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

The Divisional Round of the 2023 NFL playoffs will be stacked with top teams. The majority of the better seeds were victorious during last weekend's Wild-Card Round, setting up several high-profile matchups for this week.

The only remaining team that isn't a top-four seed in its conference is the Green Bay Packers, the No. 7 seed in the NFC who dropped the No. 2 Dallas Cowboys last weekend. Meanwhile, the No. 3 Detroit Lions and No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers advanced in the NFC, while the No. 2 Buffalo Bills, No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs and No. 4 Houston Texans all moved on in the AFC.

The Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers, who are the No. 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC, respectively, will play their first playoff matchups of the season this weekend. Each can secure home-field advantage on conference championship weekend with a victory.

Here's everything else you need to know heading into this year's Divisional Round. (All betting lines courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.)

Upcoming Schedule, Scenarios

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DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 07: A detail of a Wilson brand NFL The Duke football held up by a kicking tee during the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions Ford Field on January 07, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Divisional Round Schedule

Saturday, Jan. 20

No. 4 Houston Texans at No. 1 Baltimore Ravens, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 1 San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m. ET, Fox

Sunday, Jan. 21

No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 3 Detroit Lions, 3 p.m. ET, NBC

No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs at No. 2 Buffalo Bills, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS

Future Schedule

Sunday, Jan. 28

AFC Championship Game, 3 p.m. ET, CBS

NFC Championship Game, 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox

Sunday, Feb. 11

Super Bowl LVIII, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS

Bracket Scenarios

There are only two teams that are guaranteed of not playing at home the rest of the way: the Texans and the Packers. Each is on the road for the Divisional Round and would again be the away team if either advances to conference championship weekend.

If the Ravens win, they'll host the AFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history. If they lose, then the winner of the Chiefs-Bills matchup in the Divisional Round will get to host the conference title contest.

In the NFC, the 49ers can secure home-field advantage in the conference championship game with a win over the Packers. But if San Francisco loses, then the winner of the Tampa Bay-Detroit matchup will host the NFC Championship Game.

Super Bowl LVIII is set to be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, so it will be a neutral field for both teams that get there.

AFC Divisional Round Odds, Picks

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens drops back to pass against the Miami Dolphins in the first half at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

No. 4 Houston at No. 1 Baltimore (-9.5)

The Ravens finished the regular season with the NFL's best record, as they went 13-4. And one of those losses came in Week 18, when they rested their starters against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Baltimore is built for a deep playoff run behind star quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Although this matchup could stay competitive for a bit, expect the Ravens to pull away from the Texans in the second half. Houston has built positive momentum with three straight wins (including a Wild-Card Round victory vs. the Cleveland Browns), but it will face a tough task in going on the road to take on the AFC's top seed in frigid conditions in Baltimore.

Jackson will have a big game, and the Ravens' defense will keep Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud in check. Baltimore should win this contest by double digits.

Prediction: Ravens 31, Texans 17

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No. 3 Kansas City at No. 2 Buffalo (-2.5)

The final matchup of the weekend has the potential to be the most exciting. These two franchises are no strangers, having faced off six times since the 2020 season. Each team has won three of the meetings during that span.

The offenses should go back and forth putting up points, with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Bills quarterback Josh Allen trading jabs throughout the contest. Buffalo won 20-17 at Kansas City in Week 14, but there should be more scoring in a high-stakes playoff matchup.

Either team could emerge victorious and head to the AFC Championship Game. But the prediction here is the Chiefs will again do so, getting revenge against the Bills and advancing to their sixth straight conference title game.

Prediction: Chiefs 35, Bills 31

NFC Divisional Round Odds, Picks

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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 25: Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers and Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers lines up to run around the edge during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Levi's Stadium on December 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

No. 7 Green Bay at No. 1 San Francisco (-9.5)

It was impressive how dominant the Packers were during their 48-32 win over the Cowboys in the Wild-Card Round. But that will likely be the high point of Green Bay's playoff run.

The Packers face a much more challenging task in the Divisional Round, considering how strong the 49ers have been throughout the season. San Francisco is an all-around talented team that has a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl title.

The well-rested Niners should set the tone for this matchup, relying on star running back Christian McCaffrey and their potent defense to prevail. The Packers will at least keep things competitive, though.

Prediction: 49ers 28, Packers 20

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No. 4 Tampa Bay at No. 3 Detroit (-6)

Finally, the Lions have won a playoff game, as their Wild-Card Round victory over the Los Angeles Rams marked the franchise's first postseason victory since the 1991 season. Now, they'll try to make it two in a row vs. the Buccaneers.

Detroit is the stronger of the two teams, but Tampa Bay has prevailed in six of its past seven games, including its Wild-Card Round win over the Philadelphia Eagles. So the Lions-Bucs matchup should be a good game.

It could go either way, but the pick here is Detroit, which will be victorious on a game-winning field goal by Michael Badgley as time expires.

Prediction: Lions 23, Buccaneers 20

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