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How to Follow the BFL During the NFL Season
A complete, easy-to-use guide based on the BFL Rules & Structure.
Choose Your BFL Team
Start with the current BFL standings, which are released at the end of the NFL's regular season which is the NFL's Week 11.
Pick the team you want to follow for the season — this becomes your franchise.
- If you already have a favourite BFL team, stick with them.
- If not, choose based on colours, location, or the NFL affiliate you like.
Follow Your NFL Affiliate
Every BFL team is paired with an NFL affiliate who determines all wins and losses for your BFL team.
How it works
- When the NFL affiliate wins, the BFL team also wins.
- When the NFL affiliate loses, the BFL team also loses.
- Bye weeks simply mean no game for the BFL team.
This makes the entire BFL season easy to track — you only need to follow one NFL team.
Record BFL Wins and Losses
Each week, check the NFL scores and update your BFL standings.
Example:
- If your BFL team is the Tyneside Mariners
- And their NFL affiliate is the Detroit Lions
- Then every Lions result becomes the Mariners' result
This keeps the BFL standings perfectly aligned with the NFL season.
BFL Playoff Format
Per Conference (AFC + NFC):
- 7 teams = the actual NFL playoff teams
- 1 wildcard team = the best non‑playoff team outside the playoff pool
Total BFL Playoff Teams:
- 8 AFC teams = British Conference
- 8 NFC teams = United Conference
- 16 teams overall
What to watch in 2026:
- Will Tyneside Mariners finally win their first playoff game?
- Who will get the top Playoff seeds?
- Will remaining expansion teams, Avon Fire and Sheffield Surge, make the playoffs?
Last updated: September 2026