Who would be in the 2024-2025 NFL playoffs ahead of Super Bowl 59 based on the current AFC and NFC standings?
With fewer than three 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 into the late Sunday and Monday games of Week 16:
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NFL standings for Week 16
AFC playoff picture
1. Kansas City Chiefs 14-1 (champions, AFC West): The Chiefs, with a superhuman Patrick Mahomes, have a two-game lead over the Bills for the top seed, home-field advantage, and the lone bye in the AFC. They need to finish a game ahead of the Bills to keep No. 1, as the latter owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Chiefs can clinch home field on Wednesday of Week 17 vs. the Steelers after winning at home over the Texans in Week 16.
2. Buffalo Bills 12-3 (champions, AFC East): The Bills survived a challenge from the Patriots to keep pace with the Chiefs and also pick up a game on the losing Steelers in the quest for the No. 2 seed.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-5 (first place, AFC North): The Steelers have clinched a wild-card playoff berth in yet another winning season under Mike Tomlin. The division title will come down to the final two weeks after losing to the Ravens. They hold the tiebreaker for now with a better conference record. The Steelers close with two tough home games against the Chiefs and Bengals.
4. Houston Texans 9-6 (champions, AFC South) The Texans have clinched a second consecutive division title and will just use the final two weeks to tune up for the playoffs ahead of likely hosting the North runner-up in the wild-card round.
5. Baltimore Ravens 10-5 (second place, AFC North): The Ravens have clinched at least a wild-card playoff berth. They now have a strong chance of winning the division after splitting the season series with the Steelers. The Ravens go to Houston in Week 17 before hosting Cleveland to close the season.
6. Los Angeles Chargers 9-6 (second place, AFC West): The Chargers jumped the Broncos by rallying big-time and completing a season sweep on Thursday night. They can clinch a playoff spot should the Dolphins and Colts lose in Week 16.
7. Denver Broncos 9-6 (third place, AFC West): The Broncos lost a heartbreaker on the road to fall behind the Chargers but can still clinch a playoff berth with losses by Dolphins, Colts, and Bengals.
Who’s in the hunt?
The Bengals lose the tiebreaker for now, but they’re the hottest team of the three with the best chance to make a shocking run but need help from the Colts and Dolphins losing on top of beating the Broncos in Week 17.
Who’s out?
All of these teams were eliminated from playoff contention before Week 16.
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NFC playoff picture
1. Detroit Lions 13-2 (first place, NFC North): The Lions have clinched a return to the playoffs, but their hopes of repeating in the division are on hold as they lead by only a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Vikings ahead of the teams playing each other in Week 18. At least the win over the Bears in Week 16 gave them a game cushion over the Eagles.
2. Philadelphia Eagles 12-3 (first place, NFC East): The Eagles failed to clinch the division title by blowing a lead in Washington and losing to the Commanders. They will try to take care of that business next week against the Cowboys, maybe without a concussed Jalen Hurts.
3. Los Angeles Rams 9-6 (first place, NFC West) (first place, NFC West): The Rams lead the division by a half-game and a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Seahawks after beating the Jets in Week 16. They jumped up here with the Buccaneers losing and falling out of first place in their division.
4. Atlanta Falcons 8-7 (first place, NFC South): The Falcons jumped the Buccaneers with their resounding win over the Giants coupled with a Bucs loss to the Cowboys. The Falcons have the lead by head-to-head tiebreaker thanks to sweeping the season series and having a 4-1 conference record with games vs. the Commanders and Panthers left.
5. Minnesota Vikings 13-2 (second place, NFC North): The Vikings have clinched a playoff berth and kept the pressure on the Lions in the division race by beating the Seahawks in Week 16.
6. Green Bay Packers 10-4 (third place, NFC North): The Packers can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Saints on Monday night or before with a loss by the Falcons coupled with a loss from either the Rams or Seahawks.
7. Washington Commanders 10-5 (second place, NFC East): The Commanders came back to beat the Eagles to stay in the hunt of the division title. They didn’t clinch at least a wild-card berth yet but would do so by beating the Falcons at home next Sunday night in Week 17.
Who’s in the hunt?
Both teams’ chances are dwindling down to a division title, though the Bucs do own the tiebreaker vs. Washington should it come to that.
Who’s out?
All these teams were eliminated from the playoffs during or before Week 16.
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