why is it called the divisional round

It is called the “Divisional Round” because historically it was the stage where the division winners were supposed to meet each other after earlier games sorted out any extra or wild card teams.

Origin of the name

Originally, the NFL postseason was structured so that:

• Each conference had only a few playoff teams, mostly the division champions.

• The earlier games settled ties or let a single wild card in, and then the division winners played in what was labeled the divisional round.

In that setup, the second round really was “the round of division winners,” so the label made straightforward sense.

How the format changed

Over time, the league:

• Expanded the playoffs to add more wild card teams, starting in the 1970s and again later.

• Turned what used to be the first set of division‑champion matchups into the second round, where non‑division winners can now also appear.

Even though the matchups are no longer only between division champs, the old name stuck out of tradition and brand familiarity.

Why it still keeps the name

Fans and writers often point out that “conference semifinals” would be a clearer modern label, but:

• The NFL tends to keep legacy terminology (“Wild Card,” “Divisional,” “Conference Championship”) for continuity and marketing.

• In a chalk scenario where all higher seeds win, that round still would feature the four division winners in each conference, which loosely preserves the original idea.

So, the short version: it is called the divisional round mostly for historical reasons, carried over from an older playoff structure where that round really was just the division champions facing off.