With the NFL postseason now underway, it’s always worth looking back to see how the top seed has fared in recent seasons. With the playoffs being a single-elimination tournament, having a bye week and home-field advantage can be the difference between lifting the Lombardi or suffering a humiliating early exit. However, in recent years, the top seed hasn’t always guaranteed success in the playoffs. Let’s take a look at how the top seed has fared in each of the last three postseasons.
2022: Chiefs and Eagles Both Reach Super Bowl
In the 2022 postseason, the top seed in the AFC was the Kansas City Chiefs, while the top seed in the NFC was the Philadelphia Eagles, and for the first time in five years, both sides went on to reach the Super Bowl. Both sides are in the postseason once more this year however, American football betting providers don’t fancy either side, making the former a +1000 underdog and the latter an even bigger +1600 dog.
For the Missouri outfit, they knocked off the Jacksonville Jaguars in the divisional round before defeating their newest rival – the Cincinnati Bengals – despite yet another Joe Burrow masterclass. The Lincoln Financial Field side meanwhile ensured that the Cowboys’ playoff hoodoo continued by defeating them, before taking advantage of the San Francisco 49ers quarterback injury woes in the conference championships. When the two met at State Farm Stadium in Arizona, it was Patrick Mahomes and Co. that rallied to overturn a ten-point halftime deficit to walk out with the Lombardi.
The former Texas Tech star claimed the Big Game MVP award with his performance, and if you’re looking to bet on Super Bowl odds, you can back him at +1000 to repeat the feat once again this term.
The #NFLPlayoffs are set! pic.twitter.com/ZqfPEYLpI7
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2024
2021: Titans and 49ers Both Eliminated in Divisional Round
In the 2021 postseason, the top seed in the AFC was the Tennessee Titans, while the top seed in the NFC was the San Francisco 49ers. Unfortunately for both teams, they were eliminated in their very first game in the divisional round of the playoffs. For the former, they headed into their clash with the Cincinnati Bengals as heavy favorites following a blistering year in which they defeated the likes of the Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills, and the 49ers. However, they hadn’t banked on the brilliance of Joe Burrow and his resurrected Cincy.
In 2020, the drafting of the former Heisman winner revolutionized the fortunes of the Paycor Stadium outfit. They didn’t quite make the playoffs that year, but in 2021, they did defeat the Las Vegas Raiders to secure their first playoff victory in 30 years. They then stunned the Titans at Nissan Stadium thanks to Evan McPherson’s last-gasp field goal. The Niners were also shocked on home turf, losing to their local rival Los Angeles Rams, who would go on to lift the Lombardi on home turf at SoFi Stadium.
2020: Chiefs Lose in Super Bowl, Packers Lose NFC Championship Game
In the 2020 postseason, the top seed in the AFC was once again the Kansas City Chiefs, while the top seed in the NFC was the Green Bay Packers. The Chiefs made good on their top-seed billing as they knocked off an upstart Cleveland Browns side and a Josh Allen-powered Buffalo Bills, both at Arrowhead.
That sent them to the Super Bowl for the second straight year however, they couldn’t repeat their heroics of the previous campaign. They were ultimately routed by Tom Brady and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers and were defeated by 31 points to 9 in their home Raymond James Stadium, losing the Super Bowl.
The Packers also fell to the Buccs, with their defeat coming shockingly at Lambeau Field after entering the contest as a heavy favorite. Despite Aaron Rodgers performing out of his skin all year long, the GOAT that is TB12 proved that there is no other QB on the planet you want on your roster when the going gets tough. He managed to steer his side to their third straight road victory, narrowly pipping the Lambeau Field hosts by 31 points to 26.
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