Who would be in the 2024-25 NFL playoffs ahead of Super Bowl 59 based on the current AFC and NFC standings?
NFL playoff bracket
NFL standings for Week 18
AFC playoff picture
(clinched) 1. Kansas City Chiefs 15-1 (champions, AFC West): The Chiefs have locked up home-field advantage and the lone bye in the AFC playoffs ahead of their Week 18 game at Denver.
(clinched) 2. Buffalo Bills 13-3 (champions, AFC East): The Bills are locked into this seed and will be resting starters in Week 18 after getting Josh Allen into the game against the Patriots.
(clinched) 3. Baltimore Ravens 12-5 (champions, AFC North): The Ravens got off to a slow start, but put the game away in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry had to play way more than expected in Week 18, but won't complain with a divisional crown.
(clinched) 4. Houston Texans 9-7 (champions, AFC South). The Texans will be careful with their starters against the Titans as they're also locked into their position with a home wild-card playoff game upcoming.
5. Los Angeles Chargers 10-6 (second place, AFC West): The Chargers, already with a wild-card berth clinched, moved up to the No. 5 spot with the Ravens winning the AFC North and the Steelers losing to the Bengals. Jim Harbaugh's team can stay in the No. 5 spot with a road win or tie at the Raiders.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-7 (second place, AFC North): The Steelers have dropped to the No. 6 following the loss to the Bengals. Pittsburgh already lost out on the division title with the Baltimore win over Cleveland earlier in the day, but dropped out of the No. 5 spot with the loss. Mike Tomlin's crew need a Chargers loss against the Raiders to move back into the fifth seed.
7. Denver Broncos 9-7 (third place, AFC West): The Broncos would lock down their surprise playoff spot and this seed with a win or a tie over the resting Chiefs at home in Week 18. The Broncos also can get in with a loss with a loss/tie by the Dolphins and a loss/tie by the Bengals.
Who's in the hunt? Both teams first need the Broncos to lose to have a chance. The Dolphins would get into the playoffs with a Broncos loss and a win over the Jets. The Bengals did their part to get into the playoffs by beating the Steelers, but they also need a loss by the Broncos and either a loss or tie from the Dolphins to make the postseason.
Who's out? NFC playoff picture
1. Detroit Lions 14-2 (first place, NFC North): The Lions need to beat or tie the Vikings at home on Sunday night to lock down the division title, the top seed, home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs and the lone bye. A loss drops them to a No. 5 wild-card position.
(clinched) 2. Philadelphia Eagles 13-3 (champions, NFC East): The Eagles will be resting key players including Saquon Barkley as they are locked into this seed regardless of the Vikings-Lions outcome.
3. Los Angeles Rams 10-6 (champions, NFC West): The Rams are locked into either this seed or the No. 3 but will rest players regardless against the Cardinals and be happy with hosting a wild-card playoff game as division champs.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10-7 (first place, NFC South): The Buccaneers executed a come-from-behind victory against the Saints to win the NFC South. Tampa Bay can still get the No. 3 seed in the playoffs if the Rams lose to the Seahawks in the late window.
5. Minnesota Vikings 14-2 (second place, NFC North): The Vikings would win the division with a win over the Lions on Sunday night. If they lose, they would stay here and face either Rams, Buccaneers or Falcons on the road in the wild-card round.
6. Washington Commanders 12-5 (second place, NFC East): The Commanders clinched the No. 6 seed in the playoffs by defeating the Cowboys in the last game of the regular season.
7. Green Bay Packers 11-6 (third place, NFC North): With the Packers loss to the Bears in Week 18, the Packers clinch the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Who's out? The Falcons lost the NFC South division when the Buccaneers beat the Saints in the last game of the regular season.
