NFL Playoff Standings 2024: Updated AFC, NFC Records and Power Rankings

A single-elimination setup like the NFL uses for its playoffs opens the door for all kinds of unexpected results.

It's tempting, then, to throw seed lines and standings out the window. Avoid that temptation, folks. Having a higher seed and a better record may technically mean nothing once the opening kick gets booted, but they still tell the tale of the tape. They show what each team has accomplished to this point and might hint at what each club can do moving forward.

So, before the next round of postseason football fun arrives, let's examine the remaining eight-team field from all angles with updated standings and small-batch power rankings in each conference.

NFL Playoff Standings

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LANDOVER, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 31: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on December 31, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

AFC

(1) Baltimore Ravens: 13-4

(2) Buffalo Bills: 12-6

(3) Kansas City Chiefs: 12-6

(4) Houston Texans: 11-7

NFC

(1) San Francisco 49ers: 12-5

(3) Detroit Lions: 13-5

(4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-8

(7) Green Bay Packers: 10-8

AFC Power Rankings

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 13: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) yells to fire up the crowd before an AFC Wild Card playoff game between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs on Jan 13, 2024 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

1. Baltimore Ravens

Outside of possibly worrying about rust—Baltimore is coming off a bye and rested regulars in Week 18—it's hard to give the Ravens anything but full-throated support. Baltimore was the regular-season leader in wins (13) and point differential (plus-203), and it has the MVP favorite in Lamar Jackson. This is the team to beat until proven otherwise.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs wobbled plenty this season—including a Week 14 loss to the Bills that could lead many to question this ranking—but their surgical takedown of the Miami Dolphins on Saturday showed again what this club can do come playoff time. Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback of this generation, and Rashee Rice's emergence (eight catches for 130 yards and a score on Saturday) gives Mahomes another dynamic target to go along with Travis Kelce.

3. Buffalo Bills

The Bills, winners of six straight, may soon prove this ranking was too low. For now, though, we still need to see more from a team that dropped games to the New York Jets, New England Patriots and Denver Broncos this season. Josh Allen takes some shots that he shouldn't (18 interceptions), and James Cook last cleared 80 rushing yards in Week 15.

4. Houston Texans

The Texans have a rookie quarterback (C.J. Stroud) and a rookie head coach (DeMeco Ryans), but they're clearly ready to compete right now. They shredded an otherwise super-stingy Cleveland Browns defense on Saturday, scoring 45 points and nearly seeing Stroud post more touchdown passes (three) than incompletions (five). Houston will be a handful for anyone.

NFC Power Rankings

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 14: Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after a touchdown during an NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium on January 14, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

1. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers have a fully loaded roster with an NFL-best five first-team All-Pros: Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle, Trent Williams and Fred Warner. Two others made second-team: Brandon Aiyuk and Charvarius Ward. Noticeably absent from that group, of course, is Brock Purdy, who paced all full-time starting quarterbacks in quarterback rating (113.0) and QBR (72.7, per ESPN).

2. Detroit Lions

The Lions' 24-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday wasn't always pretty, but you won't hear a single grip from the faithful regarding the franchise's first playoff triumph since 1992. Jared Goff is one of the more efficient quarterbacks (67.3 completion percentage with 30 scores against 12 interceptions this season), and Amon-Ra St. Brown made first-team All-Pro for a reason.

3. Green Bay Packers

Maybe this is a recency-biased ranking—Green Bay lost to Tampa Bay in Week 15—but it's hard not to notice how great the Packers have fared of late. Their 48-32 dismantling of the Dallas Cowboys was their fourth win in a row, with Jordan Love tallying 10 touchdown passes against zero interceptions over this stretch. Aaron Jones is running wild in the backfield, and these young receivers are maturing before our eyes, too.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs' 32-9 rout of the free-falling Philadelphia Eagles was their sixth win in seven chances. This offense can be a headache when Baker Mayfield is on, and Rachaad White is making things happen. All of that said, Tampa had the worst point differential of all eight teams still in the hunt (plus-23), and the whole of its offense often falls short of the sum of its parts.