Playoff Format
Since 1955, three teams have competed in the Eastern playoffs in most seasons. Only the top two teams qualified for the post-season in 1985 when an earlier form of the cross-over rule was in force, while four teams qualified in 1994 when there were six teams. In 1997, the present cross-over rule was implemented, allowing the fourth place team from one division to take the play-off place of the third place team in the other division, should the fourth place team earn a better record. Since 1997, the fourth place team in the West has taken advantage of the cross-over rule five times, but not until 2008 did a Western team (Edmonton) advance to the Eastern Final. As of 2010, no team from the East has crossed over into the Western playoffs.
Read more about this topic: Canadian Football League East Division