> At a Glance
> – Seven wild-card squads have captured the Super Bowl since 1980
> – 2020 Buccaneers remain the latest to hoist Lombardi as a No. 5 seed
> – Six wild-card hopefuls enter this postseason across both conferences
> – Why it matters: Another deep run would reinforce parity in the expanded format
Six wild-card entrants open the playoffs on the road this weekend, chasing the rare path from opening-round visitor to Super Bowl 60 champion.
Wild-Card Format Through the Years
The NFL created wild-card berths in 1970, giving one non-division winner per conference a shot at the title. Two more spots arrived in 1980, then a third set in 1990 pushed the field to 12 teams. Realignment in 2002 locked in eight divisions while keeping four wild cards, and 2020 added a seventh seed per conference that forced only the No. 1 seeds to sit out wild-card weekend.
Championship History
Wild-card teams have reached 11 Super Bowls and lifted the trophy seven times.
Wild-Card Champions
| Season | Team | Seed | Super Bowl | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Oakland Raiders | 4 | 15 | 27-10 vs Eagles |
| 1997 | Denver Broncos | 4 | 32 | 31-24 vs Packers |
| 2000 | Baltimore Ravens | 4 | 35 | 34-7 vs Giants |
| 2005 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 40 | 21-10 vs Seahawks |
| 2007 | NY Giants | 5 | 42 | 17-14 vs Patriots |
| 2010 | Green Bay Packers | 6 | 45 | 31-25 vs Steelers |
| 2020 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5 | 55 | 31-9 vs Chiefs |
Tampa Bay’s run remains the gold standard. Tom Brady’s 2020 crew knocked off Washington, New Orleans and top-seeded Green Bay before routing Kansas City on its own Raymond James turf-the first team ever to play and win a Super Bowl at home.
Wild-Card Runners-Up
Four more clubs reached the final game but fell short:
- 1975 Dallas Cowboys (No. 4) – lost 21-17 to Steelers in Super Bowl 10
- 1985 New England Patriots (No. 5) – lost 46-10 to Bears in Super Bowl 20
- 1992 Buffalo Bills (No. 4) – lost 52-17 to Cowboys in Super Bowl 27
- 1999 Tennessee Titans (No. 4) – lost 23-16 to Rams in Super Bowl 34
Current Contenders
This postseason’s wild-card lineup:
AFC
- No. 5 Houston Texans
- No. 6 Buffalo Bills
- No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers
NFC
- No. 5 Los Angeles Rams
- No. 6 San Francisco 49ers
- No. 7 Green Bay Packers
Each will face a division champion on the road in the opening round, the first hurdle toward joining the exclusive list of wild-card champions.
Key Takeaways
- Seven wild-card teams have gone on to win the Super Bowl
- The 2020 Buccaneers are the most recent example, doing it as the No. 5 seed
- Eleven wild-card squads have reached the Super Bowl overall
- Six teams enter this postseason hoping to extend that history
The path is steep, but recent history shows it can be done when the playoffs begin this weekend.
