Kansas City Chiefs starring Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have been rightly on their way to achieve three peat. The last game on Christmas Day against Steelers saw them reaching AFC NO.1 seed. What makes things more interesting is the fact that the defending champions will play their playoff matches infront of their home crowd.
Here is the exact Playoff picture and scenario for teams
AFC Playoff Picture
Teams That Have Clinched Playoff Spots
- Kansas City Chiefs (15-1): The Chiefs have secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC, ensuring a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Defending champions, the Chiefs will host the AFC Championship Game if they make it that far. With quarterback Patrick Mahomes leading the team, they aim for their third consecutive NFL title.
- Buffalo Bills (12-3): The Bills have already won the AFC East and are set to claim the No. 2 seed, which will grant them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, unless they face the Chiefs in the AFC Championship.
- Baltimore Ravens (11-5): Despite not clinching their division, the Ravens are in the playoffs as one of the wild card teams.
- Houston Texans (9-7): The Texans secured the AFC South title and are guaranteed a wild card round game at home.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6): The Steelers have earned a wild card berth, though their division title is still in play.
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-6): The Chargers have clinched a wild card spot after a decisive victory over the New England Patriots in Week 17.
Teams That Are Still in the Hunt
- Denver Broncos (9-7): With a 62% chance of making the playoffs, the Broncos need to win their final game against the Chiefs. However, the Chiefs, having secured the No. 1 seed, may field a much-changed lineup, which could impact Denver’s playoff aspirations.
- Indianapolis Colts (7-8): The Colts have a 15% chance of making the playoffs and need to win their remaining games while hoping other results fall in their favor.
- Cincinnati Bengals (8-8): The Bengals have a 14% chance of reaching the postseason, and like the Colts, must win their final games and rely on others to lose.
- Miami Dolphins (7-8): The Dolphins have an 8% chance but need a combination of wins and losses to sneak into the playoffs.
Complicated Playoff Scenarios
If the Denver Broncos lose to the Chiefs, the playoff picture gets complicated for the wild card spots:
- The Cincinnati Bengals need both the Colts and Dolphins to lose one of their final games while securing a win themselves.
- The Miami Dolphins only need the Colts to lose one game and a win of their own to take the final wild card spot, benefiting from a tiebreaker over both the Bengals and Broncos.
- The Indianapolis Colts need either the Bengals or Dolphins to win all of their remaining games to qualify for the final wild card spot. Indianapolis wins a multi-team tiebreaker scenario involving the Broncos, Bengals, and Dolphins.
Teams Eliminated from Playoff Contention
- New York Jets (4-11)
- Cleveland Browns (3-12)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)
- Tennessee Titans (3-12)
- Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)
- New England Patriots (3-13)
NFC Playoff Picture
Teams That Have Clinched Playoff Spots
- Detroit Lions (13-2): While the Lions have not yet secured the NFC North title, they have clinched a playoff spot and are in the mix for the No. 1 seed.
- Philadelphia Eagles (12-3): The Eagles will secure the NFC East with a win in one of their final two games or if the Washington Commanders lose one of their last two games.
- Minnesota Vikings (13-2): The Vikings have also locked up a playoff spot but are in a battle with the Lions for the NFC North.
- Green Bay Packers (11-4): The Packers are guaranteed a wild card spot, though they are also in the race for the NFC North title.
Teams with the Best Playoff Chances
- Washington Commanders (10-5): With a 94% chance of making the playoffs, the Commanders can clinch a spot with a win against the Falcons or a loss by the Buccaneers to the Panthers.
- Los Angeles Rams (10-6): The Rams have a 98% chance of reaching the postseason and will win the NFC West if they either win their next game or receive some favorable results from other teams.
- Atlanta Falcons (8-7): With a 54% chance, the Falcons face a crucial matchup against the Commanders, and the outcome could determine their playoff fate.
Teams Still in Contention
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7): The Buccaneers are in a neck-and-neck race with the Falcons for the NFC South title. The runner-up will not make the playoffs unless there is a Commanders collapse.
- Seattle Seahawks (9-7): With only a 2% chance, the Seahawks need multiple results to go their way, including beating the Rams, to have any chance of winning the NFC West and securing a playoff spot.
Teams Eliminated from Playoff Contention
- Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
- San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-8)
- New Orleans Saints (5-10)
- Chicago Bears (4-11)
- Carolina Panthers (4-11)
- New York Giants (2-13)
Playoff Schedule
- The wild card round will begin on Saturday, January 11, featuring six games.
- The divisional round follows on the weekend starting January 18, with the conference championships scheduled a week later.