2024 NFL Playoff Picture: Updated AFC and NFC Rankings, Bracket, Tiebreakers for Week 13

With Thanksgiving behind us, the NFL playoff picture is coming into focus. Here’s what the playoff picture looks like after Sunday afternoon of Week 13:

NFC playoff image

DEPARTMENT HEAD

1. Detroit Lions (11-1): Managed to beat the Bears.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2): Big lead in the NFC East.

3. Seattle Seahawks (7-5): Took a big step toward winning the NFC West.

4. Atlanta Falcons (6-6): Still leading the NFC South.

WILD CARDS

5. Minnesota Vikings (10-2): Lost at home to the Lions.

6. Green Bay Packers (9-3): Home loss to the Lions and Vikings.

7. Washington Commanders (8-5): A big win over the Titans reversed their recent decline.

FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKS IN

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6): Own the NFC record tiebreaker over the Rams.

9. Arizona Cardinals (6-6): The loss to the Vikings on Sunday was big.

10. Los Angeles Rams (6-6): Stayed alive with a win over the Saints.

11. San Francisco 49ers (5-6): The preseason NFC favorites are in danger of missing the playoffs.

12. Dallas Cowboys (5-7): Thanksgiving win kept them alive.

13. New Orleans Saints (4-8): Two games in division.

14. Chicago Bears (4-8): Deep in last place in the NFC North.

15. Carolina Panthers (3-9): Playing much better football lately.

16. New York Giants (2-10): Mathematically eliminated.

AFC playoff picture

DEPARTMENT HEAD

1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1): Clinched a playoff spot.

2. Buffalo Bills (9-2): If they can catch the Chiefs in the standings, they will be in the direct tiebreaker.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3): Another big win in the AFC North.

4. Houston Texans (8-5): They’re not playing well, but they should win the AFC South by default.

WILD CARDS

5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4): Tough away win in Atlanta.

6. Baltimore Ravens (8-5): We’re running out of time to catch up with the Steelers.

7. Denver Broncos (7-5): Bo Nix led them into the wild card race.

FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKS IN

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7): Catching the Texans in the AFC South will be a long road.

9. Miami Dolphins (5-7): The loss to the Packers on Thanksgiving ended any hopes they had of a late-season breakthrough.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8): May not make the playoffs even if they finish at the top of the standings.

11. Cleveland Browns (3-8): Deshaun Watson has dug a hole that Jameis Winston can’t get the Browns out of.

12. New York Jets (3-9): Aaron Rodgers’ experience is trending toward disaster.

13. Tennessee Titans (3-9): A big upset over the Texans on Sunday.

14. New England Patriots (3-10): Mathematically eliminated.

15. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10): Doug Pederson is in the hot seat.

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10): Mathematically eliminated.

Crucial scenarios

Buffalo Bills (9-2) vs. San Francisco 49ers (5-6); Sunday night, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Buffalo takes home the AFC East Division title:

1. BUF victory