How does the NFL Playoff seeding work?

Question

I understand that the top two teams in each conference earn first round byes but after that how are the final eight teams matched up? Say for instance in the NFC Dallas and Minnesota earn byes with the best records. Seattle is 11-5, Washington is 10-6 but a wild card, New Orleans is 9-7, and the Giants are 9-7 and a wild card, how will these teams be matched up? What's the rule on that? Also, how does the second round get matched up? This has confused me for years.

Answer 1

All the teams that win their divisions go to the playoffs. The two with the best record will get first round byes. The two left over will have to play in the first round. They will play the two teams with the best records who did not win their divisions. In the first round the division winner with the worst record of the two will play the wild card team with the better record of the two wildcard teams. In turn the winner of that game will play the bye team with the best overall record. So if you look at it. Teams 1 and 2 will have a bye. Team 3 will play 6 and Team 4 will play 5. The winner or 3/6 will play 2 and the winner of 4/5 will play Team 1.

I have to edit that. Team 1 will play the worst team that wins in the first round and Team 2 will play the other winner. The team with the best record(Team 1) is supposed to have the easiest route to the SuperBowl.

Answer 2

They are matched up based on standings and division.

For example, this past season, The Packers were # 2 and advanced to the Champ game after beating Seattle. The Giants were # 6 with wild card and because they won the Wild Card game against the Bucs and the Cowboys  in the divisional game, they went on to play the Packers in the NFC Champ. Game.

Based on Rankings of how many games you've won:

#1 seed plays the lowest seed in the conference since they are the best team

# 2 seed plays the second lowest

I know that is confusing but that is the best I could do. It's hard to explain.