NFL playoff squares use the same 10 by 10 grid as Super Bowl squares, played on any of the 13 playoff games. The 2027 NFL playoffs start with Wild Card weekend on January 16, 2027 and end with Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027.
The grid and the online generator are free, with no sign-up.
The 2027 NFL playoffs run from Saturday, January 16, 2027 to Sunday, February 14, 2027. There are 13 games in 4 rounds: 6 Wild Card games, 4 Divisional games, 2 Conference Championship games and Super Bowl LXI.
Round
Dates
Games
Wild Card
January 16 to 18, 2027
6
Divisional
January 23 and 24, 2027
4
Conference Championships
January 31, 2027
2
Super Bowl LXI
February 14, 2027
1
Dates checked on November 11, 2026. The teams and kickoff times are set after the last week of the regular season, and this page is updated the same day. The NFL schedule page has the official times.
How do NFL Playoff Squares Work?
NFL playoff squares work the same way as Super Bowl squares. Players fill a 100 square grid, the numbers 0 to 9 are drawn at random for each team, and the last digit of each team’s score picks the winning square at the end of every quarter.
Pick a game. Put the home team on top of the grid and the away team on the side.
Fill the squares. Each player takes 1 or more squares until the grid is full.
Draw the numbers. Draw 0 to 9 for the top, then again for the side.
Check each quarter. Match the last digit of each score to a column and a row.
Playoff games cannot end in a tie, so a tied game always goes to overtime. Decide before kickoff whether the last prize uses the final score, as the Super Bowl squares rules page explains.
How do You Run Squares for the Whole NFL Playoffs?
You can run NFL playoff squares for the whole postseason in 3 ways: a new grid for every game, a new grid for every round, or one grid for all 13 games. One grid for all 13 games is the least work and gives 52 winners.
Setup
Grids
Winners
Best for
One grid per game
13
52
Groups that only follow a few games
One grid per round
4
52
A fresh start each weekend
One grid for all 13 games
1
52
Offices that want to set it up once
With one grid for many games, the team names change every week. Label the top “home team” and the side “away team”, so the same grid works for every game. In the Super Bowl, the NFL names one team as the home team.
Which NFL Playoff Games are Best for Squares?
The best NFL playoff games for squares are the 2 Conference Championship games on Sunday, January 31, 2027. Both games are on the same day, so one grid gives 8 winners in one afternoon and evening, and almost everyone is watching.
Wild Card weekend: 6 games in 3 days, good for a long office pool.
Divisional round: 4 games in 2 days.
Conference Championships: 2 games in 1 day, the easiest to run.
Super Bowl LXI: the biggest squares game of the year.
How do You Use the Playoffs as a Practice Run for the Super Bowl?
Use NFL playoff squares as a practice run by running a small grid for one playoff game, 2 or 3 weeks before the Super Bowl. Your group learns the rules, you find out who wants to play, and any problem shows up before the big game.
Save a grid in the Super Bowl squares generator, turn on player sign-up and send the share link. Once the playoff games are set, pick one from the “NFL game for live scores” list and the grid shows the live score and each quarter’s winner on its own. For prize ideas and splits, see the Super Bowl squares payouts guide. Squares is a game of chance, and rules on games with prizes differ by state.
NFL Playoff Squares FAQ
When do the 2027 NFL playoffs start?
Wild Card weekend starts on Saturday, January 16, 2027. Super Bowl LXI is on Sunday, February 14, 2027.
How many NFL playoff games are there?
There are 13: 6 Wild Card games, 4 Divisional games, 2 Conference Championship games and the Super Bowl.
Can you use the same grid for every playoff game?
Yes. Label the top home team and the side away team, then keep the same names and numbers all the way through.
Do you need new numbers for each playoff round?
No. You can keep one set of numbers or draw new ones each round. Decide before the first game.
What happens to squares if a playoff game goes to overtime?
Most games use the final score after overtime for the last prize. Agree on this before kickoff.
Are the NFL playoff squares free?
Yes. The printable grid and the online generator are free, with no account or email.
NFL Playoff Squares, in Short
NFL playoff squares bring the Super Bowl squares game to all 13 playoff games, from January 16 to February 14, 2027. Print one grid or share one online, and decide before the first kickoff whether the numbers stay the same.
The playoffs end with the biggest squares game of the season: Super Bowl LXI on Sunday, February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The 2 teams are set after the Conference Championship games on January 31, 2027.
