# Q about homefield advantage in NFL

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-homefield-advantage-in-nfl/144313>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [December 22, 2002, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-homefield-advantage-in-nfl/144313 "2002-12-22T03:14:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-homefield-advantage-in-nfl/144313/1 "2002-12-22T03:14:20Z")

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Does a division winner automatically get homefield advantage over a wildcard? It looks like the Saints have a good chance of playing San Fran in the opening round with their records even at 11-5, but the Saints beat the 9ers earlier in the year so it would seem we should play at home…

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**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-homefield-advantage-in-nfl/144313/2 "2002-12-22T03:38:54Z")

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Yes, a division winner always gets home field over a wild card team- even if the wild card team has a better overall record.

If, hypothetically, the Tampa Bay Bucs won their division with a record of 14-2, the Falcons finished second with a record of 13-3, and the 49ers won their division with a record of 9-7, any game between the 49ers and Falcons would be played in San Francisco.