NFL Playoff Bracket Scenarios 2024-25 Week 18: Standings After 49ers vs. Lions | News, results, highlights, stats and rumours

On By Littum

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 29: Quarterback Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills warms up prior to a game against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium on December 29, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)

3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)

9. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)

10. Indianapolis Colts (7-9)

12. Las Vegas Raiders (4-12)

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)

14. Cleveland Browns (3-13)

15. Tennessee Titans (3-13)

16. New England Patriots (3-13)

Unlike the NFC, the top seed is decided in the AFC.

The Kansas City Chiefs earned a first-round bye and home field advantage with their Christmas Day win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, meaning they need to win just three postseason games to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

Elsewhere, the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans are locked in respectively at No. 2 and 4 seeds as AFC East and AFC South champions.

Still, the AFC North is still undecided, though the Baltimore Ravens are in control and can clinch it with a win or tie against the Cleveland Browns. If Cleveland pulls through, the Pittsburgh Steelers can clinch the division with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Saturday’s game between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati is also important in the race for the AFC’s final wild-card spot.

The Denver Broncos control their own destiny, but a loss against a Chiefs team that might be without some of its regulars after winning the No. 1 seed, would open the door for the Miami Dolphins and Bengals.

Miami must defeat the New York Jets and hope for a Broncos loss, while Cincinnati must beat Pittsburgh and hope for losses from both the Broncos and Dolphins.

It feels like a long shot for Joe Burrow and Co. to make the playoffs at this point, but the team has won four in a row with the quarterback playing at an MVP level.

A win Saturday, before the Broncos and Dolphins both play Sunday, would at least put pressure on the other two teams vying for a wild-card spot and add some drama to the final weekend of the regular-season campaign.