2024 NFL playoff picture, standings: Bengals stay alive with OT win; Chargers lock up playoff spot

The AFC playoff picture is one game away from having all its teams settled. The Los Angeles Chargers wrapped up their playoff berth with a victory over the New England Patriots, but the final playoff spot will be up for grabs heading into the season’s final week. 

The Cincinnati Bengals remained alive in the playoff race with their thrilling overtime win over the Denver Broncos, keeping the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins alive in the playoff race as well. Denver can still clinch a playoff berth with a victory in Week 18. 

Christmas Day games also had major playoff implications around the NFL. The Kansas City Chiefs needed just one victory to lock up home-field advantage in the AFC, and they earned it by defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the opener of the Christmas Day doubleheader. 

The Steelers lost the AFC North lead, as the Baltimore Ravens took over first place in the division with their blowout victory over the Houston Texans. Baltimore is one win away from clinching the AFC North. 

Below is a breakdown of the conference standings with the Week 17 slate underway: 

AFC playoff picture

z — clinched first-round bye
y — clinched division
x — clinched playoff berth
e — eliminated from playoffs 

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)

The Chiefs wrapped up the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with their win over the Steelers. Kansas City gets the lone bye in the conference and can rest its starters in Week 18. 

Remaining schedule: at Broncos

2. Buffalo Bills (12-3)

The Bills needed the Chiefs to lose out to still have a shot at the No. 1 seed. That didn’t happen, so the Bills need a win in their final two games to lock up the No. 2 seed. 

Remaining schedule: vs. Jets, at Patriots

3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

The Ravens have taken over the AFC North lead with their win and the Steelers’ loss, having a one-game lead over Pittsburgh heading into the final week. A win or a Steelers loss in Week 18 gives Baltimore the division. 

Remaining schedule: vs. Browns

4. Houston Texans (9-7)

The Texans have already clinched the AFC South. They will be the No. 4 seed in the AFC and will have a home game in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Remaining schedule: at Titans

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

The Steelers lose the AFC North lead after falling to the Chiefs. They need a win and a Ravens loss in the final week to win the division. They hold the tiebreaker over the Chargers for the No. 5 seed due beating Los Angeles in Week 3. 

Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals

6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)

The Chargers clinched a playoff berth their win over the Patriots.

Remaining schedule: at Raiders

7. Denver Broncos (9-7)

The Broncos are a win away from clinching a playoff spot, even with their overtime loss to the Bengals. They need to win in Week 18 to clinch a playoff spot. 

Remaining schedule: vs. Chiefs

8. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)

The Bengals remain alive in the AFC playoff race, thanks to their overtime win over the Broncos. They will make the playoffs if they win in Week 18 and the Broncos lose along with Miami and Indianapolis losing one of their final two games. 

Remaining schedule: at Steelers

9. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

The Colts are 1.5 games out of the final wild-card spot in the AFC, but are eliminated from playoff contention with a loss in one of their final two games. The Colts have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dolphins for the No. 9 seed by virtue of their Week 7 victory.

Remaining schedule: at Giants, vs. Jaguars

10. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

The Dolphins’ AFC playoff hopes are still alive, but Miami will be eliminated with a loss in one of its final two games. Miami is 1.5 games behind Denver for the final playoff spot.

Remaining schedule: at Browns, at Jets

Eliminated from playoff contention

Six teams are eliminated from the playoff race in the AFC: Raiders, Patriots, Titans, Jets, Jaguars and Browns. 

NFC playoff picture

x — clinched playoff berth
e — eliminated from playoffs 

1. Detroit Lions (13-2)

The Lions remain the No. 1 seed in the conference. They are also tied for the NFC North lead with the Vikings, but hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. Detroit will clinch the No. 1 seed with a win and a Minnesota loss. 

Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Vikings 

2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)

The Eagles remain in the hunt for home-field advantage, but need the Lions to lose out, the Vikings to lose next week and for Minnesota to beat Detroit in Week 18. Philadelphia can clinch the NFC East and the No. 2 seed with a win in one of its final two games. 

Remaining schedule: vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants

3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)

The Rams lead the NFC West by a game over the Seahawks with two to play. Los Angeles clinches the division next week with a win and a Seattle loss.

Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks

4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)

The Falcons lead the NFC South and can clinch the division with a win and Buccaneers loss. Atlanta holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Tampa Bay and control its own destiny in the division.

Remaining schedule: at Commanders, vs. Panthers

5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2)

Minnesota remains the top wild-card team in the conference and is tied with Detroit for first place in the NFC North. Detroit still has the division lead via the head-to-head tiebreaker. 

Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, at Lions

6. Green Bay Packers (11-4)

The Packers clinched a playoff berth and are currently the No. 6 seed in the NFC. 

Remaining schedule: at Vikings, vs. Bears

7. Washington Commanders (10-5)

The Commanders lead the Buccaneers and Seahawks by two games for the final playoff spot in the conference. They clinch a playoff berth with a win next week (or a Buccaneers loss). 

Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, at Cowboys

8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)

The Seahawks are 1.5 games back of the Commanders for the final wild-card spot after their win over the Bears. They are also 0.5 game back for the NFC West lead, but the Rams hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. A Rams win Saturday doesn’t eliminate the Seahawks from the NFC West, but there is an intriguing playoff scenario in Week 17 which Seattle could lose the division. 

Remaining schedule: at Rams

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

The Buccaneers dropped from NFC South leaders to out of the playoff picture. They need to finish with a better record than the Falcons to win the division since they lost both games to Atlanta. A loss this week also wraps up a playoff berth for the Commanders. 

Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, vs. Saints

Eliminated from playoff contention

The Cardinals, Cowboys, 49ers, Saints, Bears, Panthers and Giants have been eliminated from the playoffs.