Who is in the NFL playoffs so far? Division winners, bracket update

The 2024 NFL season is entering its final weeks and with each result the league’s playoff picture becomes clearer. However, Week 15 reminded everyone that there is still a lot to be sorted out in the maze of postseason possibilities.

The Detroit Lions finally saw their 10-game winning streak ended by the Buffalo Bills. That means the No. 1 seed in the NFC and the NFC North title are at stake in the final weeks of the season.

The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in a battle in the Keystone State. This extended the Eagles’ winning streak to 10 games and set up a critical battle between the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in Week 16 that could decide who controls the AFC North.

The Kansas City Chiefs also won again, but Patrick Mahomes was injured. The same thing happened to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith in a loss that allowed the Los Angeles Rams to overtake them in the still-wide open NFC West standings.

Suffice to say, there are a lot of moving parts at the end of the 2024 NFL season, but what does the NFL’s playoff picture look like? Below is a look at the potential NFL playoff bracket ahead of the Monday Night Football doubleheader in Week 15.

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Who is in the NFL playoffs so far?

So far, a total of seven teams have secured a place in the playoffs. They are listed below by conference.

AFC

Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
Buffalo Bills (11-3)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
Houston Texans (9-5)

NFC

2024 NFL Division Winners

Through Week 15, only three NFL divisions had been won. Below is a look at the previous division winners:

AFC

AFC East: Buffalo Bills (11-3)
AFC North:TBD
AFC South: Houston Texans (9-5)
AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)

NFC

NFC East:TBD
NFC North:TBD
NFC South:TBD
NFC West:TBD

NFL playoff bracket update

AFC mount

1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1, AFC West winner): Bye

The Chiefs have control of the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but they are dealing with a serious injury to Mahomes that could impact them in the final games of the season.

Mahomes suffered a suspected high ankle sprain in the Chiefs’ Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns and his availability going forward is questionable. If he’s out, Carson Wentz will take over for him to lead the Chiefs to the No. 1 seed and a bye that would help Mahomes return to full health.

To accomplish that, the Chiefs would only need to win one more game against the No. 2 seed Bills, but any slip-up could allow Buffalo to mount an attack on the No. 1 seed Bills.

2. Buffalo Bills (11-3, AFC East winner) vs. 7. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6, Wildcard No. 3)

The Bills are the only team to beat the Chiefs at 13-1 and just ended the Lions’ 10-game winning streak in a 48-42 shootout in Week 15. Josh Allen looks likely to take home his first NFL MVP award, and Buffalo appears to be a strong challenger to the Chiefs in the AFC.

If the season ended today, Buffalo would face an exciting first-round matchup with a Chargers team that has allowed just 17.6 points per game this season. That makes them the fewest in the league along with the Eagles and Denver Broncos.

In recent weeks, the Chargers have been beaten by good offenses like the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with their 40-17 loss to the Buccaneers in Week 15 considered one of the team’s worst games of the season. That would give Allen and Co. an advantage, considering that with 31.8 points per game they are second in the league only to the Lions (32.8).

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3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4, AFC North leaders) vs. 6. Denver Broncos (9-5, Wildcard No. 2)

Russell Wilson was not healthy enough to play when the Steelers and Broncos faced off in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season. If he’s on the field for this game, he’d have a chance to exact revenge on a Denver team that cut him just two years after signing him to a lucrative contract extension.

Wilson had a bounce-back year in Pittsburgh, while Denver now has Bo Nix. The rookie first-round pick improved dramatically over the course of his first season, but the Steelers’ stingy defense (18.9 points allowed per game, sixth-fewest in the NFL) forced him into two interceptions while failing to allow a touchdown in a 13-6 victory Week 2 win.

As mentioned, Denver is allowing a league-low 17.6 points per game. That could make it a low-scoring contest that will appeal to fans of defensive battles.

Pittsburgh and Denver are far from deadlocked in this matchup. The Steelers have yet to beat the Ravens in the AFC North race, as that is the only AFC division that cannot be won. Their head-to-head meeting in Week 16 will determine which team has control of a path to a first-round home game.

4. Houston Texans (9-5, AFC South winner) vs. 5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5, Wildcard No. 1)

The Texans clinched the AFC South in Week 15 by defeating the Miami Dolphins and seeing the Indianapolis Colts lose to the Broncos. Now they can prepare for a first-round meeting with one of the top two AFC wild card teams.

In that case, the Texans would have a tough matchup with Lamar Jackson’s Ravens. Jackson has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season and would be a tough test for Houston’s defense. The Texans have a strong pass rush, but if Jackson can escape that, he should have some opportunities to make explosive downfield plays in an at times leaky secondary.

The Ravens defeated the Texans 34-10 in the playoffs last season, so Houston fans may be hoping that Baltimore wins the AFC North to give the Texans a more favorable first-round game against the Steelers or Broncos.

NFC holder

1. Detroit Lions (12-2, NFC North leaders): Bye

The Lions scored 42 points in Week 15 but lost to the Bills. That ended a 10-game winning streak and loosened Detroit’s hold on the No. 1 seed.

The Lions still have the edge over the top seed, but the Eagles have the best record in the NFL with them. If the Minnesota Vikings improve to 12-2 on Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears, it will pose another obstacle for the Lions and could make the NFC North rivals’ Week 18 game a division battle.

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2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2, NFC East leaders) vs. 7. Washington Commanders (9-5, Wild Card No. 3)

The Eagles and Commanders meet for the second time of the season in Week 16. They’re also poised to face each other in the opening round of the playoffs, assuming the Eagles don’t move up to No. 1 overall.

Philadelphia earned a convincing victory over the Commanders to start the season. The 26-18 win makes the final score seem close, but in reality, Saquon Barkley and the Eagles controlled this contest. At the same time, the Eagles defense severely limited Jayden Daniels until Zach Ertz caught a touchdown with 28 seconds left in regulation.

The Eagles still maintain an advantage in this matchup because their elite defense (17.6 points allowed per game) can keep up with Daniels, a rookie quarterback. Another Philadelphia win in Week 16 could set the tone for this potential playoff matchup and force the Commanders to fight for their playoff lives with some other NFC wild card contenders.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6, AFC South leaders) vs. 6. Green Bay Packers (10-4, Wildcard No. 2)

The Packers were one of the best teams in the NFL this season. They are 10-4 and their losses have all come against teams with 11-plus wins – two against the Lions, one against the Eagles and one against the Vikings. They have dominated other competitions, as evidenced by their 30-13 road win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15, and they expect to be a tough opponent in the postseason.

The Buccaneers won’t mind. Tampa Bay has beaten the Lions and Eagles this season and could consider itself a postseason behemoth-killer. Baker Mayfield is enjoying another outstanding season, this time under first-year offensive coordinator Liam Coen, and the Buccaneers’ versatile offense could be a nice test for Jeff Hafley’s rock-solid Packers defense.

Add to that the fact that Mayfield and Jordan Love both have a bit of a gunslinger mentality, and this could be one of the most entertaining first-round matchups. Many NFL fans will be looking forward to this result, although Atlanta Falcons fans are still hoping they can catch up and overtake the Buccaneers in the NFC South race.

4. Los Angeles Rams (8-6, NFC West leaders) vs. 5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2, Wild Card No. 1)

Let’s be honest: The NFC West likely won’t be decided until the final week of the season. Despite this, the Rams still have the best chance to win the division, especially after Geno Smith’s knee injury.

The Vikings are practically a postseason lock already. The only question is whether they will win the NFC North or settle for the first wild card spot. If the latter scenario holds true, they could head into a meeting with the Rams that would pit mentee Kevin O’Connell and mentor Sean McVay in a battle between the NFL’s most creative offensive minds.

McVay’s offense against Brian Flores’ defense would be a real chess match, so this is another matchup that neutral NFL fans would love to see.

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NFL playoff image

AFC

Kansas City Chiefs (13-1, AFC West winner)
Buffalo Bills (11-3, AFC East winners)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4, AFC North leaders)
Houston Texans (9-5, AFC South winner)
Baltimore Ravens (9-5, Wild Card No. 1)
Denver Broncos (9-5, Wild Card No. 2)
Los Angeles Chargers (8-6, Wild Card No. 3)

On the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (6-8), Miami Dolphins (6-8), Cincinnati Bengals (6-8).

NFC

Detroit Lions (12-2, NFC North leaders)
Philadelphia Eagles (12-2, NFC East leaders)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6, NFC South leaders)
Los Angeles Rams (8-6, NFC West leaders)
Minnesota Vikings (11-2, Wild Card No. 1)
Green Bay Packers (10-4, Wild Card No. 2)
Washington Commanders (9-5, Wildcard No. 3)

On the hunt: Seattle Seahawks (8-6), Arizona Cardinals (7-7), Atlanta Falcons (6-7), San Francisco 49ers (6-8), Dallas Cowboys (6-8), New Orleans Saints (5-9)

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Who is in the NFL playoffs so far? Division winners, bracket update

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