NFL Playoff Seeding Finalized: Wild Card Weekend Predictions and Complete Postseason Schedule

The 2024 NFL regular season has concluded, and 14 teams are now aiming for the Super Bowl LIX title in New Orleans.

On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos secured playoff spots in the NFC and AFC, respectively. The Buccaneers also claimed their fourth straight NFC South title.

The Detroit Lions took the No. 1 NFC seed, pushing the 14-3 Minnesota Vikings to No. 5.

The AFC is top-heavy, with five of the seven NFC teams having at least 11 wins.

Now, the postseason is about to begin, and here’s a breakdown of the AFC playoff teams and upcoming games, with insights from NFL experts like Gary Davenport, Brent Sobleski, Kris Knox, and Maurice Moton.

AFC Playoff Teams

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2): Despite some struggles earlier in the season, the Chiefs found their rhythm, winning six games in a row before resting key players in Week 18. With key players like Isiah Pacheco and Marquise Brown back from injury, Kansas City is hoping to make a historic three-peat.
2. Buffalo Bills (13-4): With Josh Allen playing at an MVP level, the Bills have a strong chance to break through in the playoffs. However, their weak run defense, allowing 4.7 yards per carry, may become an issue, especially if they face the Ravens again.
3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5): The Ravens surged after their bye week, finishing on a four-game win streak. They’re looking to make a playoff push, hoping to build on last year’s AFC Championship loss, with a solid defense and Derrick Henry to balance the offense.
4. Houston Texans (10-7): Despite an average performance this season compared to last, the Texans remain a dangerous team. Injuries to key players like Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell hurt their offense, but they’ve been finding momentum late in the season.

1. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6): Under head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers improved quickly, with a defense that ranked No. 1 in scoring before Week 18. Their defense will be crucial as they look to pull off upsets, backed by rookie wideout Ladd McConkey and running back J.K. Dobbins.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7): Despite making the playoffs, the Steelers have struggled with a four-game losing streak. Their usually strong defense has allowed 27.3 points per game recently, and they’ll need to refocus quickly to avoid a short playoff run.
3. Denver Broncos (10-7): The Broncos secured their playoff spot with a win over the Chiefs, clinching a 10-win season. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix has been impressive, and with a top-five defense, Denver is looking to compete in the postseason.

Here’s how the NFC teams are positioned in the playoff bracket:

1. Detroit Lions (15-2): The Lions have faced a number of injuries to key players like Aidan Hutchinson, David Montgomery, Alim McNeill, and Carlton Davis. Despite this, Detroit has a strong chance of reaching their first-ever Super Bowl. Jahmyr Gibbs has stepped up as a leading running back, Jared Goff directs a powerful passing attack, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn keeps finding ways to make the defense perform. Head coach Dan Campbell, known for being aggressive, will keep teams on their toes. With home-field advantage, a week to rest, and possibly getting some injured players back, the Lions will be tough to beat in the playoffs.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3): The Eagles secured the No. 2 seed before Week 18 and rested their key players to focus on the long term. While resting players was important, head coach Nick Sirianni’s decisions have been questioned this season. The Eagles have strong offensive and defensive units, but the big question is whether Sirianni will make the right calls in key moments. Despite leading the team to the Super Bowl two years ago, Sirianni still needs to prove he can be trusted.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7): The Buccaneers have the potential to win a playoff game at home for the second consecutive year. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has been playing well, and offensive coordinator Liam Coen has been successful in exploiting opposing defenses. With playmakers like Mike Evans, Bucky Irving, and rookie Jalen McMillan, the Buccaneers can keep up with high-scoring teams. However, their defense has been an issue throughout the season, and it nearly cost them a win against the New Orleans Saints in the season finale.
4. Los Angeles Rams (10-7): The Rams clinched the NFC West in Week 17 and rested many of their key players, including quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. With their offensive stars healthy, the Rams are ready to be a force in the playoffs. Although their defense has had issues, it includes some exciting young players. Head coach Sean McVay has shown he can be trusted in the postseason, and after a rough start, the Rams now look like a team others won’t want to face.
5. Minnesota Vikings (14-3): The Vikings’ loss to the Lions raised some concerns, especially with their secondary struggling and quarterback Sam Darnold facing heavy pressure. However, the loss doesn’t make Minnesota any less dangerous in the playoffs. Darnold has been playing well, and the Vikings have plenty of skilled players. Their defense can create sacks and turnovers, and they reached 14 wins for a reason. This team is likely to be a tough opponent in the postseason.
6. Washington Commanders (12-5): The Commanders were one of the biggest surprises this season. After securing a playoff berth in Week 17, they have a solid chance to make an impact in the playoffs. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, drafted second overall, has been a key factor in the team’s success and plays with the poise of a veteran. While Washington’s run defense is weak, their pass defense is strong, and they are well-coached by Dan Quinn, who has led a team to the Super Bowl before. The Commanders are prepared for the Wild Card Round.

1. Green Bay Packers (11-6): The Packers didn’t want to end the regular season with a loss to the Chicago Bears, but it didn’t matter as Washington’s win dropped Green Bay to the No. 7 seed. Quarterback Jordan Love and wide receiver Christian Watson both left the game with injuries, with Watson’s injury being more concerning. Green Bay is also missing star cornerback Jaire Alexander, who is on injured reserve. While the Packers have an improved defense and a strong running back in Josh Jacobs, they don’t feel as threatening as an 11-win team should, especially with key injuries at a critical time.

Here’s the full schedule for this year’s playoffs:

WILD CARD ROUND

Saturday, January 11

• AFC Wild Card Round—(5) Los Angeles Chargers at (4) Houston Texans: 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
• AFC Wild Card Round—(6) Pittsburgh Steelers at (3) Baltimore Ravens: 8:00 p.m. ET (Prime Video)

Sunday, January 12

• AFC Wild Card Round—(7) Denver Broncos at (2) Buffalo Bills: 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFC Wild Card Round—(7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Philadelphia Eagles: 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFC Wild Card Round—(6) Washington Commanders at (3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)

Monday, January 13

• NFC Wild Card Round—(5) Minnesota Vikings at (4) Los Angeles Rams: 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)

DIVISIONAL ROUND

Saturday, January 18

• AFC Divisional Round—4:30 p.m. ET (TV TBD)
• NFC Divisional Round—8:15 p.m. ET (TV TBD)

Sunday, January 19

• AFC Divisional Round—3:00 p.m. ET (TV TBD)
• NFC Divisional Round—6:30 p.m. ET (TV TBD)

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sunday, January 26

• NFC Championship—3:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• AFC Championship—6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)

SUPER BOWL LIX

Sunday, February 9

• AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion – Caesars Superdome, New Orleans: 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX)

(7) Denver Broncos at (2) Buffalo Bills

When the Denver Broncos play the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the playoffs, they will face a tough challenge.

First, the Bills have a clear edge at quarterback. Josh Allen might be named the 2024 NFL MVP. He is playing at a high level, and his teammate Von Miller even compared his performance to that of past stars.

“I don’t like to make comparisons; I played with Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford. Those guys are special in their own right,” Miller said, per ESPN’s Alania Getzenberg. “But this year, Josh is just doing something totally different and he’s not forcing it, he’s not trying too hard, he’s not looking for it, it’s just him.”

On the other hand, the Broncos will rely on rookie Bo Nix. Nix has had an excellent season with 33 total touchdowns and fits well in Sean Payton’s offense. However, he’s still a rookie quarterback about to play in his first playoff game, while Allen has already played in 11 postseason games and led his team to an AFC Championship Game.

Second, the Bills are more experienced as a team. They are familiar with playoff games, while the Broncos are making their first playoff appearance since Peyton Manning led them to a Super Bowl win nine years ago.

The Broncos’ defense will try to pressure Allen and his teammates. Pressuring him will be key to disrupting the Bills’ success, but Allen is playing too well this season to be stopped in the Wild Card Round.

Prediction: Bills 28, Broncos 20

(6) Pittsburgh Steelers at (3) Baltimore Ravens

These division rivals will play for the third time in two months after each team won one game in the season series.

The Steelers have had success against Lamar Jackson in the regular season, but this will be their first time facing him in the playoffs.

Jackson usually plays at a high level during the regular season but has struggled with his passing in January. In the playoffs, he has thrown six touchdowns and six interceptions, completing less than 59 percent of his passes in four out of six games.

Although the Steelers have had some struggles recently on both offense and defense, their experience with Jackson should help them keep the game close while playing on the road.

However, running back Derrick Henry will eventually tire out Pittsburgh’s defense and show why he could be the key to the Ravens’ Super Bowl hopes. Remember, he rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers in Week 16. Henry will rush for over 120 yards in another victory.

Prediction: Ravens 23, Steelers 19

(5) Los Angeles Chargers at (4) Houston Texans

This will be the first game of the season between the Chargers and Texans, as there was no regular-season matchup.

The two teams are heading in different directions. While the Texans won in Week 18 and became the AFC South champions, they lost two games to playoff teams near the end of the season. On the other hand, the Chargers are entering the playoffs with a three-game winning streak.

These teams are similarly ranked and will try to do similar things. Both teams aim to establish the run with players like Joe Mixon for the Texans and J.K. Dobbins for the Chargers, setting up play-action passes. Both teams also have strong edge-rushers who can pressure quarterbacks C.J. Stroud and Justin Herbert.

However, as the season went on, injuries to the Texans’ receivers have caused their offense to struggle. The Chargers will likely focus on covering Nico Collins and force Houston to try to beat them with other receivers. The Chargers also have a solid defense, with a top-10 pass defense and one of the toughest scoring defenses.

Los Angeles has the better quarterback in Justin Herbert, and a late drive leading to a Cameron Dicker field goal will send the Chargers to the Divisional Round, ending what seemed to be a promising season for Stroud and the Texans.

Prediction: Chargers 26, Texans 24

(7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles and Packers played their season opener in Brazil, where the Eagles won 34-29 in a close game.

Since then, not much has changed for the Eagles. Saquon Barkley is still the main player on offense, and quarterback Jalen Hurts continues to target wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, who can make big plays down the field.

Since their Week 10 bye, the Packers have relied on a run-heavy offense with Josh Jacobs, who has scored a touchdown in eight straight games, totaling 11 touchdowns in that span.

However, Green Bay’s offense may not be at full strength for this game. Quarterback Jordan Love (elbow) and wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) were both injured on Sunday. While Love is expected to play in the Wild Card game, Watson’s status is uncertain.

Green Bay’s defense might also be weaker for this matchup. They lost cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) for the season. While safety Xavier McKinney can help with coverage, he cannot cover everything on the field.

Barkley, Brown, and Smith will lead the Eagles to a victory.

Prediction: Eagles 27, Packers 24

(6) Washington Commanders at (3) Buccaneers

In Week 1, the Buccaneers beat the Commanders 37-20 in Tampa. That was Jayden Daniels’ first NFL game, and Washington has become a much stronger team since then.

The Commanders ended the regular season with four straight wins, entering the playoffs with a powerful offense, an experienced coach in Dan Quinn, and a lot of confidence. The playoff game is expected to be much different.

This game is likely to be an offensive battle. Both teams have top-10 offenses and defenses that allow a lot of points. Daniels and Baker Mayfield are expected to trade touchdowns, but the game might be decided by the run game.

Washington’s defense has been weak against the run and was ranked 30th in yards allowed per carry before Week 18. The Buccaneers have one of the best rushing attacks, led by Rachaad White and rookie Bucky Irving. They were ranked 3rd in yards per carry and 4th in rushing yards after being the worst in almost all rushing categories last year.

Washington can also run the ball well, and Daniels has shown that he can perform in big moments. However, the Buccaneers are built to run their way into the Divisional Round.

Prediction: Buccaneers 34, Commanders 28

(5) Minnesota Vikings at (4) Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams will host the Minnesota Vikings on Monday as the higher seed in the playoffs, but they are technically the underdog.

Minnesota is the No. 5 seed mainly because it shares a division with the Detroit Lions, who are the best team in the NFC. The Vikings were fighting for that spot until the last regular season game.

Sam Darnold and the Vikings proved that they are a strong team, with only two losses all season.

The Rams were one of the teams to beat the Vikings, winning 30-20 in Week 8.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell said, “I think we were close on some plays. But when you’re playing against that quarterback, and those receivers getting healthy and making some plays, it just comes down to whether we can get enough rush and coverage working together to not give a quarterback like that extra time.”

The Rams made sure to rest quarterback Matthew Stafford and receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua in Week 18 to ensure they were healthy for this rematch. After seeing Detroit beat the Vikings, the Rams know they need to be very aggressive on defense to disrupt Sam Darnold and the Vikings’ offense.

Like the Lions, the Rams have the tools to beat the Vikings again.