2012 NFL Playoffs Schedule, Facts and Betting Odds

The NFL playoffs are held at the end of every 16 game regular seasons, and are single-elimination games. These games are played to determine the overall NFL champions, where six teams from each of the leagues qualify and play. A tie breaking procedure is used whenever there are equal records.

» January 7th-8th, 2011 Sat & Sun - AFC and NFC Wild Card Games, featured on CBS, NBC, and FOX.

» January 14th-15th, 2011 Sat & Sun - AFC and NFC Divisional Games, featured on CBS, and FOX.

» January 22nd, 2011 Sunday - AFC vs. NFC Championship Game, featured on CBS, and FOX.

» January 29th, 2011 Sunday - Pro Bowl Game, Honolulu, Hiwaii, featured on NBC.

» February 5th, 2011 Sunday - Super Bowl XLVI (46), Indianpolis, Indiana, featured on NBC.

Must See Odds: Follow the odds change by week on the Super Bowl XLVI betting odds week by week trend page.

NFL Printable 2011/12 Blank Bracket

During the early years of the NFL, there was no arranged schedule of the games and these were merely decided on by a vote of team owners during the annual owners’ meeting. During 1924-1932, those teams that had the best percentages during the games were awarded the championshi.

In 1933, the National Football League was divided into two conferences due to the rising popularity of the impromptu championship games. Dates and venues of each championship weren’t known until the season’s last game, and it resulted in delaying the season’s end by a week. Much later on in the 1960’s, a Playoff Bowl was held in Miami which was essentially a third place playoff game. It was held early every January from 1960 to 1969.

The origins of Superbowl date back to 1970, and were formed as a result of a merger between the American Football League and the National Football League. This occurred due to pressures that the AFL was placing on the NFL. The new NFL after the merger then had 26 teams, which was comprised of two conferences and three divisions on each team.

During the 1970-1977 seasons, each conference had four teams which were allowed to qualify for the yearly playoffs. Within the four teams, there were three division champions as well as a fourth team which was known as the Wild Card team.

The Wild Card team is a team that was awarded without having to qualify in the championships. The latest modifications in the games were announced in 2002, although there have also been other proposals to expand the playoffs into 14 teams.

Top Online USA Sportsbook ideal for 2011 NFL Football Betting