Heading into Week 18, let's take a look at what the 2024 playoffs will actually look like. While some of the teams in question have already been confirmed, none of the matchups are actually set in stone, and the wild card standings could change.
The Kansas City Chiefs have secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Detroit Lions will play their Week 17 game on Monday night, and if they win, they will take on the Minnesota Vikings in the same bracket. If the Lions beat the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, they will earn the No. 1 seed with a win in Week 18.
In the AFC, the Buffalo Bills earned the second seed and the Houston Texans earned the fourth seed. The division champions, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, will earn the No. 3 seed.
In the NFC, the winner of Week 18 between the Lions and Vikings will be the top seed. The Philadelphia Eagles will be the second seed. The Rams are the No. 3 seed, with the division champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons securing the No. 4 seed.
NFC playoff bracket
1. minnesota vikings (14-2) — Bye-bye
2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) vs. 7. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6) vs. 6. Washington Commanders (11-5)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) vs. 5. Detroit Lions (13-2)
AFC playoff bracket
1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) — Bye
2. Buffalo Bills (13-3) vs. Denver Broncos (9-7)
3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5) vs. 6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
4. Houston Texans (9-7) vs. 5. Pittsburgh Steelers
After the wild card round, one seed will host the lowest remaining seed in the conference, and the second highest remaining seed will host the second lowest remaining seed.
