The NFL postseason begins with six wild-card squads aiming to crash Super Bowl 60. History says it can be done-seven wild-card teams have already hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
> At a Glance
> – Six wild-card teams enter the 2024 playoffs: Texans, Bills, Chargers, Rams, 49ers, Packers
> – Seven wild-card teams have won the Super Bowl, most recently the 2020 Buccaneers
> – 11 wild-card teams have reached the Super Bowl since the format began in 1970
> – Why it matters: A wild-card champion would join an exclusive club and reshape the playoff narrative
Wild cards have shocked the league before. The 2020 Buccaneers, seeded fifth, routed Kansas City 31-9 in Super Bowl 55. Tom Brady’s squad became the first club to win it all on its home field.
Wild-Card Winners: The Exclusive List
Only seven non-division champs have ever taken the title:
- 1980 Raiders – 27-10 over Eagles in Super Bowl 15
- 1997 Broncos – 31-24 over Packers in Super Bowl 32
- 2000 Ravens – 34-7 over Giants in Super Bowl 35
- 2005 Steelers – 21-10 over Seahawks in Super Bowl 40
- 2007 Giants – 17-14 over Patriots in Super Bowl 42
- 2010 Packers – 31-25 over Steelers in Super Bowl 45
- 2020 Buccaneers – 31-9 over Chiefs in Super Bowl 55
The Format’s Evolution
The wild card debuted in 1970 with one extra berth per conference. Expansions followed:
- 1980 – second wild card added (12-team field)
- 1990 – third wild card added (12-team field)
- 2002 – realignment to eight divisions (12-team field)
- 2020 – third wild card per conference (14-team field, only No. 1 seeds earn byes)
Near-Misses: Four Wild Cards Fell Short
Eleven wild-card teams have reached the Super Bowl; four left empty-handed:
- 1975 Cowboys – 21-17 to Steelers in Super Bowl 10
- 1985 Patriots – 46-10 to Bears in Super Bowl 20
- 1992 Bills – 52-17 to Cowboys in Super Bowl 27
- 1999 Titans – 23-16 to Rams in Super Bowl 34
Current Contenders
This year’s wild-card lineup:
- AFC: No. 5 Texans, No. 6 Bills, No. 7 Chargers
- NFC: No. 5 Rams, No. 6 49ers, No. 7 Packers
All six open on the road against division champions.
Key Takeaways
- Seven wild-card teams have already won the Super Bowl
- The 2020 Buccaneers are the most recent example
- The playoff field expanded to 14 teams in 2020, adding a third wild card per conference
- This season, six wild cards will try to extend the underdog legacy
Wild-card weekend kicks off the chase. History says at least one underdog will outlast the rest and give the powerhouses everything they can handle.
