Man, the 2023-24 season was a trip. If you were looking at the nfl playoffs bracket 2024 back in December, you probably didn’t have the Kansas City Chiefs repeating as champs. Not with the way their receivers were dropping passes like they were covered in grease. But here we are. It’s early 2026 now, and we’re still talking about that run because it solidified a dynasty.
Most people remember the Taylor Swift cutaways, sure. But the actual football? It was chaotic. We saw a rookie quarterback in Houston look like a ten-year vet and a "dead" franchise in Detroit finally host a playoff game and actually win.
The AFC Side: Mahomes in the Cold
The AFC bracket was supposed to be Baltimore’s to lose. They had Lamar Jackson, the eventual MVP, and a defense that felt like a brick wall. But the nfl playoffs bracket 2024 had other plans. It started with the "Peacock Game."
Remember that? Kansas City vs. Miami in -4 degrees Fahrenheit. It was the fourth-coldest game in NFL history. You could literally see Andy Reid’s mustache freezing into icicles. The Dolphins, a team built for speed and sunshine, looked absolutely miserable. The Chiefs just methodically dismantled them 26-7.
Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud was busy introducing himself to the world. He didn't just beat the Cleveland Browns; he embarrassed them 45-14. It’s rare to see a rookie play that clean in the postseason. Then you had the Buffalo Bills, who dealt with a massive snowstorm that pushed their game against Pittsburgh to Monday. They won 31-17, setting up another chapter of the Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes saga.
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That Divisional game in Buffalo was the heartbreaker. Tyler Bass had a chance to tie it late, but the kick went wide right. Two words Bills fans never want to hear again. That 27-24 win for the Chiefs sent them to Baltimore, where they basically played keep-away. They beat the Ravens 17-10 in a game that felt much more dominant than the score suggests.
The NFC Side: The Lions Roar and the Cowboys Collapse
If you want to talk about the biggest shock in the nfl playoffs bracket 2024, you have to start in Dallas. The Green Bay Packers were the No. 7 seed. They weren't supposed to even be in the building. Instead, Jordan Love and the Packers walked into AT&T Stadium and hung 48 points on the Cowboys. It was a 48-32 beatdown that had Jerry Jones looking like he’d seen a ghost.
Then there was Detroit. The vibe in that city was electric. They hadn’t won a playoff game since 1991. They drew the Los Angeles Rams—and Matthew Stafford, their former hero—in the Wild Card round. Jared Goff, the guy the Rams traded away, played the game of his life. The Lions hung on for a 24-23 victory. Honestly, the noise in Ford Field that night probably registered on a Richter scale.
- Wild Card Highlight: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers destroying the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9. Philly had started the season 10-1 and just fell off a cliff.
- Divisional Drama: The San Francisco 49ers nearly tripped over their own feet against Green Bay. They trailed late but Brock Purdy led a gutsy drive to win it 24-21.
The NFC Championship was a tale of two halves. Detroit was up 24-7 at halftime. It felt like the Cinderella story was coming true. Then, everything went south. A dropped pass, a fumble, a ball bouncing off a defender's facemask into Brandon Aiyuk's hands. The 49ers scored 27 unanswered points to win 34-31. Brutal.
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Super Bowl LVIII: The Las Vegas Overtime Thriller
By the time the final two teams met in Las Vegas, the nfl playoffs bracket 2024 had narrowed down to the two best: the Chiefs and the 49ers. This was a rematch of Super Bowl LIV.
It wasn't a high-scoring shootout. It was a defensive grind. The 49ers led for most of the game, but they couldn't put Mahomes away. That’s the thing about the Chiefs—you have to kill them, or they’ll eventually catch you.
The game went to overtime, only the second time that’s happened in Super Bowl history. San Francisco won the toss and took the ball, which sparked a massive debate about the new playoff overtime rules. They kicked a field goal to go up 22-19. But then Mahomes happened. He ran when he needed to, found Travis Kelce when it mattered, and finally threw the game-winning touchdown to Mecole Hardman.
Final: 25-22. Back-to-back titles.
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Why the 2024 Bracket Still Matters
Looking back, this bracket changed the trajectory of several teams. The Lions proved they were real contenders, not just a feel-good story. The Texans found their franchise savior in Stroud. And the Chiefs? They proved that even in a "down" year, they are the standard.
If you're looking at brackets for the current 2025-26 season, you'll see a lot of these same names, but the 2024 run was unique for its sheer volume of upsets and high-stakes drama.
Actionable Takeaways for NFL Fans
- Watch the Seedings: The 2024 Packers proved that the No. 7 seed is no longer just a "gimme" win for the No. 2 seed.
- Home Field is Huge: The weather in Buffalo and Kansas City played a massive role in their Wild Card wins.
- Learn the OT Rules: As the 49ers found out, knowing whether to kick or receive in overtime can literally be the difference between a ring and a flight home.
Check the official NFL standings and tiebreaker rules if you're trying to project this year's matchups. The landscape changes every week, but the lessons from the nfl playoffs bracket 2024 remain: never bet against Mahomes in January, and never assume a lead is safe in the NFC.