The NFL playoff bracket is nearly set.
The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings closed out the 2024 regular season on Sunday Night Football with the North division title and NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line. Detroit easily won 31-9, securing the No. 1 seed while Minnesota settled for the No. 5 spot.
There were just four playoff-bound teams locked into a seed entering Week 18, with those two aforementioned NFC seeds now finalizing the bracket.
The NFC North wasn't the only division to crown a champion on the final weekend of the regular season. The Baltimore Ravens captured their second straight AFC North title on Saturday thanks to a 35-10 win over the Cleveland Browns.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, meanwhile, won the NFC South for a fourth straight year with a 27-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints. The South division title was the NFC’s last remaining playoff berth, and it came down to the Bucs and Atlanta Falcons, the latter of whom fell to the Carolina Panthers 44-38 in overtime.
There was also one last playoff berth up for grabs in the AFC — a wild-card spot — and the Denver Broncos claimed it with a 38-0 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs. The playoff berth would have went to the Cincinnati Bengals, who beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 19-17, if Denver lost. The Miami Dolphins, who lost to the New York Jets 32-20, were also in contention.
From the updated bracket to the Super Wild Card Weekend matchups and more, here’s everything to know about the NFL playoffs:
How many teams are in the NFL playoffs?
The 14-team playoff field is set:
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West champions, clinched No. 1 seed)
- Buffalo Bills (AFC East champions)
- Baltimore Ravens (AFC North champions)
- Houston Texans (AFC South champions)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (clinched wild card)
- Los Angeles Chargers (clinched wild card)
- Denver Broncos (clinched wild card)
NFC
- Detroit Lions (NFC North champions)
- Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East champions)
- Los Angeles Rams (NFC West champions)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South champions)
- Minnesota Vikings (clinched wild card)
- Washington Commanders (clinched wild card)
- Green Bay Packers (clinched wild card)
How do the NFL playoffs work?
The NFL playoff bracket is set by teams in each conference being seeded No. 1 through No. 7. The four division winners in each conference are ranked No. 1 to No. 4 by regular-season record followed by the three wild-card teams ranked by regular-season record.
The matchups in the opening round of the playoffs are No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5. The team with the higher seed holds home-field advantage.
Who gets a bye in the NFL playoffs?
Only the top seed in each conference gets a bye to the Divisional Round. The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs clinched the AFC bye, while the NFC bye will go to the North division champion -- either the Lions or Vikings.
What's the AFC playoff bracket?
The No. 2 Bills will face the Broncos, who claimed the last remaining AFC wild-card berth. The No. 3 Ravens will host the No. 6 Steelers, and the No. 4 Texans will face the No. 5 Chargers.
Here's the full AFC bracket:
- Chiefs
- Bills
- Ravens
- Texans
- Chargers
- Steelers
- Broncos
What's the NFC playoff bracket?
The No. 2 Eagles will face No. 7 Green Bay in the opening round. The No. 3 Bucs will host the No. 6 Commanders, and the No. 4 Rams will face either the Lions or Vikings.
Here's a look at the NFC bracket possibilities:
- Lions
- Eagles
- Buccaneers
- Rams
- Vikings
- Commanders
- Packers
You can check out a full breakdown of clinching and seeding scenarios for Week 18 here.
When do the NFL playoffs start?
The NFL postseason opens with Super Wild Card Weekend from Saturday, Jan. 11, to Monday, Jan. 13. There will be two Saturday games, three Sunday games and one Monday game.
Full schedule details have yet to be released.
Does the NFL reseed in the playoffs?
Yes, the NFL reseeds in the playoffs. That means that the Chiefs will face the lowest-seeded AFC team left following the opening round.
What's the NFL playoff schedule?
The Divisional Round is set for Saturday, Jan 18, to Sunday, Jan. 19, followed by the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, Jan. 26.
When is the Super Bowl 2025?
The AFC and NFC champions will square off in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Where is the Super Bowl 2025?
Caesars Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints, in the Big Easy will host the Big Game.
