NFL Playoff Scenarios 2024-25: Wildcard Picture, Postseason Bracket Post-Week 16

The number of available spots for the 2024 NFL Playoffs is thinning by the week.

Saturday night, the Baltimore Ravens beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and secured a wild-card berth at least. That result also created a tie atop the AFC North, which will be decided in the weeks to come along with the wild-card battle.

Sunday's action did not result in a clinching scenario, although the Los Angeles Rams moved to the lead in the NFC West and the Atlanta Falcons did the same in the NFC South.

But on Monday, the Green Bay Packers could lock up a wild-card berth as they remain on the fringe of the NFC North discussion.

This piece was updated Sunday night.

Thursday, Dec. 19

Los Angeles Chargers 34, Denver Broncos 27

Saturday, Dec. 21

Kansas City Chiefs 27, Houston Texans 19
Baltimore Ravens 34, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

Sunday, Dec. 22

Detroit Lions 34, Chicago Bears 17
Washington Commanders 36, Philadelphia Eagles 33
Los Angeles Rams 19, New York Jets 9
Atlanta Falcons 34, New York Giants 7
Carolina Panthers 36, Arizona Cardinals 30 (OT)
Cincinnati Bengals 24, Cleveland Browns 6
Indianapolis Colts 38, Tennessee Titans 30

Minnesota Vikings 27, Seattle Seahawks 24
Buffalo Bills 24, New England Patriots 21
Miami Dolphins 27, San Francisco 49ers 19
Las Vegas Raiders 19, Jacksonville Jaguars 14

Dallas Cowboys 26, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24

Monday, Dec. 23

New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers, 8:15 p.m.

All times ET

Division Leaders

1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1, clinched AFC West)
2. Buffalo Bills (12-3, clinched AFC East)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5, AFC North)
4. Houston Texans (9-6, clinched AFC South)

Not only did Kansas City topple Houston in a clash of division leaders, the Chiefs are officially on the verge of clinching home-field advantage in the AFC. Buffalo held off the Patriots and is still two games back but needs to win twice with KC falling twice to overtake the Chiefs.

Wild-Card Race

5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
7. Denver Broncos (9-6)

Week 16 had a substantial impact in the wild-card picture—and by that, I mean complicating it. Los Angeles beat Denver for the second time in 2024, so the Chargers have the tiebreaker there. Baltimore took out Pittsburgh and avoided the season sweep, but the Steelers are in front because of a higher win percentage in AFC games.

In the Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
9. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)

The good news is Indy, Miami and Cincinnati each won! The bad news is the Chargers' victory pushed the trifecta to the edge in the postseason race. Their fleeting playoff hopes depend on a pair of victories, plus the Chargers or Broncos losing twice and tiebreakers working out.

Eliminated

11. New York Jets (4-11)
12. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)
14. Tennessee Titans (3-12)
15. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)
16. New England Patriots (3-12)

For the second straight week, no additions to the eliminated group. Because the Raiders won and Patriots lost, though, New England has unofficially moved to the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Division Leaders

1. Detroit Lions (13-2, NFC North)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3, NFC East)
3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6, NFC West)
4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7, NFC South)

Detroit rolled past the hapless Bears and received a little help, too. Philadelphia lost quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion) early in a loss to Washington, so the Lions are again a game clear of the Eagles—with the tiebreaker, too—entering the last two weekends.

Wild-Card Race

5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2)
6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
7. Washington Commanders (10-5)

Minnesota, which clinched a playoff spot last week, beat Seattle and stayed tied with Detroit for the NFC's best record. That division race could go down to the Week 18 clash between the Vikings and Lions. Washington, meanwhile, snatched a clutch victory over Philly to give itself two chances to seal a postseason bid down the stretch.

In the Hunt

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)
9. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)

After a string of unimpressive games by Kirk Cousins, Atlanta turned to Michael Penix Jr. for his first career start. He helped the Falcons cruise past the hapless Giants and ultimately move ahead of Tampa Bay in the NFC South race because of the Bucs' letdown at Dallas. Seattle's loss to Minnesota dropped the Seahawks a game behind the Rams in the NFC West.

Eliminated

10. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)
11. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
12. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
13. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
14. Chicago Bears (4-11)
15. Carolina Panthers (4-11)
16. New York Giants (2-13)

As expected, Week 16 sealed the fate of the 49ers, Cowboys and Saints. Washington's win eliminated San Francisco and Dallas, while Atlanta's victory sent New Orleans into offseason mode. Arizona, however, joined the unfortunate group with a surprising loss at Carolina.

Sunday night's showdown between the Bucs and Cowboys does not have immediate playoff implications.

Now, granted, Tampa Bay needs to keep winning to retain its perch atop the NFC South. If the Buccaneers lose in Dallas, they technically will dip behind the Falcons in the division. Atlanta holds the tiebreaker by virtue of sweeping the regular-season series.

The conversation is far simpler for the Packers. In the words of the late Al Davis: Just win, baby.

Green Bay is poised to enter Monday night's matchup as a two-touchdown favorite at home against the reeling Saints. Detroit's win pushed the Packers to the brink in the NFC North, but Green Bay would lock in a wild-card berth with a victory over New Orleans.