NFL Playoff Standings 2021: Top Bracket Seeds, Wild-Card Matchups and Scenarios

The 2021 NFL playoff bracket is officially set.

Washington's victory over the Philadelphia Eagles finalized the 14-team postseason, which is set to begin Saturday, Jan. 9, with the Wild Card Round. The Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers are the only teams with a first-round bye.

Despite seven playoff seeds being at stake, Week 17 provided little drama as most favorites backed up their billing. The Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants had a chance but failed to win or receive enough help.

Official Playoff Seeds

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

AFC Seeds

1. Kansas City Chiefs

2. Buffalo Bills

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

4. Tennessee Titans

5. Baltimore Ravens

6. Cleveland Browns

7. Indianapolis Colts

NFC Seeds

1. Green Bay Packers

2. New Orleans Saints

3. Seattle Seahawks

4. Washington

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

6. Los Angeles Rams

7. Chicago Bears

Wild-Card Round Matchups

Adrian Kraus/Associated Press

AFC Matchups

No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (bye)

No. 7 Indianapolis Colts at No. 2 Buffalo Bills

No. 6 Cleveland Browns at No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers

No. 5 Baltimore Ravens at No. 4 Tennessee Titans

NFC Matchups

No. 1 Green Bay Packers (bye)

No. 7 Chicago Bears at No. 2 New Orleans Saints

No. 6 Los Angeles Rams at No. 3 Seattle Seahawks

No. 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 4 Washington

Wild-Card Round Scenarios

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Unlike most professional sports, the NFL may shuffle the bracket after the opening round of games. This is a way to reward the No. 1 seed—in theory—with the most favorable matchup.

In the divisional round, the teams with first-round byes—Kansas City and Green Bay—will host the worst remaining seed.

Kansas City's possible opponents are Indianapolis, Cleveland, Baltimore and Tennessee. From left to right, the first team to win a Wild Card Round contest will travel to face the Chiefs.

Green Bay could host—again, left to right—Chicago, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay or Washington.

In the other divisional round game, the priority order for hosting a game is as follows: For the AFC, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Tennessee/Indianapolis. And in the NFC, the order is New Orleans, Seattle and Washington/Tampa Bay.

The winners of the divisional round advance to the AFC and NFC Championships, and those winners head to Super Bowl LV.