They beat a division winner for the second straight game.

In this case, the rules below are used to determine the division winner.

Nearly 20 years have passed since more than half of a season's division winners repeated.

All 4 division winners assumed 1st place by week 5 and never gave up their lead.

The two wild cards get in, along with the three division winners.

Four division winners plus the next two teams in each league?

Each of the other three division winners had only nine victories.

From that year through 2009, the league held a best of three game championship series between the two division winners.

The two wild card teams played the week before the division winners.

The first two places in each conference are reserved for the division winners.