NFL Playoff Bracket Scenarios 2024-25 Week 17: Standings After Packers vs. Saints

And then there were two.

Two weeks left in the 2024 NFL regular season, that is.

That means the playoff picture is starting to round into shape, and the Green Bay Packers were the ones under the spotlight Monday as they took on the New Orleans Saints. They are battling for NFC wild-card positioning and maintained their hold on the No. 6 seed with a win.

They also clinched a playoff spot.

Here is a look at where Green Bay and everyone else stands with Week 16 officially in the books.

NFC Standings

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions warms up before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Division Leaders

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

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

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

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

Wild Card

5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2)

6. Green Bay Packers (11-4)

7. Washington Commanders (10-5)

On the Bubble

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

9. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)

Eliminated

10. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)

11. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)

12. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

14. Chicago Bears (4-11)

15. Carolina Panthers (4-11)

16. New York Giants (2-13)

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Sunday was a monumental day in the race for the NFC's No. 1 seed.

The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks, respectively, and remained tied atop the NFC North. They play each other in Week 18, and the division title and the No. 1 seed may be up for grabs.

And neither team has to worry about the Philadelphia Eagles if they win out.

That's because Philadelphia lost a stunner to the Washington Commanders and fell a game behind Detroit and Minnesota in the race for that top seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Washington turned it over five times but still managed to win in shocking fashion when Jayden Daniels found Jamison Crowder for the game-winning touchdown in the final 10 seconds. Philadelphia lost quarterback Jalen Hurts to a concussion during the game and was unable to make the key plays at the end to clinch the win.

Elsewhere, the NFC South standings look different after the Dallas Cowboys upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football.

Thanks to that result and the Atlanta Falcons' blowout victory over the New York Giants, Atlanta has moved into first place and controls its own destiny even after switching starting quarterbacks from Kirk Cousins to Michael Penix Jr.

There may be only two regular-season weeks remaining, but there is still plenty on the line in the NFC standings.

AFC Standings

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 21: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on in the third quarter of a game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

Division Leaders

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

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

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

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

Wild Card

5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)

7. Denver Broncos (9-6)

On the Bubble

8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

9. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)

Eliminated

11. New York Jets (4-11)

12. Cleveland Browns (3-12)

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)

14. Tennessee Titans (3-12)

15. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)

16. New England Patriots (3-12)

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While the race for the No. 1 seed still features plenty of intrigue in the NFC, the Kansas City Chiefs seem destined for the top spot in the AFC.

Kansas City is one win or one Buffalo Bills loss away from clinching the top spot with a two-game lead with two games remaining. Buffalo won the head-to-head matchup and would have the tiebreaker if it won out and the Chiefs lost out.

That is unlikely to happen, but there is intrigue in the race for the final wild-card spot.

The Denver Broncos are two games ahead of the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals but finish with a head-to-head game against the Bengals before a showdown with top-seeded Chiefs.

It isn't difficult to envision the Broncos losing both games, which could open the door for the Dolphins, Bengals or Colts to sneak into the postseason.

Cincinnati has the opportunity to pick up a head-to-head win, but it also needs Miami and Indianapolis to lose at least once. That might not happen, as the Colts finish with the 2-13 New York Giants and 3-12 Jacksonville Jaguars, while the Dolphins finish with the 3-12 Cleveland Browns and 4-11 New York Jets.

There could be as many as three teams waiting to pounce if the Broncos slip down the stretch, which could lead to some AFC chaos at the end of the season.