The postseason arrangement for the National Football League’s 2014 season delineated the path to Super Bowl XLIX. Twelve teams, representing both the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC), qualified based on their regular season records. The top four teams from each conference, consisting of the four division winners, earned automatic berths. The remaining two spots in each conference were awarded to the teams with the best records that did not win their respective divisions, designated as Wild Card teams.
The structure played a pivotal role in determining the ultimate champion. It provided a framework for competition, allowing teams to vie for the league title. Understanding this arrangement is essential for appreciating the history of the sport and the narratives that unfolded that season. It also offers a glimpse into the strategic considerations teams faced as they navigated the postseason, from securing favorable seeding to game planning against specific opponents. The outcomes of these games shaped legacies and contributed to the broader narrative of the NFL’s history.