NFL Playoff Picture 2024-25: Week 17 Standings, AFC and NFC Wild Card Bracket Hunt

Entering Week 17, there are several teams still vying for division titles, let alone a berth in the NFL playoffs.

Both the AFC and NFC North are up for grabs, and the Rams are closing in on the NFC West. The NFC South will likely go to Week 18 before a champion is decided.

Add to that uncertainty the wild cards, all of whom could shift seeding depending on who wins and loses key matchups and you have the drama the NFL hopes for every postseason.

Dive deeper into the playoff picture with this look at the current NFC and AFC standings and an Atlanta team whose championship hopes rest on the arm of a first-year quarterback.

NFC Playoff Picture

Luke Hales/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 22: Tyler Higbee #89 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after scoring a touchdown with teammate Colby Parkinson #86 during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

The NFC playoff picture is as follows:

Division Leaders

1. x-Detroit Lions (13-2, NFC North)

2. x-Philadelphia Eagles (12-3, NFC East)

3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6, NFC West)

4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7, NFC South)

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Wild Card

5. x-Minnesota Vikings (13-2)

6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)

7. Washington Commanders (10-5)

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On the Bubble

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

9. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)

AFC Playoff Picture

Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 22: James Cook #4 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills beat the Patriots 24-21. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)

The AFC playoff picture is as follows:

Division Leaders

1. xz-Kansas City Chiefs (14-1, AFC West)

2. xz-Buffalo Bills (12-3, AFC East)

3. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5, AFC North)

4. xz-Houston Texans (9-6, AFC South)

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Wild Card

5. x-Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)

7. Denver Broncos (9-6)

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On the Bubble

8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

9. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)

Michael Penix Jr. Keeps Atlanta's Playoff Hopes Alive

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 22: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up before the game against the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

The No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 draft made his first start in Week 16, stepping in for a struggling Kirk Cousins and delivering the Atlanta Falcons a one-sided victory over the New York Giants that kept the team's playoff hopes alive.

Rookie Michael Penix Jr. went 18-27 for 202 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in a 34-7 victory over the G-Men.

It wasn't a dazzling debut, but Penix did enough right to guide his offense and convince fans that he could be the quarterback of the future for an organization that has been searching for one since Matt Ryan took his last snap in red and black.

With the win and Tampa Bay's loss to Dallas Sunday night, the Falcons leapfrogged their rival for control of the division. With two wins against the Bucs in 2024, Atlanta now has the inside track to a division title and playoff berth.

Win both of their remaining games (at Commanders, vs. Panthers) and the Falcons are NFC South champs and headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Even a tied record with Tampa Bay gives them the advantage, thanks to those two head-to-head wins earlier in the season.

Not bad for an organization that started 4-2 but fell into mediocrity behind Cousins' turnovers.

Now, the ball is in Penix's court. Can the Washington product lead Bijan Robinson, Drake London and the rest of the young Falcons squad to the promised land and disrupt the NFC playoff picture?

Fans get their answer in Week 17 when he has an opportunity to ball out against the man who bested him for the 2023 Heisman Trophy, Jayden Daniels of the Commanders.