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The playoff matchups are finally written, and the exciting home stretch is upon us. It's been a thrilling 2024 regular season, but the postseason brings a special competitive edge to every snap. Several familiar faces and a few new ones are looking to dazzle in their first taste of the playoffs.
Teams are hitting the postseason on a heater while other squads look to be in trouble with poor play over the last few weeks. Will teams continue to follow their recent trends or will they surprise us with breakouts?
Who's going to advance and make a run in the 2024 postseason? Let's jump into things and walk through the entire playoff bracket, from Wild Card weekend to Super Bowl LIX.
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Wild Card Round Predictions
#7 Green Bay Packers (11-6) at #2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) - Eagles win
The Packers ended their year with a last-minute loss to the 5-12 Chicago Bears that saw Jordan Love (elbow) and Christian Watson (knee) go down. Love should be okay for this tilt, but Coach Matt LeFleur is not “super confident” about Watson.
Meanwhile, the Eagles rested key starters in a Week 18 win over the Giants. They still await Jalen Hurts’ activation out of concussion protocol, though the QB was present at the team’s official walkthrough over the weekend.
Nick Sirianni said Jalen Hurts’ status was the same as he said on Friday:
“He’s progressing through the (concussion) protocol.”
He said the #Eagles QB was at Saturday’s walkthrough. I was told he didn’t participate, but was present.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) January 5, 2025
Home-field advantage will be nice for Nick Sirianni’s Eagles, who are 8-1 in Philly this year. They’ll come into this one rested against a banged-up Packers team that has lost two straight games.
The early line has Philly as a 3.5-point favorite, no doubt influenced by injury uncertainty. Green Bay has not played a complete game in a while and should be beaten by A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith if they sell out to stop Saquon Barkley.
#6 Washington Commanders (12-5) at #3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) - Bucs win
Washington finished the season on a five-game win streak while the Bucs battled back from 10 points down to beat the Saints. This will be a battle of premier offenses as both teams ranked within the top five of total points scored. As a result, this may boil down to which below-average defense can make a handful of key stops.
The Bucs will have an edge in experience, but Jayden Daniels has yet to fold under any magnitude of spotlight. Tampa Bay has opened as a three-point favorite, which effectively reflects a neutral matchup tilted towards home-field advantage, with most expecting more from Washington compared to the 37-20 TB win back in Daniels’ NFL debut.
If Washington is to win this game, then it’ll be due to the growth of Daniels the passer, and timely pass rush. But it is more likely that Vita Vea and the strong interior limit things while Tampa’s offense breaks through.
Quarterbacks in NFL history with a season including 4,500 passing yards and 40 TD passes: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Joe Burrow, Andrew Luck, Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford...and now Baker Mayfield. Elite.
— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) January 6, 2025
#5 Minnesota Vikings (14-3) at #4 Los Angeles Rams (10-7) - Rams win
It’s difficult to properly react after seeing Minnesota get destroyed by Detroit in Week 18 but they’d won nine straight before that and ideally, just learned some valuable lessons. Can they find a way to keep Sam Darnold on time and comfortable in the pocket against Jared Verse and the Rams?
Los Angeles sacrificed the inside track on the No. 3 seed for a mini-bye week. It’s understandable considering how beaten up its pillars like Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua have been. Do not forget the Rams beat them 30-20 on a Thursday in late October and they’ve steamrolled the Buffalo Bills defense in a 44-42 shootout win.
Alas, the starting Rams offense hasn’t topped 20 points in its prior three games. Can they restart the motor following an easy week and find their top gear? If they can once again handle Minnesota’s creative blitzes then they should enjoy the win, lest they fall into this trap again:
I don't necessarily disagree with the Rams resting their starters on Sunday. However, the Rams have rested starters twice in the final week in the McVay era in prep for playoffs.
2017: L, 26-13 vs. ATL
2023: L, 24-23 vs. DETRams have not scored a second-half TD in those games.
— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) January 2, 2025
There’s no denying that the Rams are the only playoff team with more points allowed (386) than points scored (367). We’ll try not to overweight severe early woes. The Vikings’ spark is in jeopardy after dropping the little AFC North Super Bowl and Stafford’s postseason experience helps tip the scale.
#7 Denver Broncos (10-7) at #2 Buffalo Bills (13-4) - Bills win
The Broncos broke out of their slump against a resting Chiefs team but that shouldn’t affect how good it is for a young team to enter the playoffs on a 38-0 win. Bo Nix has been better than expected but is still an inconsistent rookie and there’s no dominant ground game to lean on.
He will need his defense to stem the MVP-caliber tide of Josh Allen and play as he did when keeping up with Joe Burrow a few weeks ago. While Denver’s defense remains potent, the team has allowed 30 or more points in three of the previous four games (not counting KC). It is unlikely they can all step up at the right time against a determined Allen and the Bills.
Josh Allen
- 1st player ever with 40+ TD in 5 straight seasons (no one more than 3)
- 2nd player ever with 5 career season w/40+ TDs
- Most TD and points in BUF history
- tied Bills rush TD record (65)
- Since Wk 13: 18 TD, 1 INT, 1 sack
- Clinched 2 seed in rebuilding yearMVP
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) December 29, 2024
#6 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at #3 Baltimore Ravens (12-5) - Ravens win
These AFC North rivals enter the playoffs on wildly different trajectories. The Ravens are on a four-game win streak and get to host a Steelers team that has dropped four straight.
How bad was the Steelers offense on Saturday?
• It was the first time in 10 years that the Bengals held an opponent under 200 yards
• First time SINCE 1988 that the Bengals held the Steelers under 200 yardspic.twitter.com/plJu4SXWMs— John Breech (@johnbreech) January 5, 2025
While the two split their season series, Baltimore’s win was far more convincing than Pittsburgh’s. Pittsburgh pulled out an 18-16 victory back in mid-November where six Chris Boswell field goals won the day before a 34-17 Ravens win in Week 16.
The Steelers need its defense to once again keep a lid on Lamar Jackson, but the lack of offensive firepower severely limits their paths to victory.
#5 Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at #4 Houston Texans (10-7) - Chargers win
The Texans appear extremely vulnerable after a hot 5-1 start was followed by a 5-6 backslide, which is closer to 4-6 given how Week 18 was a pseudo-bye against Tennessee. The last real “full” game Houston played was that 31-2 Christmas beatdown at the hands of Baltimore. Houston has the fewest points scored (372) and most points allowed (also 372) of any AFC playoff team.
They'll need Week 18's abbreviated version of C.J. Stroud to show up but it's unclear how much of that strong drive was simply facing Tennessee.
Well done on opening #Texans drive! C.J. Stroud was 6-6 on the drive & ends with TD to Nico Collins 7-0. pic.twitter.com/ZtsOPOz0sv
— Randy McIlvoy (@KPRC2RandyMc) January 5, 2025
They’ve struggled to recover the offensive chemistry shown when Stefon Diggs was on the field but he’s not returning due to a torn ACL. The loss of Tank Dell only tightens the margins. On the other hand, the Chargers just saw Quentin Johnston log 186 yards next to Ladd McConkey.
Justin Herbert added 42 rush yards and will take advantage of key situations if Houston doesn’t contain or spy him. These teams are trending in opposite directions and the C.J. Stroud Year 2 regression is unlikely to turn on a dime in the postseason.
Divisional Round Predictions
#5 Los Angeles Rams (11-6) at #1 Detroit Lions (15-2) - Lions win
Matthew Stafford leading the Rams back into his old stomping grounds with bad blood against Kerby Joseph should make for good television. Both offenses are capable of greatness but there’s no denying Detroit is on another level more consistently.
Add in that Detroit’s defense looked incredible with linebacker Alex Anzalone back to anchor the unit while Za’Darius Smith continues to up the pressure. Stafford is plenty of things, but his elusiveness has waned in old age. Outside of several key Dan Campbell bold decisions gone wrong, we expect the Lions to run it up and advance.
#3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) at #2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) - Eagles win
This rematch of last year’s wild-card rout will test how powerful Philadelphia’s home-field advantage can be. The Bucs dominated last year’s playoff game between the two in an eventual 32-9 victory. And then Week 4’s tilt was also in Florida, resulting in a 33-16 TB win with six Buccaneer sacks.
Jalen McMillan has stepped up into the injured Chris Godwin’s spot to keep that offense humming, but this hinges on Tampa’s depleted secondary. Vita Vea, YaYa Diaby, and Lavonte David will do what they can to limit Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts on the ground.
However, Philly was without both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in the aforementioned Week 4 game. Having those two out there against Tampa’s backup DBs will change the entire landscape.
Nick Sirianni has made questionable decisions, but Todd Bowles has shown some exceptionally poor management this year. Mix in the Eagles with their fans behind them in the cold and they should secure the W.
#5 Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at #1 Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) - Chiefs win
The Chiefs won both regular-season meetings by a combined score of 36-27, though each team is healthier than they were in their last matchup. Many have noted Kansas City’s relatively quiet 15-win season, built on the back of one-possession wins without scoring over 30 points once.
But Kansas City won last year’s Super Bowl without scoring over 27 in a playoff game so let’s settle down. At the end of the day, no one can match KC’s postseason experience. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes typically display elite awareness and time management.
While Chargers fans have a chance at matching the smarts with Jim Harbaugh at the helm, it’s difficult to envision LAC avenging their two earlier losses. Mahomes and other key starters will have had over three weeks of rest. Unless the Chargers command both two-minute drills and catch KC a bit rusty, this will be another Chiefs win.
#3 Baltimore Ravens (12-5) at #2 Buffalo Bills (13-4) - Bills win
The two leading MVP candidates square off as Baltimore looks to inflict the same damage as in their 35-10 win over the Bills in Week 4. Except this game will be played in Buffalo, where the home team is a perfect 8-0 this year.
This game will undoubtedly boil down to the forms of Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Neither team has a particularly trustworthy kicker at the moment either, with Justin Tucker’s 73% field goal rate at a career low while Tyler Bass is on his second straight season at 82%.
No one wants referees to decide any game, let alone a deep playoff tilt, but do note that Baltimore’s 132 total penalties were tied for the second-most in the NFL. We’re siding with the undefeated home team with frigid temps in play. Get those tables ready, Bills Mafia.
Championship Round Predictions
#2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) at #1 Detroit Lions (15-2) - Lions win
Detroit’s newfound defensive confidence gives us reason to believe they can halt Philadelphia’s offense just enough to pull away. Can Jalen Hurts the passer keep up with Ben Johnson’s creativity?
If Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean can force Detroit to win with secondary receiving options while Jalen Carter takes away the interior, then there’s a decent chance. But someone will be left alone to make a play or else Jahmyr Gibbs is going to eat up the outside zone.
Perhaps Sirianni outsmarts himself in the presence of Dan Campbell? The majority of avenues to losing fall upon Philly. Detroit can lose the time-of-possession battle and still win the war with big plays. It'll be a grind, but the Lions win out.
#2 Buffalo Bills (13-4) at #1 Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) - Bills win
Josh Allen and company are out to vanquish their playoff demons against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Buffalo beating the Chiefs 30-21 in mid-November is great, but the Bills also won 2023’s regular-season game before losing to KC in the playoffs. The same pattern happened in 2021 as well.
The Bills don’t have the same caliber of defense as in past attempts to get through KC, but Allen is also playing fantastic ball. He’s coasting on career-best marks in terms of interception and sack rates.
Avoiding big negative plays will be critical. For perspective, Mahomes’ 5.8% sack rate is the worst of his career. It’s hard to go against Playoff Reid but this is Buffalo’s best chance yet.
Super Bowl LIX Prediction
#1 Detroit Lions (15-2) vs. #2 Buffalo Bills (13-4)
We just saw this play out with a wild 48-42 shootout victory for Buffalo back on December 15. There’s little reason to think the Super Bowl would play out much differently, though it may take longer for teams to settle in and let the aggressive haymakers start flying.
The Lions and Bills are the only teams in the NFL to have scored over 500 points entering Week 18! 😲 pic.twitter.com/zL7YPo6VS2
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) December 31, 2024
Rumors are swirling that star DE Aidan Hutchinson could return from a broken leg if the Lions make the Super Bowl. Flushing Allen from the pocket is only the beginning but if Hutch can collapse the action from the edge alongside Za’Darius Smith then Detroit can change the math after logging zero sacks on Allen in their recent contest.
One shudders to think of special teams deciding a Super Bowl but we must point out that Detroit’s Jake Bates has an 89.3% FG rate with one fewer missed extra point than Bass.
Both teams protect the ball well and sit in the top five for yards per play. If Detroit’s defense has a healthy Anzalone and near-100% Hutch on the field then we side with the Lions in a thriller.
Lions win and finally hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
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