The remaining two non-division winners formed the fourth preliminary round pairing.

Under this format, a second wild card team has been added to each league, i.e., the team with the second-highest win total in each league among non-division winners.

These playoffs were not, and are not considered to have been, "wildcard" playoffs since the two best non-division winners did not automatically qualify.

Those four advancing clubs will include the three division winners and the team with the best record among non-division winners.

The 3 division winners in each conference, along with the 5 best non-division winners in each conference, qualify for the playoffs.

Up until 2006, the division champions were guaranteed no worse than the third seed, while the non-division winners could do no better than the fourth seed regardless of record.

The winners of each division, and a fourth "wild card" team based on the best non-division winner, qualified for the playoffs.

From 1978-1989, this round featured one game per conference between the two wild-card (non-division winners) and thus the name "Wildcard" round.

While not a wild card team, the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs were the first non-division winner to win the Super Bowl.

In addition, the two non-division winners with the best overall record get in as wild card teams.