Who is in the NFL playoffs so far? Clinched spots, division winners, bracket matchups

Story by

Story by
Who is in the NFL playoffs so far? Clinched spots, division winners, bracket matchups

Jack McKessy, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Mon, Dec 30, 2024 ·

8 min read

About Our Ads

This story has been updated with new information

There were four available playoff spots and five division titles still up for grabs in the final two weeks of the season.

After two Christmas games on Wednesday and the Seattle Seahawks ' "Thursday Night Football" win over the Chicago Bears , there were still two more days of NFL action this week. Saturday featured a three-game slate and there were nine more games on Sunday before the final " Monday Night Football " matchup of the season.

There was plenty to play for in those remaining 10 games. Two of the four NFC divisions had a winner determined this week, and only two playoff spots remain open by the time Week 17 wraps up.

Here's what to know about the NFL playoff picture as the penultimate week of the regular season rolls into its final day of action:

WEEK 17 BOLD PREDICTIONS: Which players and teams will turn heads?

Who is in the NFL playoffs so far?

Twelve teams have clinched a playoff spot after Sunday of Week 17. Here's who they are, grouped by conference:

AFC

NFC

NFL division winners 2024

After Week 17's early window, four division title races had yet to be decided, including three in the NFC. That changed by the end of Sunday action. Here's which teams have already clinched their divisions entering Week 17's Monday night game:

AFC

AFC East: Buffalo Bills (13-3)
AFC North: TBD
AFC South: Houston Texans (9-7)
AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)*

NFC

NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
NFC North: TBD
NFC South: TBD
NFC West: Los Angeles Rams (10-6)

(*): The Chiefs clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC with their Christmas Day win over the Steelers. The road to the Super Bowl in the AFC will go through Arrowhead Stadium.

NFL POWER RANKINGS: Another close battle for No. 1 spot in Week 17

NFL playoff bracket update

AFC Bracket

No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West winners): BYE

The Chiefs clinched the top seed in the AFC with their Week 17 win over the Steelers on Christmas. For the fourth time in seven years, Kansas City is guaranteed home-field advantage up until the Super Bowl. As an extra prize for clinching the No. 1 seed, the Chiefs get a bye through the wild-card round of the playoffs and will play the lowest remaining seed in the divisional round.

No. 2 seed Buffalo Bills (13-3, AFC East winners) vs. No. 7 seed Denver Broncos (9-7, wild card No. 3)

Buffalo is locked into the No. 2 seed after its Week 17 win over the New York Jets . If the season ended after Week 17, the Bills would play the Broncos in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Buffalo would also maintain home-field advantage until the conference championship.

The race for the No. 7 seed is still in the air, so the Bills shouldn't start preparing for Denver yet. The Broncos lost to the Bengals on Saturday, delaying their ticket to the playoffs for one more week. They need a win in Week 18 to clinch a playoff spot, but the Dolphins and Bengals are all right on their heels if they slip up.

No. 3 seed Baltimore Ravens (11-5, AFC North leaders) vs. No. 6 seed Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, wild card No. 2)

The Ravens jumped the Steelers for the top spot in the AFC North and No. 3 seed with their win and Pittsburgh's loss on Christmas. Baltimore will secure the division title with a Week 18 win over the Browns or a Steelers loss to the Bengals. Whichever team wins the AFC North will be the No. 3 seed.

Los Angeles defeated the Patriots on Saturday and clinched its playoff spot. If the Chargers win and the Steelers lose in Week 18, they can climb as high as the No. 5 seed. However, as things stand now, a second Harbaugh Bowl of the season is on the docket for the wild-card round. John Harbaugh and the Ravens won the first matchup between these two teams in November.

No. 4 seed Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South winners) vs. No. 5 seed Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, wild card No. 1)

Houston clinched its division title in Week 15, meaning it can finish no lower than the No. 4 seed in the AFC bracket. When the Texans lost to the Ravens on Christmas, Houston could finish no higher than the No. 4 seed.

All that's left to determine in this wild-card matchup is which team will face the Texans as the No. 5 seed. Right now, it's the Steelers who fell to second place in the AFC North and into the top wild-card spot in the AFC with their loss and the Ravens' win on Wednesday. Pittsburgh could only drop as low as the No. 6 seed with a Week 18 loss and a Chargers Week 18 win.

NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE: Seahawks survive Bears, stay alive in NFC West race in Week 17

NFC Bracket

No. 1 seed Minnesota Vikings (14-2, NFC North leaders): BYE

The NFC's No. 1 seed will come down to the final game of the 2024 regular season. The Vikings and Lions will face off in a final edition of "Sunday Night Football" that will determine the NFC North champion and which team gets the top seed and bye in the NFC.

The Vikings hold the top spot after their Week 17 win over the Packers. The Lions will jump back in front with a "Monday Night Football" win over the 49ers , but next week's game is what really matters.

No. 2 seed Philadelphia Eagles (13-3, NFC East winners) vs. No. 7 seed Green Bay Packers (11-5, wild card No. 3)

Philadelphia secured the NFC East title with their Week 17 win over the Cowboys but doesn't control its own destiny in the race for the NFC's No. 1 seed. They'll need to win out and hope for Lions and Vikings losses in Week 17 for a shot at a first-round bye.

Green Bay is third place – behind the Lions and Vikings – in the triumvirate of outstanding NFC North teams this year. It already clinched a playoff spot with the "Monday Night Football" win last week, though the Packers will have to hit the road to start their playoff run now that they're locked out of the division title race. Still, they're winners of four of their last six and hold a 5-3 record on the road. They're still a dangerous playoff team in the NFC this year.

No. 3 seed Los Angeles Rams (10-6, NFC West winners) vs. No. 6 seed Washington Commanders (11-5, wild card No. 2)

The race for the NFC West division title remained close with the Seahawks' "Thursday Night Football" win over the Bears in Chicago. The Rams defeated the Cardinals on Saturday and, with help, secured the title in Week 17. They can drop to the No. 4 seed but can't climb higher than the No. 3 spot in the conference.

The Commanders clinched their playoff spot and the Rams' NFC West title with a win over the Falcons on "Sunday Night Football." As things currently stand, Washington would be playing the team they helped to clinch in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Week 18's slate will still have a lot of seeding implications though, and the Commanders and Packers could swap the bottom two seeds in the NFC.

No. 4 seed Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7, NFC South leaders) vs. No. 5 seed Detroit Lions (13-2, wild card No. 1)

The Falcons were leaders in the NFC South heading into the weekend and controlled their own destiny. With the Buccaneers' dominant win on Sunday afternoon and Atlanta 's "Sunday Night Football" loss, Tampa Bay climbed into the driver's seat for the division title. Should the Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield hold the top spot in the division, they'd host whichever NFC North team finishes in second place. For Atlanta to usurp Tampa Bay, it must beat the Panthers in Week 18 and hope for a Bucs loss to the Saints .

Whichever team loses the showdown for the NFC North in Week 18 will have at least 13 wins and still have to hit the road in the first round of the playoffs. Right now, the Lions hold the No. 5 spot ahead of their "Monday Night Football" clash with the 49ers, but all that matters for their seeding is next week's game against the Vikings.

NFL playoff picture

AFC

Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West winners)
Buffalo Bills (13-3, AFC East winners)
Baltimore Ravens (11-5, AFC North leaders)
Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South winners)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, wild card No. 1)
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, wild card No. 2)
Denver Broncos (9-7, wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Cincinnati Bengals (8-8), Miami Dolphins (8-8)

NFC

Minnesota Vikings (14-2, NFC North leaders)*
Philadelphia Eagles (13-3, NFC East winners)*
Los Angeles Rams (10-6, NFC West winners)*
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7, NFC South leaders)
Detroit Lions (13-2, wild card No. 1)*
Washington Commanders (11-5, wild card No. 2)*
Green Bay Packers (11-5, wild card No. 3)*

In the hunt: Atlanta Falcons (8-8)

An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Teams that have clinched division titles are noted accordingly.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is in the NFL playoffs so far? Division winners, bracket update

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: