The dust has long since settled on the 2024-25 NFL season, but the way the nfl playoff picture shifted in those final weeks still feels like a fever dream for most fans. If you were betting on a three-peat for the Chiefs, you were probably feeling pretty good when they secured the top seed in the AFC with a 15-2 record. Honestly, who wouldn't? But the postseason is a different beast entirely. We saw the Philadelphia Eagles rise from a 14-3 regular season to absolutely dismantle the competition, eventually hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans.
It wasn't just the final score of Super Bowl LIX that shocked people. It was the way the bracket broke.
The AFC Power Struggle and the Buffalo Heartbreak
Kansas City looked invincible. They had the bye. They had the home-field advantage at Arrowhead. Patrick Mahomes was doing Mahomes things. When they took down the Houston Texans 23-14 in the Divisional Round, it felt like the script was already written.
But then there’s the Buffalo Bills.
Josh Allen and the Bills finally broke their "divisional round curse" by edging out the Baltimore Ravens 27-25 in a game that literally came down to the final possession. That win sent them to the AFC Championship against their perennial rivals in Kansas City. It was the game everyone wanted. And it was close—32-29—but the Chiefs moved on to the big dance once again.
👉 See also: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
The AFC Wild Card round was just as chaotic. Houston absolutely handled the Chargers 32-12, while the Ravens took care of the Steelers 28-14. The most lopsided game of that weekend? Buffalo crushing Denver 31-7. It felt like the "old guard" of the AFC was being challenged, even if Kansas City held the fort one last time.
Why the NFC North Wasn't Enough
People were obsessed with the Detroit Lions. And for good reason. They went 15-2 and took the #1 seed in the NFC. Ford Field was ready for a historic run.
Then the Washington Commanders happened.
In what might be the biggest upset of the entire nfl playoff picture for the 2024-25 season, the Commanders—who entered the playoffs as a #6 seed Wild Card—went into Detroit and hung 45 points on the Lions. Final score: 45-31. It was a defensive meltdown that no one saw coming after Detroit's dominant regular season.
✨ Don't miss: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
While Washington was playing spoiler, the Philadelphia Eagles were quietly (or not so quietly) becoming a juggernaut. They handled the Packers 22-10 in the Wild Card round, survived a 28-22 scare against the Rams in the Divisional, and then simply erased the Commanders in the NFC Championship with a 55-23 blowout.
Breaking Down the 2024-25 Playoff Seeds
- AFC #1: Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) - Lost in Super Bowl
- NFC #1: Detroit Lions (15-2) - Lost in Divisional Round
- AFC #2: Buffalo Bills (13-4) - Lost in AFC Championship
- NFC #2: Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) - Super Bowl Champions
- NFC #6: Washington Commanders (12-5) - The "Cinderella" that fell short
The Super Bowl LIX Reality Check
By the time we got to February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome, the narrative was all about the Chiefs’ quest for a third straight title. The Eagles had other plans.
Jalen Hurts was nearly perfect. 221 passing yards, two touchdowns through the air, and another 72 yards and a score on the ground. The final score, 40-22, makes it look like a blowout, but it was really a tactical masterclass. The Eagles' defense finally found a way to make Mahomes look human, denying the Chiefs that elusive three-peat.
It's funny looking back. Everyone talked about the Lions' toughness or the Ravens' defense all year. But the Eagles had Saquon Barkley and a revamped secondary that peaked at the exact right moment.
🔗 Read more: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
Actionable Lessons for the Next Cycle
If you’re looking at the current standings or trying to project the next year of football, here’s what the 2024-25 season actually taught us about the nfl playoff picture:
- Don't overvalue the #1 seed. Both the Lions and Chiefs had the bye and home-field advantage, yet only one made the Super Bowl, and neither won it.
- Watch the Wild Card momentum. The Commanders showed that a hot quarterback and a "nothing to lose" attitude can ruin a 15-win season in three hours.
- Health is the ultimate stat. Philly stayed remarkably healthy through December, which allowed them to drop 55 points in a conference championship game when other teams were limping.
The 2024-25 season proved that the regular season is just a long-winded way of deciding who gets to have their heart broken in January. Except for Philly fans—they’re doing just fine.
To stay ahead of the next postseason race, keep a close eye on late-season defensive EPA (Expected Points Added) and turnover margins rather than just win-loss records. The teams that protected the ball in December 2024 were the ones still playing in February 2025.