 1967 was the first year where a pre-scheduled playoff (rather than regular season results) determined participation in the championship.It also marked the first year in which if there was a tie for first place in a division, the division champion was determined by a system of tiebreakers, rather than via a playoff game (as detailed in the 1933–1966 era above).In 1978, the NFL expanded its playoffs pool from 8 to 10 teams, requiring the addition of another round of playoffs.