NFL Playoff Picture 2024: AFC, NFC Brackets, Scenarios and Championship Odds

The NFL playoffs are here in all of their win-or-go-home glory.

Saturday's two-game slate kicks off the wild card round, which will eventually shave the playoff field nearly in half and set the schedule for the divisional round. From there, it's basically a thrill ride to the finish.

Before the action kicks off, we'll set the stage by laying out the playoff bracket and the championship odds before examining the scenarios at play this weekend.

AFC, NFC Brackets and Schedule

Ryan Kang/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 31: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks to throw a pass during pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

AFC Seeding

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-4, won AFC North)

2. Buffalo Bills (11-6, won AFC East)

3. Kansas City Chiefs (11-6, won AFC West)

4. Houston Texans (10-7, won AFC South)

5. Cleveland Browns (11-6)

6. Miami Dolphins (11-6)

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

AFC Wild-Card Schedule

(1) Ravens: bye

Saturday, Jan. 13

(5) Browns at (4) Texans, 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC

(6) Dolphins at (3) Chiefs, 8 p.m. ET on Peacock

Sunday, Jan. 14

(7) Steelers at (2) Bills, 1 p.m. ET on CBS

NFC Seeding

1. San Francisco 49ers (12-5, won NFC West)

2. Dallas Cowboys (12-5, won NFC East)

3. Detroit Lions (12-5, won NFC North)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8, won NFC South)

5. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)

6. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-8)

NFC Wild-Card Schedule

(1) 49ers (bye)

Sunday, Jan. 14

(7) Packers at (2) Cowboys, 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox

(6) Rams at (3) Lions, 8 p.m. ET on NBC

Monday, Jan. 15

(5) Eagles at (4) Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. ET on ACB and ESPN

Championship Odds

Michael Owens/Getty Images

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 31: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after a touchdown during an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers +220

Baltimore Ravens +300

Buffalo Bills +600

Dallas Cowboys +800

Kansas City Chiefs +1100

Philadelphia Eagles +1800

Detroit Lions +1800

Miami Dolphins +2000

Cleveland Browns +3000

Los Angeles Rams +4000

Houston Texans +5000

Tampa Bay Buccaneers +7000

Green Bay Packers +9000

Pittsburgh Steelers +12000

*odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Playoff Scenarios

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - JANUARY 07: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks to pass during the first quarter against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on January 07, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The playoff paths beyond this weekend won't be plotted until Monday night, but the format for setting the schedule is straightforward.

The top seeds in each conference—the Ravens and 49ers—will host the lowest remaining seed during the divisional round. If all home teams hold serve at home, then Houston would travel to Baltimore while Tampa Bay would head to San Francisco. Moving down a seed line, the third-seeded Chiefs and Lions would visit the Bills and Cowboys, respectively.

A single upset could substantially change things, though. And if this wild-card round lives proves especially wild, the playoff bracket would be dramatically different.

Oddsmakers, for what it's worth, think things could get chaotic, particularly in the 4-5 matchup, as both road teams are favored. The Eagles are three-point favorites over the Buccaneers. The Browns are two-point favorites over the Texans. Maybe that's extra motivation for the home teams to perform. Maybe it's simply a reflection of the fact the more talented teams is the visitor.

The Bills (minus-9) and the Cowboys (minus-7) are the strongest favorites of the weekend, so those contests could be relatively drama-free. Oddsmakers don't expect the same for the 3-6 clashes, though, as the point spreads suggest nail-biters are ahead of the Chiefs (minus-4.5) and the Lions (minus-3).

Buckle up.

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