The dust has finally settled on the NFL 2024 playoff bracket, and honestly, it didn't look anything like what the "experts" predicted back in August. We saw the Kansas City Chiefs try to defend their dynasty, the Detroit Lions prove that 2023 wasn't a fluke, and a bunch of wild card teams basically crash the party in ways that made our parlay cards look like confetti.
If you were following the 2024–25 season (which technically wrapped up in February 2025), you know it was a chaotic ride. The bracket started with 14 teams, each clawing for a spot in Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome. By the time we hit the Divisional Round, the "safe" picks were mostly out the window.
The AFC Side of the NFL 2024 Playoff Bracket
The AFC was a absolute meat grinder this year. We had the Kansas City Chiefs sitting at the No. 1 seed with a 15-2 record, looking like the unstoppable force they usually are. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid basically treated the regular season like a light warmup.
But look at the rest of the seeds. The Buffalo Bills took the No. 2 spot after a wild 13-4 run, and the Baltimore Ravens—fueled by Derrick Henry’s 44-yard playoff bursts—came in at No. 3. The Houston Texans clinched the No. 4 seed, proving that C.J. Stroud is very much "him."
The Wild Card round in the AFC gave us some weirdly lopsided scores. Houston absolutely dismantled the Chargers 32-12. Meanwhile, Baltimore handled the Steelers 28-14 in a game that felt much closer until the fourth quarter. The biggest "did that really happen?" moment? The No. 7 seed Denver Broncos getting shellacked by the Bills 31-7. It was a brutal day for Sean Payton's squad.
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Key AFC Matchups and Scores
- Wild Card: Houston Texans 32, LA Chargers 12
- Wild Card: Baltimore Ravens 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 14
- Wild Card: Buffalo Bills 31, Denver Broncos 7
- Divisional: Kansas City Chiefs 23, Houston Texans 14
- Divisional: Buffalo Bills 27, Baltimore Ravens 25
- AFC Championship: Kansas City Chiefs 32, Buffalo Bills 29
The AFC Championship game was a classic. Mahomes vs. Allen again. It felt like Groundhog Day but with higher stakes. Buffalo actually held a lead late, but the Chiefs pulled it out 32-29, securing another trip to the Super Bowl.
NFC Chaos: The Rise of the Eagles and the Commanders
While the AFC was somewhat predictable at the top, the NFC was a total circus. The Detroit Lions finished as the No. 1 seed (15-2), which still feels surreal to say. But the real story of the nfl 2024 playoff bracket in the NFC was the Philadelphia Eagles and—believe it or not—the Washington Commanders.
Philadelphia came in as the No. 2 seed after a 14-3 season. They looked clinical. In the Wild Card round, they swatted away the Green Bay Packers 22-10. But the real shocker was Washington. As the No. 6 seed, they went into Tampa Bay and knocked off the Buccaneers 23-20.
Then things got even weirder. Washington went into Detroit for the Divisional Round and put up 45 points on the No. 1 seed. The Lions' dream season ended in a 45-31 shootout that left Ford Field in total silence.
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NFC Playoff Results
- Wild Card: Philadelphia Eagles 22, Green Bay Packers 10
- Wild Card: Washington Commanders 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20
- Wild Card: LA Rams 27, Minnesota Vikings 9
- Divisional: Washington Commanders 45, Detroit Lions 31
- Divisional: Philadelphia Eagles 28, LA Rams 22
- NFC Championship: Philadelphia Eagles 55, Washington Commanders 23
The NFC Championship was a bloodbath. Philadelphia didn't just win; they deleted Washington from the map. A 55-23 final score is the kind of thing you see in a preseason game, not a conference title match. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' pass rush were simply on another planet.
Super Bowl LIX: Philadelphia vs. Kansas City
This was the rematch everyone wanted since Super Bowl LVII. It took place on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans. The Chiefs were looking for the three-peat, but the Eagles were a different beast this time around.
The game wasn't as close as the 22-40 final score suggests. Philadelphia’s defense lived in Mahomes' face all night. They sacked him five times and forced two crucial turnovers in the third quarter. The Eagles took home their second trophy in a decade, officially ending the Chiefs' reign of terror for at least one season.
How the Bracket Rules Actually Work
Most people get confused by the "re-seeding" aspect of the NFL playoffs. It’s not a fixed bracket like March Madness. Basically, the No. 1 seed always plays the lowest remaining seed.
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If the No. 7 seed pulls an upset in the Wild Card round, they automatically go to the No. 1 seed’s house. This is why the bracket can look totally different from Saturday to Sunday. In 2024, because the No. 6 Commanders won, they were sent to play the No. 1 Lions while the No. 2 Eagles played the No. 4 Rams. It keeps the regular season performance relevant because that No. 1 seed is always guaranteed the "easiest" remaining path.
Actionable Insights for Next Season
If you're already looking ahead to the next bracket, there are a few things we learned from the 2024 cycle. First, the No. 7 seed is no longer just a "happy to be here" participant, though they usually get crushed by the No. 2 seed. Second, home-field advantage in the Divisional Round is massive—the home teams went 3-1 this year.
To stay ahead of the curve for the 2025–26 season, you should:
- Track the "Sack Differential": The Broncos led the league in sacks (+45 differential) and it got them into the dance despite offensive struggles.
- Watch the Injury Reports in December: The Lions lost key momentum because of late-season secondary injuries that Washington exploited.
- Value the Bye Week: Kansas City looked significantly fresher than Houston in their Divisional matchup.
The nfl 2024 playoff bracket showed us that while dynasties are hard to break, a hot quarterback and a relentless pass rush can change the hierarchy in a single weekend. Keep your eyes on the NFC East; with the Eagles and Commanders both looking like powerhouses, that division is going to be a war zone for years to come.