2015). "NFL, Tottenham Hotspur agree on 10-year partnership for NFL games". CBS Sports . Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  129. ↑ "NFL extends deal to play games at Wembley through 2020". Associated Press. October 22, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
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