The field for the NFL playoffs has started to take shape -- and the number of teams in contention for the remaining postseason spots is beginning to shrink.
Week 13 of the 2024 season saw a pair of AFC powerhouses become the first teams to officially qualify for the playoffs.
The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs used yet another nail-biter of a win -- this time against the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday -- to book their 10th straight trip to the postseason, one shy of the New England Patriots' all-time playoff streak record (2009-19). The latest playoff berth marks the first step in Kansas City's bid for a historic three-peat.
The Buffalo Bills then joined their AFC rivals in the postseason field with a dominant Sunday Night Football win over the San Francisco 49ers amid snowy conditions. Buffalo not only locked down a playoff spot, but also the franchise's fifth straight AFC East title.
Out in the NFC, the Detroit Lions became the first team to clinch a spot after beating the Green Bay Packers 34-31 in a Thursday night thriller to open Week 14. They were soon joined by the Philadelphia Eagles, who secured their spot in the postseason with the combination of their 22-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals' 30-18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Houston Texans secured a division title and playoff berth in Week 15 with their victory over the Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts' loss to the Denver Broncos.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers became the latest teams near the bottom of the standings to have their postseason hopes officially put to bed.
NFL
As the playoff picture becomes clearer -- and the races for remaining postseason spots become smaller -- over the final weeks of the regular season, here's what to know:
How many teams make the NFL playoffs?
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A total of 14 teams -- seven from each conference -- make the NFL playoffs.
How many NFL wild-card teams are there?
The playoff field in each conference consists of four division winners and three wild-card teams.
Who's going to the NFL playoffs?
Here are the teams in each conference that have qualified for playoff contention so far:
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West champions)
- Buffalo Bills (AFC East champions)
- Houston Texans (AFC South champions)
- Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC
- Detroit Lions
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Minnesota Vikings
Who's been eliminated from the NFL playoffs?
Here are the teams in each conference that have been eliminated from playoff contention so far:
AFC
- New England Patriots
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New York Jets
- Tennessee Titans
- Cleveland Browns
NFC
- New York Giants
- Chicago Bears
- Carolina Panthers
How many teams get a bye in the NFL playoffs?
Only the top seed in each conference gets a bye to the Divisional Round.
How do the NFL playoffs work?
Teams are seeded No. 1 through No. 7 in each conference, with the four division winners ranked by regular-season record followed by the three wild-card teams ranked by regular-season record.
The matchups in the opening round of the playoffs are No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5.
Do the NFL playoffs reseed?
Yes, the NFL reseeds in the playoffs. That means the top seed in each conference will draw the lowest-seeded team to advance beyond the opening round of the playoffs.
When does the 2024 NFL regular season end?
The regular season will conclude with Week 18 action on Sunday, Jan. 5.
When do the NFL playoffs start?
The postseason is then slated to begin with Super Wild Card Weekend from Saturday, Jan. 11 to Monday, Jan. 13.
What is the NFL playoff schedule?
The Divisional Round will take place from Saturday, Jan 18 to Sunday, Jan. 19, setting up the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, Jan. 26.
When is the 2025 Super Bowl?
The AFC and NFC champions will square off in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Where is the 2025 Super Bowl being played?
Caesars Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints, in the Big Easy will host the Big Game.
