how many wild card games are there

In today’s major U.S. sports, “wild card games” usually refers to the opening playoff round, and the exact number depends on the league and format being discussed.

NFL wild card games

In the current NFL playoff format, there are six wild card games each season. Four division winners and three wild card teams per conference make the playoffs, with the No. 1 seed in each conference getting a bye while the remaining six teams in each conference play in three wild card matchups, giving six total games league‑wide.

MLB wild card series

In MLB’s current setup, the wild card round is made up of four potential series, each structured as a best‑of‑three, not single “win or go home” games. There are two series in the American League and two in the National League: the 3‑seed vs. 6‑seed and the 4‑seed vs. 5‑seed in each league, all played at the higher seed’s ballpark.

Why the answer can be confusing

The question “how many wild card games are there” is tricky because:

• Different leagues use different formats (single‑game eliminations vs best‑of‑three series).

• People sometimes mean “how many wild card teams ” instead of games.

• Formats have changed over time, so older discussions might mention fewer games or a single wild card game in MLB rather than today’s multi‑game series.

If you say which sport and season you care about, the exact count can be pinned down very precisely.