Who would be in the 2024-25 NFL playoffs ahead of Super Bowl 59 based on the current AFC and NFC standings?
With fewer than two weeks left in the regular season, here's an updated look at who would be in, who would be out, and where all the potential postseason teams would be seeded going after Week 17's late Sunday and Monday action.
POWER RANKINGS: Packers, Steelers, Falcons fall; Commanders, Bengals, Bucs climb for Week 18
NFL playoff bracket
The bracket reflects current NFL playoff standings if the regular season ended on Dec. 31.
NFL standings after Week 18
AFC playoff picture
1. Kansas City Chiefs 15-1 (champions, AFC West): The Chiefs clinched the top seed, home-field advantage, and only bye in the AFC playoffs with their win over the Steelers on Christmas.
2. Buffalo Bills 13-3 (champions, AFC East): The Bills can't be the top seed anymore after the Chiefs clinched, but they locked down the No. 2 ahead of the Ravens with their dominant home victory over the Jets.
3. Baltimore Ravens 11-5 (first place, AFC North): The Ravens, who had already clinched a playoff berth, took first place back in the AFC North from the Steelers by a full game after winning at Houston while Pittsburgh lost to Kansas City on Christmas.
4. Houston Texans 9-7 (champions, AFC South). The Texans are locked into the No. 4 seed with their loss against the Ravens, and now it's looking like they will have a tough playoff opener vs. the Steelers.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6 (second place, AFC North): The Steelers, who have clinched a playoff spot, now need to win in Week 18 over the Bengals and a Ravens loss to the Browns to win the division.
6. Los Angeles Chargers 10-6 (second place, AFC West): The Chargers clinched a wild-card spot in Jim Harbaugh's first season back in the NFL by routing the Patriots on Saturday.
7. Denver Broncos 9-7 (third place, AFC West): The Broncos kept things interesting for the final AFC playoff spot by losing to the Bengals in overtime on Saturday, with that team only one game behind. Denver will try again vs. a resting Kansas City team in Week 18.
Who's in the hunt?
- 8. Miami Dolphins 8-8 (second place, AFC East)
- 9. Cincinnati Bengals 8-8 (third place, AFC North)
The Dolphins and Bengals both got big wins in Week 17 to stay alive behind the Broncos, while the Colts couldn't keep pace and were eliminated.
Who's out?
- 10. Indianapolis Colts 7-9 (second place, AFC South)
- 11. New York Jets 4-12 (third place, AFC East)
- 12. Las Vegas Raiders 4-12 (fourth place, AFC West)
- 13. Jacksonville Jaguars 4-12 (third place, AFC South)
- 14. Tennessee Titans 3-13 (fourth place, AFC South)
- 15. Cleveland Browns 3-13 (fourth place, AFC North)
- 16. New England Patriots 3-13 (fourth place, AFC East)
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NFC playoff picture
1. Detroit Lions 14-2 (first place, NFC North): The Lions kept pace with the winning Vikings by beating the 49ers to avenge their NFC championship game loss on Monday night. They still need to beat the Vikings in Detroit on Sunday night in Week 18 to earn a second straight division title, which also will come with the top seed, home-field advantage and a bye. A loss drops them to No. 5 and a road game in the wild-card game.
2. Philadelphia Eagles 13-3 (champions, NFC East): The Eagles clinched the division title with their rout over the Cowboys on Sunday. They can't get the No. 1 seed and locked into No. 2, leaving questions on whether they should risk Saquon Barkley for the rushing record in Week 18 vs. the Giants.
3. Los Angeles Rams 10-6 (champions, NFC West): The Rams clinched the division title with their win over the Cardinals despite the Seahawks winning after the strength of victory tiebreaker went in their favor with the right teams winning in Week 17. Now the pressure is off to beat Seattle at home in Week 18.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-7 (first place, NFC South): The Buccaneers jumped the Falcons again by one game after beating the Panthers and the Falcons losing later to the Commanders. The Bucs can only clinch a playoff spot by winning the division, which they can do with a home win over the Saints or a Falcons home loss to the Panthers.
5. Minnesota Vikings 14-2 (second place, NFC North): The Vikings would win the division with a win over the Lions in Detroit in Week 18 Sunday night or stay right here and stay on the road for the playoffs.
6. Washington Commanders 11-5 (second place, NFC East): The Commanders clinched the third and final wild-card berth in the NFC playoffs with their thrilling overtime win over the Falcons on Sunday night.
7. Green Bay Packers 11-5 (third place, NFC North): The Packers have clinched a wild-card playoff spot but fell behind the Commanders after their tough loss at the Vikings with a worse conference record.
Who's in the hunt?
- 8. Atlanta Falcons 8-7 (first place, NFC South)
The Falcons, after losing the heartbreaker to the Commanders, now need to beat the Panthers and hope the Saints can pull off a big upset at the Buccaneers.
Who's out?
- 9. Seattle Seahawks 9-7 (second place, NFC West)
- 10. Dallas Cowboys 7-9 (third place, NFC East)
- 11. Arizona Cardinals 7-9 (third place, NFC West)
- 12. San Francisco 49ers 6-10 (fourth place, NFC West)
- 13. New Orleans Saints 5-11 (third place, NFC South)
- 14. Chicago Bears 4-12 (fourth place, NFC North)
- 15. Carolina Panthers 4-12 (fourth place, NFC South)
- 16. New York Giants 3-13 (fourth place, NFC East)
