# List of NFL seasons

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. 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).
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, the 1921 title being decided on a controversial tiebreaker, a disputed 1925 title, and the scheduling of an impromptu 1932 indoor playoff game.
| Season | No. of teams | Champion |
| 1920 | 14 | Akron Pros |
| 1921 | 21 | Chicago Staleys |
| 1922 | 18 | Canton Bulldogs |
| 1923 | 20 | Canton Bulldogs |
| 1924 | 18 | Cleveland Bulldogs |
| 1925 | 20 | Chicago Cardinals |
| 1926 | 22 | Frankford Yellow Jackets |
| 1927 | 12 | New York Giants |
| 1928 | 10 | Providence Steam Roller |
| 1929 | 12 | Green Bay Packers |
| 1930 | 11 | Green Bay Packers |
| 1931 | 10 | Green Bay Packers |
| 1932 | 8 | Chicago Bears |
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ The Chicago Staleys defeated the Buffalo All-Americans on a controversial tiebreaker to decide the 1921 league championship.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.

## 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.
| Season | No. of teams | Division/Conference champion | Division/Conference champion | NFL Championship Game | NFL Championship Game | Ref. |
| Season | No. of teams | Eastern Division (1933–1949) American Conference (1950–1952) Eastern Conference (1953–1959) | Western Division (1933–1949) National Conference (1950–1952) Western Conference (1953–1959) | Year | Champion | Ref. |
| 1933 | 10 | New York Giants | Chicago Bears | 1933 | Chicago Bears | |
| 1934 | 11 | New York Giants | Chicago Bears | 1934 | New York Giants | |
| 1935 | 9 | New York Giants | Detroit Lions | 1935 | Detroit Lions | |
| 1936 | 9 | Boston Redskins | Green Bay Packers | 1936 | Green Bay Packers | |
| 1937 | 10 | Washington Redskins | Chicago Bears | 1937 | Washington Redskins | |
| 1938 | 10 | New York Giants | Green Bay Packers | 1938 | New York Giants | |
| 1939 | 10 | New York Giants | Green Bay Packers | 1939 | Green Bay Packers | |
| 1940 | 10 | Washington Redskins | Chicago Bears | 1940 | Chicago Bears | |
| 1941 | 10 | New York Giants | Chicago Bears | 1941 | Chicago Bears | |
| 1942 | 10 | Washington Redskins | Chicago Bears | 1942 | Washington Redskins | |
| 1943 | 8 | Washington Redskins | Chicago Bears | 1943 | Chicago Bears | |
| 1944 | 10 | New York Giants | Green Bay Packers | 1944 | Green Bay Packers | |
| 1945 | 10 | Washington Redskins | Cleveland Rams | 1945 | Cleveland Rams | |
| 1946 | 10 | New York Giants | Chicago Bears | 1946 | Chicago Bears | |
| 1947 | 10 | Philadelphia Eagles | Chicago Cardinals | 1947 | Chicago Cardinals | |
| 1948 | 10 | Philadelphia Eagles | Chicago Cardinals | 1948 | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| 1949 | 10 | Philadelphia Eagles | Los Angeles Rams | 1949 | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| 1950 | 13 | Cleveland Browns | Los Angeles Rams | 1950 | Cleveland Browns | |
| 1951 | 12 | Cleveland Browns | Los Angeles Rams | 1951 | Los Angeles Rams | |
| 1952 | 12 | Cleveland Browns | Detroit Lions | 1952 | Detroit Lions | |
| 1953 | 12 | Cleveland Browns | Detroit Lions | 1953 | Detroit Lions | |
| 1954 | 12 | Cleveland Browns | Detroit Lions | 1954 | Cleveland Browns | |
| 1955 | 12 | Cleveland Browns | Los Angeles Rams | 1955 | Cleveland Browns | |
| 1956 | 12 | New York Giants | Chicago Bears | 1956 | New York Giants | |
| 1957 | 12 | Cleveland Browns | Detroit Lions | 1957 | Detroit Lions | |
| 1958 | 12 | New York Giants | Baltimore Colts | 1958 | Baltimore Colts | |
| 1959 | 12 | New York Giants | Baltimore Colts | 1959 | Baltimore Colts | |
* ↑ The 1941 Chicago Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers in a one-game playoff.
* ↑ The 1943 Washington Redskins defeated the New York Giants in a one-game playoff.
* ↑ The 1947 Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in a one-game playoff.
* ↑ The 1950 Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Giants in a one-game playoff.
* ↑ The 1950 Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears in a one-game playoff.
* ↑ The 1952 Detroit Lions defeated the Los Angeles Rams in a one-game playoff.
* ↑ 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.
| NFL | NFL | NFL | NFL | NFL | NFL | AFL | AFL | AFL | AFL | AFL | AFL | Super Bowl (1966–1969) | Super Bowl (1966–1969) | Ref. |
| Season | No. of teams | Conference champions | Conference champions | NFL Championship Game | NFL Championship Game | Season | No. of teams | Division champions | Division champions | AFL Championship Game | AFL Championship Game | Game | Champion | Ref. |
| Season | No. of teams | Eastern Conference | Western Conference | Year | Champion | Season | No. of teams | Eastern Division | Western Division | Year | Champion | Game | Champion | Ref. |
| 1960 | 13 | Philadelphia Eagles | Green Bay Packers | 1960 | Philadelphia Eagles | 1960 | 8 | Houston Oilers | Los Angeles Chargers | 1960 | Houston Oilers | — | — | |
| 1961 | 14 | New York Giants | Green Bay Packers | 1961 | Green Bay Packers | 1961 | 8 | Houston Oilers | San Diego Chargers | 1961 | Houston Oilers | — | — | |
| 1962 | 14 | New York Giants | Green Bay Packers | 1962 | Green Bay Packers | 1962 | 8 | Houston Oilers | Dallas Texans | 1962 | Dallas Texans | — | — | |
| 1963 | 14 | New York Giants | Chicago Bears | 1963 | Chicago Bears | 1963 | 8 | Boston Patriots | San Diego Chargers | 1963 | San Diego Chargers | — | — | |
| 1964 | 14 | Cleveland Browns | Baltimore Colts | 1964 | Cleveland Browns | 1964 | 8 | Buffalo Bills | San Diego Chargers | 1964 | Buffalo Bills | — | — | |
| 1965 | 14 | Cleveland Browns | Green Bay Packers | 1965 | Green Bay Packers | 1965 | 8 | Buffalo Bills | San Diego Chargers | 1965 | Buffalo Bills | — | — | |
| 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 | |
| 1967 | 16 | Dallas Cowboys | Green Bay Packers | 1967 | Green Bay Packers | 1967 | 9 | Houston Oilers | Oakland Raiders | 1967 | Oakland Raiders | II | Green Bay Packers | |
| 1968 | 16 | Cleveland Browns | Baltimore Colts | 1968 | Baltimore Colts | 1968 | 10 | New York Jets | Oakland Raiders | 1968 | New York Jets | III | New York Jets | |
| 1969 | 16 | Cleveland Browns | Minnesota Vikings | 1969 | Minnesota Vikings | 1969 | 10 | New York Jets | Oakland Raiders | 1969 | Kansas City Chiefs | IV | Kansas City Chiefs | |
* ↑ The 1963 Boston Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills in a one-game playoff for the AFL Eastern Division.
* ↑ The 1965 Green Bay Packers defeated the Baltimore Colts in a one-game playoff for the NFL Western Conference.
* ↑ The 1968 Oakland Raiders defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in a one-game playoff for the AFL Western Division.
* ↑ 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.
| Season | No. of teams | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Super Bowl | Super Bowl | Ref. |
| Season | No. of teams | No. of games | AFC top seed | NFC top seed | Postseason | AFC champion | NFC champion | Game | Champion | Ref. |
| 1970 | 26 | 14 | — | — | 1970–71 | Baltimore Colts | Dallas Cowboys | V | Baltimore Colts | |
| 1971 | 26 | 14 | — | — | 1971–72 | Miami Dolphins | Dallas Cowboys | VI | Dallas Cowboys | |
| 1972 | 26 | 14 | — | — | 1972–73 | Miami Dolphins | Washington Redskins | VII | Miami Dolphins | |
| 1973 | 26 | 14 | — | — | 1973–74 | Miami Dolphins | Minnesota Vikings | VIII | Miami Dolphins | |
| 1974 | 26 | 14 | — | — | 1974–75 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Minnesota Vikings | IX | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
| 1975 | 26 | 14 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Minnesota Vikings | 1975–76 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Dallas Cowboys | X | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
| 1976 | 28 | 14 | Oakland Raiders | Minnesota Vikings | 1976–77 | Oakland Raiders | Minnesota Vikings | XI | Oakland Raiders | |
| 1977 | 28 | 14 | Denver Broncos | Dallas Cowboys | 1977–78 | Denver Broncos | Dallas Cowboys | XII | Dallas Cowboys | |
| 1978 | 28 | 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Los Angeles Rams | 1978–79 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Dallas Cowboys | XIII | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
| 1979 | 28 | 16 | San Diego Chargers | Dallas Cowboys | 1979–80 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Los Angeles Rams | XIV | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
| 1980 | 28 | 16 | San Diego Chargers | Atlanta Falcons | 1980–81 | Oakland Raiders | Philadelphia Eagles | XV | Oakland Raiders | |
| 1981 | 28 | 16 | Cincinnati Bengals | San Francisco 49ers | 1981–82 | Cincinnati Bengals | San Francisco 49ers | XVI | San Francisco 49ers | |
| 1982 | 28 | 9 | Los Angeles Raiders | Washington Redskins | 1982–83 | Miami Dolphins | Washington Redskins | XVII | Washington Redskins | |
| 1983 | 28 | 16 | Los Angeles Raiders | Washington Redskins | 1983–84 | Los Angeles Raiders | Washington Redskins | XVIII | Los Angeles Raiders | |
| 1984 | 28 | 16 | Miami Dolphins | San Francisco 49ers | 1984–85 | Miami Dolphins | San Francisco 49ers | XIX | San Francisco 49ers | |
| 1985 | 28 | 16 | Los Angeles Raiders | Chicago Bears | 1985–86 | New England Patriots | Chicago Bears | XX | Chicago Bears | |
| 1986 | 28 | 16 | Cleveland Browns | New York Giants | 1986–87 | Denver Broncos | New York Giants | XXI | New York Giants | |
| 1987 | 28 | 15 | Denver Broncos | San Francisco 49ers | 1987–88 | Denver Broncos | Washington Redskins | XXII | Washington Redskins | |
| 1988 | 28 | 16 | Cincinnati Bengals | Chicago Bears | 1988–89 | Cincinnati Bengals | San Francisco 49ers | XXIII | San Francisco 49ers | |
| 1989 | 28 | 16 | Denver Broncos | San Francisco 49ers | 1989–90 | Denver Broncos | San Francisco 49ers | XXIV | San Francisco 49ers | |
| 1990 | 28 | 16 | Buffalo Bills | San Francisco 49ers | 1990–91 | Buffalo Bills | New York Giants | XXV | New York Giants | |
| 1991 | 28 | 16 | Buffalo Bills | Washington Redskins | 1991–92 | Buffalo Bills | Washington Redskins | XXVI | Washington Redskins | |
| 1992 | 28 | 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | San Francisco 49ers | 1992–93 | Buffalo Bills | Dallas Cowboys | XXVII | Dallas Cowboys | |
| 1993 | 28 | 16 | Buffalo Bills | Dallas Cowboys | 1993–94 | Buffalo Bills | Dallas Cowboys | XXVIII | Dallas Cowboys | |
| 1994 | 28 | 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | San Francisco 49ers | 1994–95 | San Diego Chargers | San Francisco 49ers | XXIX | San Francisco 49ers | |
| 1995 | 30 | 16 | Kansas City Chiefs | Dallas Cowboys | 1995–96 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Dallas Cowboys | XXX | Dallas Cowboys | |
| 1996 | 30 | 16 | Denver Broncos | Green Bay Packers | 1996–97 | New England Patriots | Green Bay Packers | XXXI | Green Bay Packers | |
| 1997 | 30 | 16 | Kansas City Chiefs | San Francisco 49ers | 1997–98 | Denver Broncos | Green Bay Packers | XXXII | Denver Broncos | |
| 1998 | 30 | 16 | Denver Broncos | Minnesota Vikings | 1998–99 | Denver Broncos | Atlanta Falcons | XXXIII | Denver Broncos | |
| 1999 | 31 | 16 | Jacksonville Jaguars | St. Louis Rams | 1999–2000 | Tennessee Titans | St. Louis Rams | XXXIV | St. Louis Rams | |
| 2000 | 31 | 16 | Tennessee Titans | New York Giants | 2000–01 | Baltimore Ravens | New York Giants | XXXV | Baltimore Ravens | |
| 2001 | 31 | 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | St. Louis Rams | 2001–02 | New England Patriots | St. Louis Rams | XXXVI | New England Patriots | |
| 2002 | 32 | 16 | Oakland Raiders | Philadelphia Eagles | 2002–03 | Oakland Raiders | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | XXXVII | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |
| 2003 | 32 | 16 | New England Patriots | Philadelphia Eagles | 2003–04 | New England Patriots | Carolina Panthers | XXXVIII | New England Patriots | |
| 2004 | 32 | 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Philadelphia Eagles | 2004–05 | New England Patriots | Philadelphia Eagles | XXXIX | New England Patriots | |
| 2005 | 32 | 16 | Indianapolis Colts | Seattle Seahawks | 2005–06 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Seattle Seahawks | XL | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
| 2006 | 32 | 16 | San Diego Chargers | Chicago Bears | 2006–07 | Indianapolis Colts | Chicago Bears | XLI | Indianapolis Colts | |
| 2007 | 32 | 16 | New England Patriots | Dallas Cowboys | 2007–08 | New England Patriots | New York Giants | XLII | New York Giants | |
| 2008 | 32 | 16 | Tennessee Titans | New York Giants | 2008–09 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Arizona Cardinals | XLIII | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
| 2009 | 32 | 16 | Indianapolis Colts | New Orleans Saints | 2009–10 | Indianapolis Colts | New Orleans Saints | XLIV | New Orleans Saints | |
| 2010 | 32 | 16 | New England Patriots | Atlanta Falcons | 2010–11 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Green Bay Packers | XLV | Green Bay Packers | |
| 2011 | 32 | 16 | New England Patriots | Green Bay Packers | 2011–12 | New England Patriots | New York Giants | XLVI | New York Giants | |
| 2012 | 32 | 16 | Denver Broncos | Atlanta Falcons | 2012–13 | Baltimore Ravens | San Francisco 49ers | XLVII | Baltimore Ravens | |
| 2013 | 32 | 16 | Denver Broncos | Seattle Seahawks | 2013–14 | Denver Broncos | Seattle Seahawks | XLVIII | Seattle Seahawks | |
| 2014 | 32 | 16 | New England Patriots | Seattle Seahawks | 2014–15 | New England Patriots | Seattle Seahawks | XLIX | New England Patriots | |
| 2015 | 32 | 16 | Denver Broncos | Carolina Panthers | 2015–16 | Denver Broncos | Carolina Panthers | 50 | Denver Broncos | |
| 2016 | 32 | 16 | New England Patriots | Dallas Cowboys | 2016–17 | New England Patriots | Atlanta Falcons | LI | New England Patriots | |
| 2017 | 32 | 16 | New England Patriots | Philadelphia Eagles | 2017–18 | New England Patriots | Philadelphia Eagles | LII | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| 2018 | 32 | 16 | Kansas City Chiefs | New Orleans Saints | 2018–19 | New England Patriots | Los Angeles Rams | LIII | New England Patriots | |
| 2019 | 32 | 16 | Baltimore Ravens | San Francisco 49ers | 2019–20 | Kansas City Chiefs | San Francisco 49ers | LIV | Kansas City Chiefs | |
| 2020 | 32 | 16 | Kansas City Chiefs | Green Bay Packers | 2020–21 | Kansas City Chiefs | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | LV | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |
| 2021 | 32 | 17 | Tennessee Titans | Green Bay Packers | 2021–22 | Cincinnati Bengals | Los Angeles Rams | LVI | Los Angeles Rams | |
| 2022 | 32 | 17 | Kansas City Chiefs | Philadelphia Eagles | 2022–23 | Kansas City Chiefs | Philadelphia Eagles | LVII | Kansas City Chiefs | |
| 2023 | 32 | 17 | Baltimore Ravens | San Francisco 49ers | 2023–24 | Kansas City Chiefs | San Francisco 49ers | LVIII | Kansas City Chiefs | |
| 2024 | 32 | 17 | Kansas City Chiefs | Detroit Lions | 2024–25 | Kansas City Chiefs | Philadelphia Eagles | LIX | Philadelphia Eagles | |
* 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.
* 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ A player's strike shortened the 1987 regular season to 15 games.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 1990 was the first regular season in which each team was given a bye week.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ Each team was given two bye weeks in 1993 instead on one.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ In the wake of the September 11 attacks in 2001, a number of games were rescheduled.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ Game was officially rendered as Super Bowl 50 in Western Arabic numerals instead of "Super Bowl L" in Roman numerals.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ Despite having the same record as both the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions, the San Francisco 49ers clinched the 2023 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. The current agreement with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London runs through 2027. Germany will host four games between 2022 and 2025, two each in Allianz Arena, Munich and Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt, starting with Munich. The NFL expanded their partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London until 2029. On December 13, 2023, the league announced that an additional international game in 2024 will be held at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo, Brazil. The league plans to hold up to 8 international games beginning in 2025.
| Season | Scheduled division match-ups | Scheduled division match-ups | Scheduled division match-ups | Scheduled division match-ups | Scheduled division match-ups | Scheduled division match-ups | Scheduled division match-ups | Scheduled division match-ups | Scheduled division match-ups | NFL International Series | Super Bowl |
| Season | | AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | NFL International Series | Super Bowl |
| 2025 | AFC | North | East | West | South | West | North | East | South | Games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, 2), and Wembley Stadium (London, 1) Game(s) at Deutsche Bank Park (Frankfurt, 1), and Olympic Stadium (Berlin, 1) Game(s) at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (Madrid, number TBD), Other(s) TBA | Super Bowl LX Levi's Stadium Santa Clara, CA |
| 2025 | NFC | South | North | West | East | North | East | West | South | Games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, 2), and Wembley Stadium (London, 1) Game(s) at Deutsche Bank Park (Frankfurt, 1), and Olympic Stadium (Berlin, 1) Game(s) at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (Madrid, number TBD), Other(s) TBA | Super Bowl LX Levi's Stadium Santa Clara, CA |
| 2025 | 17th Game | NFC East | NFC West | NFC South | NFC North | at AFC East | at AFC West | at AFC South | at AFC North | Games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, 2), and Wembley Stadium (London, 1) Game(s) at Deutsche Bank Park (Frankfurt, 1), and Olympic Stadium (Berlin, 1) Game(s) at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (Madrid, number TBD), Other(s) TBA | Super Bowl LX Levi's Stadium Santa Clara, CA |
| 2026 | AFC | West | South | North | East | South | East | North | West | Game(s) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, number TBD), Game(s) at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne, number TBD), Other(s): TBA | Super Bowl LXI SoFi Stadium Inglewood, CA |
| 2026 | NFC | North | South | East | West | West | South | North | East | Game(s) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, number TBD), Game(s) at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne, number TBD), Other(s): TBA | Super Bowl LXI SoFi Stadium Inglewood, CA |
| 2026 | 17th Game | at NFC West | at NFC East | at NFC North | at NFC South | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | AFC East | Game(s) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, number TBD), Game(s) at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne, number TBD), Other(s): TBA | Super Bowl LXI SoFi Stadium Inglewood, CA |
| 2027 | AFC | South | West | East | North | East | West | South | North | Game(s) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, number TBD), Other(s): TBA | Super Bowl LXII Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, GA |
| 2027 | NFC | East | West | South | North | South | West | East | North | Game(s) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, number TBD), Other(s): TBA | Super Bowl LXII Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, GA |
| 2027 | 17th Game | NFC South | NFC North | NFC West | NFC East | at AFC West | at AFC North | at AFC East | at AFC South | Game(s) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, number TBD), Other(s): TBA | Super Bowl LXII Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, GA |
| Scheduled division match-up | Scheduled division match-up | AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West |