Four wild-card squads just proved road wins aren’t flukes, and history says a Lombardi Trophy could follow.
At a Glance
- Four of six wild-card teams advanced after road upsets in the Wild Card Round
- The 2020 Buccaneers were the last wild-card team to win the Super Bowl
- Seven wild-card teams have captured the Lombardi Trophy since 1970
- Why it matters: Lower seeds now own a proven path to a championship, raising the stakes for every remaining playoff game
The NFL’s Divisional Round will feature a rare surge of underdog momentum. Four wild-card survivors-Houston, Buffalo, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco-each knocked off a division champion on the road and will stay on the road this weekend.
Texans Aim for Historic First
Houston, seeded fifth in the AFC, visits New England on Saturday. The Texans limited Pittsburgh to six points in a 30-6 rout, earning the franchise’s first postseason victory away from home. A win over the Patriots would send Houston to its first-ever conference championship game.
Bills Chase Repeat Title Berth
Buffalo, the AFC’s sixth seed, heads to Denver for a showdown with the top-seeded Broncos. Quarterback Josh Allen produced two go-ahead touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to outlast Jacksonville 27-24. The Bills have never won a Super Bowl and last reached back-to-back title games in the early 1990s.
Rams Outlast Panthers in NFC
The fifth-seeded Rams travel to Chicago after escaping Carolina 34-31. Matthew Stafford directed two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to stave off the sub-.500 Panthers. Los Angeles hopes to return to the NFC Championship for the first time since the 2018 season.
49ers Renew Rivalry with Seahawks
San Francisco, seeded sixth, visits Seattle for the second time in three weeks. Brock Purdy capped a late game-winning drive to stun defending champion Philadelphia 23-19, keeping the injury-hit 49ers alive. A victory over the rival Seahawks would send San Francisco to its third conference title game in four years.
Wild-Card Format Evolution
The playoff field has grown steadily since the wild-card concept debuted in 1970:
- 1970: One wild-card club per conference joined six division winners
- 1980: A second wild-card was added in each conference
- 1990: A third wild-card expanded the field to 12 teams
- 2002: League realignment created eight divisions but kept 12 total postseason berths
- 2020: A third wild-card per conference arrived, cutting first-round byes to only the No. 1 seeds
Championship History Favors Underdogs
Of the 11 wild-card teams that have reached the Super Bowl, seven left with the Lombardi Trophy.
Wild-card Super Bowl winners
| Year | Team | Seed | Score | Opponent | Super Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Oakland Raiders | 4 | 27-10 | Eagles | 15 |
| 1997 | Denver Broncos | 4 | 31-24 | Packers | 32 |
| 2000 | Baltimore Ravens | 4 | 34-7 | Giants | 35 |
| 2005 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 21-10 | Seahawks | 40 |
| 2007 | New York Giants | 5 | 17-14 | Patriots | 42 |
| 2010 | Green Bay Packers | 6 | 31-25 | Steelers | 45 |
| 2020 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5 | 31-9 | Chiefs | 55 |
Tampa Bay’s run remains the gold standard. As the fifth seed, Tom Brady’s Buccaneers toppled Washington, New Orleans and Green Bay before crushing Kansas City on their own field in Super Bowl 55. They became the first club to win a Super Bowl in its home stadium.
Wild-card Super Bowl losers
| Year | Team | Seed | Score | Opponent | Super Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Dallas Cowboys | 4 | 17-21 | Steelers | 10 |
| 1985 | New England Patriots | 5 | 10-46 | Bears | 20 |
| 1992 | Buffalo Bills | 4 | 17-52 | Cowboys | 27 |
| 1999 | Tennessee Titans | 4 | 16-23 | Rams | 34 |
Road Warriors Face Tough Tests
Each remaining wild-card club must again win away from home to keep championship dreams alive. Recent history shows the path exists: three of the last seven Super Bowls were captured by teams that began the playoffs outside the top two seeds.
The Divisional Round kicks off Saturday. By Sunday night, the field of eight will shrink to four, and at least one wild-card survivor could still be dancing.
