Rating officials - How NFL determines who works postseason
Generally, before 2004 the highest-rated full crews worked playoff games and the Super Bowl. That changed to a hybrid system in '04 that allowed for eliminating lower-rated officials on some crews from working the postseason.
Moving to the current "all-star" approach allows for officials rated highest at each position by supervisors to get the premium assignments. But it also can rob the crews working the critical January and February games of the cohesion developed through a full preseason and regular season.
— Associated Press
