It is officially the best time of the year. The NFL Playoffs are here and in full swing. With this comes loads of excitement from fans, players and the media across the country.
After a competitive, exhausting 17-game season, eight teams in each league earn a coveted spot in the NFL playoffs. From the No. 1 seeds who earn a bye and steamroll through the league to the wild cards who sneak in to make a playoff push, the single-elimination bracket is designed so that anyone can win.
The playoffs began on Saturday, Jan. 11, and the Super Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 9, in New Orleans, LA.
The NFL playoffs are extremely unique and compelling for all fans, whether they have a dog in the fight, participate in sports betting or simply want to sit back, relax and enjoy the show. After their teams get eliminated, some fans choose to root against rivals or root for teams with interesting connections to them.
“In this year’s playoffs, as a Steelers fan, I’m mostly just rooting against the Ravens, even though they are on an impressive tear right now,” AP European History teacher Jakob Saunders said. “Beyond that, I like the Lions and the Vikings because I had some of their fantasy [football] players who did well for me.”
Once the Super Bowl rolls around, many fans have a party or gathering to celebrate the game and the completion of the NFL season. In fact, Super Bowl LVIII was the most watched telecast in history, with an average of 123.4 million viewers across networks, according to operations.nfl.com.
This historic game is not just famous for football, however, as many tune in for the unique commercials or the elaborate halftime show.
Many Super Bowl parties also take it upon themselves to punish the losers of their fantasy football leagues with nasty or embarrassing tasks during the big game.
“In our league, the punishment will be jumping in the ocean in February,” sophomore and NFL fan Levi Pearson said.
The NFL is the most popular professional league to watch in the U.S., according to statscore.com. Thirty-seven percent of sports fans declare that the NFL is their favorite sport, and the NFL playoffs are the pinnacle of that. Weekends are jam-packed with football and it’s common for friends and family to get together to watch the action.
“My favorite part about the NFL playoffs is getting to watch the best players compete at the highest level. There is just an extra level of competitiveness beyond what we see in the regular season games that makes it interesting and so much more dramatic,” Saunders said.
The NFL playoffs are some of the most exciting, entertaining sports events of the year, and are a great way to spend some time with your family and friends. So, invite some friends over, grab some food and watch some football.
