2024 NFL Playoff Picture: Updated AFC and NFC Rankings, Bracket, Tiebreakers for Week 13

The Lions and Packers expanded their playoff positions, while the Giants became the first NFL team to be mathematically eliminated on Thanksgiving. Here’s what the NFL playoff picture looks like for Week 13 leading up to Black Friday:

NFC playoff picture

DEPARTMENT HEAD

1. Detroit Lions (11-1): Managed to beat the Bears.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2): 2.5 games ahead in the NFC East.

3. Seattle Seahawks (6-5): Own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Falcons and Cardinals.

4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5): One game ahead in the NFC South.

WILD CARDS

5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2): Lost at home to the Lions.

6. Green Bay Packers (9-3): Home loss to the Lions and Vikings.

7. Washington Commanders (7-5): They need to reverse their recent deficit.

FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKS IN

8. Arizona Cardinals (6-5): The loss to the Seahawks on Sunday was big.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6): Own the NFC record tiebreaker over the Rams.

10. Los Angeles Rams (5-6): Winner in the direct tiebreaker against the 49ers.

11. San Francisco 49ers (5-6): The preseason NFC favorites are in danger of missing the playoffs.

12. Dallas Cowboys (5-7): Thanksgiving win kept them alive.

13. New Orleans Saints (4-7): Two games in division.

14. Chicago Bears (4-8): Deep in last place in the NFC North.

15. Carolina Panthers (3-8): Playing much better football lately.

16. New York Giants (2-10): Mathematically eliminated.

AFC playoff picture

DEPARTMENT HEAD

1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1): The reigning champions are at the top of the conference.

2. Buffalo Bills (9-2): If they can catch the Chiefs in the standings, they will be in the direct tiebreaker.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3): The straight win against the Ravens was great.

4. Houston Texans (7-5): They’re not playing well, but they should win the AFC South by default.

WILD CARDS

5. Baltimore Ravens (8-4): Big win over the Chargers on Monday night.

6. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4): Big loss to the Ravens on Monday night.

7. Denver Broncos (7-5): Bo Nix has given them a two-game lead in the wild-card race.

FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKS IN

8. Indianapolis Colts (5-7): Catching the Texans in the AFC South will be a long road.

9. Miami Dolphins (5-7): The loss to the Packers on Thanksgiving ended any hopes they had of a late-season breakthrough.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7): They will probably have to play through the standings to get into the playoffs.

11. Cleveland Browns (3-8): Deshaun Watson has dug a hole that Jameis Winston can’t get the Browns out of.

12. New York Jets (3-8): Aaron Rodgers’ experience is trending toward disaster.

13. Tennessee Titans (3-8): A big upset over the Texans on Sunday.

14. New England Patriots (3-9): Drake Maye is promising, but this team is far from competitive.

15. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9): Doug Pederson is in the hot seat.

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9): Antonio Pierce is in the hot seat.

Crucial scenarios

Buffalo Bills (9-2) vs. San Francisco 49ers (5-6); Sunday night, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Buffalo takes home the AFC East Division title:

1. BUF victory

Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9); Friday, 3:00 p.m. ET, Prime Video

Kansas City secures a playoff spot with:

1. KC victory

NFC

Detroit Lions (10-1) vs. Chicago Bears (4-7); Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET, CBS

Detroit secures a playoff spot with:

1. SF loss or draw + ARI loss or draw + SEA loss + TB loss or draw
2. SF loss or draw + ARI loss + SEA draw + TB loss or draw
3. SF loss or draw + ARI loss or draw + SEA loss + WAS loss or draw + ATL loss
4. SF loss or draw + ARI loss or draw + SEA loss + WAS loss + ATL draw
5. SF loss or draw + ARI loss + SEA draw + WAS loss or draw + ATL loss
6. SF loss or draw + ARI loss + SEA draw + WAS loss + ATL draw

Note: There are other scenarios in which Detroit can clinch a playoff spot with a tie and other results in which the Lions secure the strength-of-win tiebreaker.