The final week of the 2024 NFL regular season is underway.
The Week 18 action kicked off Saturday with the Baltimore Ravens clinching their second straight AFC North title thanks to a 35-10 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Two more division champions will be crowned this weekend. The final NFC playoff spot will go to the South division winner, either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings will battle for the NFC North title, along with the conference’s No. 1 seed, on Sunday Night Football.
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There’s also one AFC playoff spot up for grabs in Week 18. The third and final wild-card berth will go to either the Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals or Miami Dolphins. Cincinnati kept its postseason hopes alive with a fifth straight win to end the regular season, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 19-17.
Week 18 began with just four teams locked into a playoff seed and that number is now up to five. From the updated bracket to how the postseason works and more, here’s everything to know about the NFL playoffs:
How many teams are in the NFL playoffs?
Twelve teams -- six in each conference -- have clinched a playoff berth so far:
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West champions, clinched No. 1 seed)
- Buffalo Bills (AFC East champions)
- Baltimore Ravens (AFC North champions)
- Houston Texans (AFC South champions)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (clinched wild card)
- Los Angeles Chargers (clinched wild card)
NFC
- Detroit Lions
- Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East champions)
- Los Angeles Rams (NFC West champions)
- Minnesota Vikings
- Washington Commanders (clinched wild card)
- Green Bay Packers (clinched wild card)
How do the NFL playoffs work?
The NFL playoff bracket is set by teams in each conference being seeded No. 1 through No. 7. The four division winners in each conference are ranked No. 1 to No. 4 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. The team with the higher seed holds home-field advantage.
Who gets a bye in the NFL playoffs?
Only the top seed in each conference gets a bye to the Divisional Round. The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs clinched the AFC bye, while the NFC bye will go to the North division champion -- either the Lions or Vikings.
What's the AFC playoff bracket?
The top four seeds in the AFC bracket are set with the Chiefs leading the way, followed by the Bills, Ravens and Texans.
The Steelers and Chargers will finish fifth and sixth in some order, leaving Baltimore and Houston as their potential first-round opponents. The Bills will face the team who claims the last remaining AFC wild-card berth.
Here's what the final AFC bracket could look like:
- Chiefs
- Bills
- Ravens
- Texans
- (Steelers or Chargers)
- (Steelers or Chargers)
- (Broncos, Dolphins or Bengals)
What's the NFC playoff bracket?
The Eagles are the lone NFC team with a set seed, and Philadelphia will face either Washington or Green Bay in the opening round.
Here's a look at the NFC bracket possibilities:
- (Lions or Vikings)
- Eagles
- (Rams or Buccaneers)
- (Rams, Buccaneers or Falcons)
- (Lions or Vikings)
- (Commanders or Packers)
- (Commanders or Packers)
You can check out a full breakdown of clinching and seeding scenarios for Week 18 here.
When do the NFL playoffs start?
The NFL postseason opens with Super Wild Card Weekend from Saturday, Jan. 11, to Monday, Jan. 13. There will be two Saturday games, three Sunday games and one Monday game.
Full schedule details have yet to be released.
Does the NFL reseed in the playoffs?
Yes, the NFL reseeds in the playoffs. That means that the Chiefs will face the lowest-seeded AFC team left following the opening round.
What's the NFL playoff schedule?
The Divisional Round is set for Saturday, Jan 18, to Sunday, Jan. 19, followed by the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, Jan. 26.
When is the Super Bowl 2025?
The AFC and NFC champions will square off in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Where is the Super Bowl 2025?
Caesars Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints, in the Big Easy will host the Big Game.