Wild Card games are one of the most exciting and unpredictable events in sports. In the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL, wild card teams compete for a chance to advance to the playoffs.
But who exactly plays in these games? Let’s take a closer look.
What is a Wild Card Team?
In sports, a wild card team refers to a team that did not win its division but still qualifies for the playoffs based on its record. In some cases, there may be multiple wild card teams in each league or conference.
NFL Wild Card Games
In the NFL, there are two wild card games played during the first week of the playoffs. The teams that play in these games are determined by the following criteria:
- The top six teams from each conference (AFC and NFC) qualify for the playoffs.
- The four division winners from each conference are seeded 1-4 based on their records.
- The remaining two playoff spots are filled by the two teams with the best records that did not win their divisions (the wild card teams).
The first week of NFL playoffs consists of four games: two wild card games and two divisional round games.
MLB Wild Card Games
In Major League Baseball (MLB), there are two wild card teams from each league (American and National). These two teams play against each other in a one-game playoff to determine which team advances to the division series.
The wild card teams in MLB are determined by the following criteria:
- The three division winners from each league automatically qualify for the playoffs.
- The two remaining playoff spots in each league are filled by the two teams with the best records that did not win their divisions (the wild card teams).
NBA Wild Card Games
In the National Basketball Association (NBA), there are no wild card games. Instead, the top eight teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs. The teams are seeded 1-8 based on their records, and the first round of the playoffs consists of four best-of-seven series.
NHL Wild Card Games
In the National Hockey League (NHL), there are two wild card teams from each conference. These two teams play against each other in a one-game playoff to determine which team advances to the divisional round.
The wild card teams in NHL are determined by the following criteria:
- The top three teams from each division automatically qualify for the playoffs.
- The remaining two playoff spots in each conference are filled by the two teams with the best records that did not finish in the top three of their respective divisions (the wild card teams).
Conclusion
Wild Card games provide an exciting opportunity for non-division-winning teams to advance to the playoffs. In most sports leagues, these games consist of a single elimination game, which can make them even more thrilling. Whether you’re a fan of football, baseball, hockey or any other sport, watching wild card games is always an exciting experience!