The NFL playoff picture is set. With the regular season over, it's time to get down to the nitty gritty of the postseason.
As we head to Wild Card Weekend and the road to the 2024 Super Bowl begins, I'll break down the postseason picture and latest playoff bracket:
2024 AFC Playoff Picture
1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) - Bye week, will await the AFC's lowest seed.
2. Buffalo Bills (13-4) vs 7. Denver Broncos (9-7) - Bills vs Broncos betting preview
3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5) vs 6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) - Ravens vs Steelers betting preview
4. Houston Texans (10-7) vs 5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) - Texans vs Chargers betting preview
Sean Payton and Bo Nix lead the Denver Broncos to the playoffs after Denver defeated a lame-duck Kansas City Chiefs squad in Week 18. The Broncos return to the playoffs for the first time since Peyton Manning led them to the Super Bowl in 2015. As a reward, Denver will visit the juggernaut Buffalo Bills and NFL MVP favorite Josh Allen as 8.5-point underdogs on Wild Card Weekend.
Meanwhile, longtime rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh meet in another black-and-blue AFC North playoff matchup. The Steelers are 3-1 SU in the playoffs all-time against Baltimore, but find themselves as 9.5-point road underdogs.
The Ravens came this close (and a 2-point convo) away from beating every team in the AFC playoffs in the regular season.
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) January 6, 2025
L vs. No. 1 Chiefs, 20-27
W vs. No. 2 Bills, 35-10
W vs. No. 4 Texans, 31-2
W vs. No. 5 Chargers, 30-23
W vs. No. 6 Steelers, 34-17
W vs. No. 7 Broncos, 41-10 pic.twitter.com/BVlE9l55XQ
An intriguing Texans vs Chargers game gets the playoffs started on Saturday. CJ Stroud and the Texans lost the element of surprise this year, but DeMeco Ryans defense remains formidable. Can the Texans overcome the Chargers without both Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell?
2024 NFC Playoff Picture
1. Detroit Lions (15-2) - Bye week, will await the NFC's lowest seed.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) vs 7. Green Bay Packers (11-6) - Eagles vs Packers betting preview
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) vs 6. Washington Commanders (12-5) - Buccaneers vs Commanders betting preview
4. Los Angeles Rams (10-7) vs 5. Minnesota Vikings(14-3) - Rams vs Vikings betting preview
Philadelphia and Green Bay replay their Week 1 contest at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday. The Eagles will be well rested after sitting most of their starters in Week 18, but how healthy is Jalen Hurts?
A Buccaneers vs Commanders Wild Card showdown pits Baker Mayfield against likely NFL rookie of the year Jayden Daniels. Washington has won five straight games and will be buoyed by the fact that they'll take on a banged up Buccaneers secondary.
Minnesota's reward for a 14-win season is another trip to SoFi stadium. The Vikings suffered their first loss of the season at SoFi against the Rams in Week 7 and will be determined to change that outcome.
