NFL playoffs: The teams who have clinched or been eliminated from contention so far originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Kansas City Chiefs will officially carry their three-peat bid into the postseason.
The two-time defending Super Bowl champions on Friday became the first NFL team in the 2024 season to clinch a spot in the playoffs — and they did it with yet another nail-biter of a win.
The Chiefs appeared headed for their second loss of the campaign as the Las Vegas Raiders were moving into position for a potential game-winning field goal in Week 13 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. But, on a 3rd-and-3 with 15 seconds left, the Raiders botched the snap and the Chiefs recovered the loose ball for a game-sealing turnover.
With the 19-17 victory, Kansas City has now won nine of its 11 games by seven points or fewer. And the Chiefs’ latest thriller booked the franchise’s 10th straight trip to the postseason — one year shy of the New England Patriots’ all-time playoff streak record (2009-19).
Between now and the end of the regular season, several other teams will be looking to join Kansas City in the postseason for a chance to compete for the Lombardi Trophy. As the playoff field starts to take shape, here’s what to know:
A total of 14 teams — seven from each conference — make the NFL playoffs.
The playoff field in each conference consists of four division winners and three wild-card teams.
The Chiefs are the only team to clinch a playoff spot entering Sunday’s Week 13 action.
One team in each conference has been eliminated from playoff contention so far:
AFC
NFC
Only the top seed in each conference gets a bye to the Divisional Round.
Teams are seeded No. 1 through No. 7 in each conference, with the four division winners ranked by regular-season record followed by the three wild-card teams ranked by regular-season record.
The matchups in the opening round of the playoffs are No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5.
Yes, the NFL reseeds in the playoffs. That means the top seed in each conference will draw the lowest-seeded team to advance beyond the opening round of the playoffs.
The regular season will conclude with Week 18 action on Sunday, Jan. 5.
The postseason is then slated to begin with Super Wild Card Weekend from Saturday, Jan. 11 to Monday, Jan. 13.
The Divisional Round will take place from Saturday, Jan 18 to Sunday, Jan. 19, setting up the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, Jan. 26.
The AFC and NFC champions will square off in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Caesars Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints, in the Big Easy will host the Big Game.