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NFL Wildcard Games Trivia Quiz

The wildcard games are usually an after-thought once the Super Bowl is over. Here is a quiz for the true fan that can remember the playoffs from start to finish.

A multiple-choice quiz by superferd. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
superferd

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
119,678

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
792

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The first AFC Wildcard game was played in the 1978-1979 season. Who were the participants? Hint

Houston and New England

San Diego and New England

Buffalo and New York Jets

Houston and Miami

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Question 2 of 10

2. In the 1992 season, Frank Reich directed the Buffalo Bills to a thrilling comeback overtime victory over the Houston Oilers. They also met the week before. If you add the final score of the final game of the season to the largest deficit that Buffalo faced, what would the score be? Hint

62-6

58-10

54-3

55-17

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Question 3 of 10

3. The Oakland Raiders were the first wildcard team to win the Super Bowl (XV: 27-10 over Philadelphia). However, did an AFL or NFL wildcard team win the Super Bowl before the merger?

Yes

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Question 4 of 10

4. During the decade of the 1980's, there was one year where the Meadowlands crew had to work overtime, as the Jets played there on Saturday and the Giants played there on Sunday. What year was this? Hint

1985

1986

1984

1981

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Question 5 of 10

5. In what season did the NFL decide to have three wildcard teams, and make the division winner with the worst record in the conference play, as well that weekend? Hint

1988

1986

1991

1990

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Question 6 of 10

6. The St. Louis Cardinals only qualified for 1 NFC Wildcard game before they made a move to Arizona?

True

False

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Question 7 of 10

7. How many wildcard teams have won the Super Bowl from 1978-2003?

Answer: (one number)

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Question 8 of 10

8. What rule change to the wildcard system did they enforce in 2002? Hint

A fourth wildcard team was added

Two divisional teams could not play one another

No changes were made

Only two wildcard teams were able to get into playoffs again

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Question 9 of 10

9. The Cleveland Browns missed out on the 1985 season with an 11-5 record, while the Denver Broncos won their division at 8-8 and qualified?

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of these legendary games was during a wild card game? Hint

The Immaculate Reception

The double overtime Chargers-Dolphins game in extreme heat

The Heidi Bowl

The Music City Miracle

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The first AFC Wildcard game was played in the 1978-1979 season. Who were the participants?

Answer: Houston and Miami

The Houston Oilers won in Miami 17-9, and ended their season in Pittsburgh with a 34-5 defeat.

Answer: 62-6

In the final game of the year, The Houston Oilers defeated the Bills at the Astrodome 27-3, and then led 35-3 at Rich Stadium in the third quarter. That would not be enough.

3. The Oakland Raiders were the first wildcard team to win the Super Bowl (XV: 27-10 over Philadelphia). However, did an AFL or NFL wildcard team win the Super Bowl before the merger?

Answer: Yes

In the 1969-1970 season, the Kansas City Chiefs were an AFL wildcard, and won in New York over the Jets, and in Oakland over the Raiders, before winning Super Bowl IV over the Minnesota Vikings 23-7.

Answer: 1985

The New York Jets were not successful, and lost to the New England Patriots, 26-14. The New York Giants, however, earned a 17-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers 17-3.

5. In what season did the NFL decide to have three wildcard teams, and make the division winner with the worst record in the conference play, as well that weekend?

Answer: 1990

In 1990, a third wildcard team made it to the playoffs. In addition, only the top two seeds got a bye week. The Miami Dolphins were the top wildcard and defeated the number two seed, Kansas City Chiefs 17-16. The Cincinnati Bengals were a division winner, and rolled the Houston Oilers 41-14 who made it as the third wildcard.

In the NFC, the #1 NFC wildcard seed was Philadelphia Eagles, but they lost to the #2 seeded Washington Redskins, 20-6, at the vet. The #3 wildcard seed lost 16-6 to the Chicago Bears, who were the #3 seed division winner.

6. The St. Louis Cardinals only qualified for 1 NFC Wildcard game before they made a move to Arizona?

Answer: False

The St. Louis Cardinals won their division twice in the 1970s before there was a wildcard team. They lost their first game each time.

7. How many wildcard teams have won the Super Bowl from 1978-2003?

Answer: 3

The Oakland Raiders accomplished this in the 1980 season, the Denver Broncos followed suit after the 1997 season, and the Baltimore Ravens did this during the 2000 season. All of them had home field advantage in their respective wildcard games.

8. What rule change to the wildcard system did they enforce in 2002?

Answer: Only two wildcard teams were able to get into playoffs again

The divisions were reworked when the Houston Texans joined the NFL, and the 32-team league were split into eight divisions. Six teams from each conference still qualified, but with four division winners, only two wildcards could earn a playoff birth. The Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants did this in the NFC, and the Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland Browns did this in the AFC.

9. The Cleveland Browns missed out on the 1985 season with an 11-5 record, while the Denver Broncos won their division at 8-8 and qualified?

Answer: False

It was actually the other way around. Cleveland at 8-8 were the AFC Central Champions, while Denver missed out at 11-5, due to the 11-5 Patriots and the 11-5 Jets winning out in tiebreakers.

10. Which of these legendary games was during a wild card game?

Answer: The Music City Miracle

Buffalo looked like they were on their way to winning in Tennessee before Frank Wycheck tossed a lateral to Kevin Dyson for the controversial winning touchdown. "The Heidi Bowl", was a regular season game and the other two choices are games in the divisional playoff round.

Source: Author superferd

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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