2021–22 NFL playoffs
Updated: 12/20/2025, 11:36:55 AM Wikipedia source
The National Football League playoffs for the 2021 season was the first time that the league featured a 17-game regular season schedule, and consequently the start of the playoffs was pushed a week later to January 15, 2022. The postseason concluded with Super Bowl LVI on February 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, with the NFC's fourth seed, the Los Angeles Rams, defeating the AFC's fourth seed, the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati won their first playoff game since 1990 by defeating the Las Vegas Raiders. This was the first postseason since 2010–11 where neither of the first-seeded teams made it to their respective championships, and it was also the first postseason since 2009–10 in which neither the Green Bay Packers nor New England Patriots reached a conference championship game. This was also the first postseason since 2012–13 to have a Super Bowl to not have the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, or Kansas City Chiefs representing the AFC. For the first time in history, both teams competing in the Super Bowl finished below the second seed. Of the 13 games played in the playoffs, nine were decided by seven or fewer points. For the final seven postseason games, six were decided by three points. Five of those six were decided with game-winning field goals. The only game that was not decided by three points was the divisional round game between the Bills and Chiefs, which was decided with a game-winning touchdown in overtime.
Infobox
Dates
January 15 – February 13, 2022
Season
2021
Teams
14
Games played
13
Super Bowl LVI site
mw- SoFi StadiumInglewood, California
Defending champions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Champion
Los Angeles Rams(4th title)
Runner-up
Cincinnati Bengals
Conferencerunners-up
Kansas City ChiefsSan Francisco 49ers
NFL playoffs
NFL playoffs ← 2020–21 2022–23 →
Tables
Playoff seeds · Participants
1
1
Seed
1
AFC
Tennessee Titans (South winner)
NFC
Green Bay Packers (North winner)
2
2
Seed
2
AFC
Kansas City Chiefs (West winner)
NFC
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (South winner)
3
3
Seed
3
AFC
Buffalo Bills (East winner)
NFC
Dallas Cowboys (East winner)
4
4
Seed
4
AFC
Cincinnati Bengals (North winner)
NFC
Los Angeles Rams (West winner)
5
5
Seed
5
AFC
Las Vegas Raiders (wild card)
NFC
Arizona Cardinals (wild card)
6
6
Seed
6
AFC
New England Patriots (wild card)
NFC
San Francisco 49ers (wild card)
7
7
Seed
7
AFC
Pittsburgh Steelers (wild card)
NFC
Philadelphia Eagles (wild card)
| Seed | AFC | NFC |
| 1 | Tennessee Titans (South winner) | Green Bay Packers (North winner) |
| 2 | Kansas City Chiefs (West winner) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (South winner) |
| 3 | Buffalo Bills (East winner) | Dallas Cowboys (East winner) |
| 4 | Cincinnati Bengals (North winner) | Los Angeles Rams (West winner) |
| 5 | Las Vegas Raiders (wild card) | Arizona Cardinals (wild card) |
| 6 | New England Patriots (wild card) | San Francisco 49ers (wild card) |
| 7 | Pittsburgh Steelers (wild card) | Philadelphia Eagles (wild card) |
· Schedule
Wild Card playoffs
Wild Card playoffs
Round
Wild Card playoffs
Away team
Las Vegas Raiders
Score
19–26
Home team
Cincinnati Bengals
Date
January 15, 2022
Kickoff(ET / UTC–5)
4:35 p.m.
TV
NBC
Viewers (millions)
27.7
TV rating
14.2
New England Patriots
New England Patriots
Round
New England Patriots
Away team
17–47
Score
Buffalo Bills
Home team
January 15, 2022
Date
8:15 p.m.
Kickoff(ET / UTC–5)
CBS
TV
26.4
Viewers (millions)
13.2
Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
Round
Philadelphia Eagles
Away team
15–31
Score
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Home team
January 16, 2022
Date
1:05 p.m.
Kickoff(ET / UTC–5)
Fox
TV
30.4
Viewers (millions)
16.0
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
Round
San Francisco 49ers
Away team
23–17
Score
Dallas Cowboys
Home team
January 16, 2022
Date
4:40 p.m.
Kickoff(ET / UTC–5)
CBS/Nickelodeon
TV
41.5
Viewers (millions)
20.7
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Round
Pittsburgh Steelers
Away team
21–42
Score
Kansas City Chiefs
Home team
January 16, 2022
Date
8:15 p.m.
Kickoff(ET / UTC–5)
NBC
TV
28.9
Viewers (millions)
14.7
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
Round
Arizona Cardinals
Away team
11–34
Score
Los Angeles Rams
Home team
January 17, 2022
Date
8:15 p.m.
Kickoff(ET / UTC–5)
ABC/ESPN
TV
23.1
Viewers (millions)
—
Divisional playoffs
Divisional playoffs
Round
Divisional playoffs
Away team
Cincinnati Bengals
Score
19–16
Home team
Tennessee Titans
Date
January 22, 2022
Kickoff(ET / UTC–5)
4:35 p.m.
TV
CBS
Viewers (millions)
30.7
TV rating
15.8
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
Round
San Francisco 49ers
Away team
13–10
Score
Green Bay Packers
Home team
January 22, 2022
Date
8:15 p.m.
Kickoff(ET / UTC–5)
Fox
TV
36.9
Viewers (millions)
17.8
Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams
Round
Los Angeles Rams
Away team
30–27
Score
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Home team
January 23, 2022
Date
3:05 p.m.
Kickoff(ET / UTC–5)
NBC
TV
38.1
Viewers (millions)
19.8
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
Round
Buffalo Bills
Away team
36–42 (OT)
Score
Kansas City Chiefs
Home team
January 23, 2022
Date
6:40 p.m.
Kickoff(ET / UTC–5)
CBS
TV
42.7
Viewers (millions)
21.7
Conference Championships
Conference Championships
Round
Conference Championships
Away team
Cincinnati Bengals
Score
27–24 (OT)
Home team
Kansas City Chiefs
Date
January 30, 2022
Kickoff(ET / UTC–5)
3:05 p.m.
TV
CBS
Viewers (millions)
47.8
TV rating
23.6
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
Round
San Francisco 49ers
Away team
17–20
Score
Los Angeles Rams
Home team
January 30, 2022
Date
6:40 p.m.
Kickoff(ET / UTC–5)
Fox
TV
50.4
Viewers (millions)
23.4
Super Bowl LVISoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Super Bowl LVISoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Round
Super Bowl LVISoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Away team
Los Angeles Rams
Score
23–20
Home team
Cincinnati Bengals
Date
February 13, 2022
Kickoff(ET / UTC–5)
6:40 p.m.
TV
NBC
Viewers (millions)
112.3
TV rating
36.9
| Round | Away team | Score | Home team | Date | Kickoff(ET / UTC–5) | TV | Viewers (millions) | TV rating |
| Wild Card playoffs | Las Vegas Raiders | 19–26 | Cincinnati Bengals | January 15, 2022 | 4:35 p.m. | NBC | 27.7 | 14.2 |
| New England Patriots | 17–47 | Buffalo Bills | January 15, 2022 | 8:15 p.m. | CBS | 26.4 | 13.2 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 15–31 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | January 16, 2022 | 1:05 p.m. | Fox | 30.4 | 16.0 | |
| San Francisco 49ers | 23–17 | Dallas Cowboys | January 16, 2022 | 4:40 p.m. | CBS/Nickelodeon | 41.5 | 20.7 | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 21–42 | Kansas City Chiefs | January 16, 2022 | 8:15 p.m. | NBC | 28.9 | 14.7 | |
| Arizona Cardinals | 11–34 | Los Angeles Rams | January 17, 2022 | 8:15 p.m. | ABC/ESPN | 23.1 | — | |
| Divisional playoffs | Cincinnati Bengals | 19–16 | Tennessee Titans | January 22, 2022 | 4:35 p.m. | CBS | 30.7 | 15.8 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 13–10 | Green Bay Packers | January 22, 2022 | 8:15 p.m. | Fox | 36.9 | 17.8 | |
| Los Angeles Rams | 30–27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | January 23, 2022 | 3:05 p.m. | NBC | 38.1 | 19.8 | |
| Buffalo Bills | 36–42 (OT) | Kansas City Chiefs | January 23, 2022 | 6:40 p.m. | CBS | 42.7 | 21.7 | |
| Conference Championships | Cincinnati Bengals | 27–24 (OT) | Kansas City Chiefs | January 30, 2022 | 3:05 p.m. | CBS | 47.8 | 23.6 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 17–20 | Los Angeles Rams | January 30, 2022 | 6:40 p.m. | Fox | 50.4 | 23.4 | |
| Super Bowl LVISoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California | Los Angeles Rams | 23–20 | Cincinnati Bengals | February 13, 2022 | 6:40 p.m. | NBC | 112.3 | 36.9 |
Raiders
Raiders
Quarter
Raiders
mw- 1
3
2
10
3
0
4
6
Total
19
Bengals
Bengals
Quarter
Bengals
mw- 1
10
2
10
3
3
4
3
Total
26
| Quarter | mw- 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Raiders | 3 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 19 |
| Bengals | 10 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 26 |
Patriots
Patriots
Quarter
Patriots
1
0
2
3
3
7
4
7
Total
17
Bills
Bills
Quarter
Bills
1
14
2
13
3
6
4
14
Total
47
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Patriots | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Bills | 14 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 47 |
Eagles
Eagles
Quarter
Eagles
1
0
2
0
3
0
4
15
Total
15
Buccaneers
Buccaneers
Quarter
Buccaneers
1
14
2
3
3
14
4
0
Total
31
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 |
| Buccaneers | 14 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
49ers
49ers
Quarter
49ers
1
10
2
6
3
7
4
0
Total
23
Cowboys
Cowboys
Quarter
Cowboys
1
0
2
7
3
0
4
10
Total
17
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers | 10 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
| Cowboys | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
Steelers
Steelers
Quarter
Steelers
1
0
2
7
3
7
4
7
Total
21
Chiefs
Chiefs
Quarter
Chiefs
1
0
2
21
3
14
4
7
Total
42
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
Cardinals
Cardinals
Quarter
Cardinals
1
0
2
0
3
8
4
3
Total
11
Rams
Rams
Quarter
Rams
1
7
2
14
3
7
4
6
Total
34
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 11 |
| Rams | 7 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 34 |
Bengals
Bengals
Quarter
Bengals
1
6
2
3
3
7
4
3
Total
19
Titans
Titans
Quarter
Titans
1
0
2
6
3
10
4
0
Total
16
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bengals | 6 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 19 |
| Titans | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 16 |
49ers
49ers
Quarter
49ers
1
0
2
0
3
3
4
10
Total
13
Packers
Packers
Quarter
Packers
1
7
2
0
3
0
4
3
Total
10
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 13 |
| Packers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
Rams
Rams
Quarter
Rams
1
10
2
10
3
7
4
3
Total
30
Buccaneers
Buccaneers
Quarter
Buccaneers
1
3
2
0
3
10
4
14
Total
27
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 10 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 30 |
| Buccaneers | 3 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 27 |
Bills
Bills
Quarter
Bills
1
7
2
7
3
7
4
15
OT
0
Total
36
Chiefs
Chiefs
Quarter
Chiefs
1
7
2
7
3
9
4
13
OT
6
Total
42
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Bills | 7 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 36 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 42 |
Bengals
Bengals
Quarter
Bengals
1
3
2
7
3
11
4
3
OT
3
Total
27
Chiefs
Chiefs
Quarter
Chiefs
1
7
2
14
3
0
4
3
OT
0
Total
24
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Bengals | 3 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 27 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
49ers
49ers
Quarter
49ers
1
0
2
10
3
7
4
0
Total
17
Rams
Rams
Quarter
Rams
1
0
2
7
3
0
4
13
Total
20
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Rams | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 20 |
Rams
Rams
Quarter
Rams
1
7
2
6
3
3
4
7
Total
23
Bengals
Bengals
Quarter
Bengals
1
3
2
7
3
10
4
0
Total
20
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 7 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 23 |
| Bengals | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
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