<P> NFL postseason history can be traced to the first NFL Championship Game in 1933 , though in the early years , qualification for the game was based solely on regular season records . From 1933 to 1966 , the NFL postseason generally only consisted of the NFL Championship Game , pitting the league 's two division winners ( pending any one - game playoff matches that needed to be held to break ties in the division standings ) . The NFL playoffs then expanded in 1967 , when four teams qualified for the tournament . When the league merged with the American Football League ( AFL ) in 1970 , the playoffs expanded to eight teams . The playoffs were expanded to 10 teams in 1978 and 12 teams since 1990 . </P>
<P> NFL postseason history can be traced to the first NFL Championship Game in 1933 , though in the early years , qualification for the game was based solely on regular season records . From 1933 to 1966 , the NFL postseason generally only consisted of the NFL Championship Game , pitting the league 's two division winners ( pending any one - game playoff matches that needed to be held to break ties in the division standings ) . The NFL playoffs then expanded in 1967 , when four teams qualified for the tournament . When the league merged with the American Football League ( AFL ) in 1970 , the playoffs expanded to eight teams . The playoffs were expanded to 10 teams in 1978 and 12 teams since 1990 . </P>
number of nfl teams that make the playoffs
number of nfl teams that make the playoffs
12
12