At a Glance
- Seven wild-card teams have captured the Super Bowl since 1970
- The 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the last to do it as the No. 5 seed
- Eleven wild-card squads have reached the Big Game overall
- Why it matters: This postseason’s six wild-card entrants chase history in Super Bowl 60
Six wild-card teams line up for the 2025 playoffs, all eyeing the same prize: a title run that only seven others have completed. The Texans, Bills, Chargers, Rams, 49ers and Packers know the odds-and the blueprint.
The Wild-Card Path
Since the NFL added wild cards in 1970, 11 non-division champs have crashed the Super Bowl. Seven left with rings.
The journey always starts on the road. Every wild-card club must win three straight away games just to reach the championship. That gauntlet has produced some of football’s most memorable runs.
Champions Club
The seven wild-card Super Bowl winners:
- 1980 Oakland Raiders (No. 4) – 27-10 over Eagles
- 1997 Denver Broncos (No. 4) – 31-24 over Packers
- 2000 Baltimore Ravens (No. 4) – 34-7 over Giants
- 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 6) – 21-10 over Seahawks
- 2007 New York Giants (No. 5) – 17-14 over Patriots
- 2010 Green Bay Packers (No. 6) – 31-25 over Steelers
- 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 5) – 31-9 over Chiefs
Tampa Bay’s 2020 run remains the gold standard. Tom Brady led the Bucs past Washington, New Orleans and Green Bay before throttling Kansas City-becoming the first team to win a Super Bowl in its own stadium.
Near-Misses
Four wild-card teams reached the final game but fell short:
- 1975 Dallas Cowboys – 21-17 to Steelers
- 1985 New England Patriots – 46-10 to Bears
- 1992 Buffalo Bills – 52-17 to Cowboys
- 1999 Tennessee Titans – 23-16 to Rams
Last season showed the challenge: five of six wild-card teams lost on opening weekend. Only the Washington Commanders advanced, riding momentum to the NFC Championship before bowing out to eventual champion Philadelphia.
Playoff Format Facts
The NFL expanded wild-card spots over decades:
| Year | Total Playoff Teams | Wild Cards per Conference |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8 | 1 |
| 1980 | 10 | 2 |
| 1990 | 12 | 3 |
| 2020 | 14 | 3 |
Since 2020, only the No. 1 seeds receive first-round byes, giving wild cards an extra glimmer of hope.
Key Takeaways
- Wild-card teams own a 7-4 record in Super Bowls
- The 2020 Buccaneers provide the modern blueprint for road-warrior success
- This year’s six wild-card hopefuls face the same uphill climb
- History says at least one will likely reach Super Bowl 60
The playoffs begin with 14 teams, but only one can complete the wild-card miracle. Recent history suggests someone will try to match Tampa Bay’s 2020 magic when Super Bowl 60 kicks off next month.
