If the NFL has mastered one thing as of late, it’s drama. The 2024-25 NFL season will come down to the last week, with the stakes higher than ever. Several playoff spots and division titles are on the line. It will be win or go home for several teams.
Check out all eight 2024 NFL division previews to see how things shake out leading up to January.
AFC Slate and Stakes
- Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets
- Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
- Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts
- Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans
- Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Charger @ Las Vegas Raiders
In the AFC East, it most likely comes down to the winner of Miami and New York. Buffalo can make it with a win, but it would also need wins from Las Vegas, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Jacksonville. The stars will not align for the Bills. New York is out if it loses, but Miami could make it with a loss and wins from the four previously mentioned teams and Tennessee.
Up in the AFC North, Pittsburgh needs a miracle (a win, plus lots of outside help) to make the playoffs while all Cincinnati needs is a win to make the playoffs. Baltimore can clinch the top seed in the AFC with a win or a Kansas City loss, while Cleveland needs a win and a Jacksonville win to return to the playoffs.
The AFC South is where the pressure is highest. If Houston wins, it is in the playoffs. If Houston and Indianapolis both win, the Colts make the playoffs and Houston clinches the AFC South. So long as Jacksonville does not lose, it clinches the division for the second time in three seasons.
Los Angeles will need a win and help to make the playoffs, namely help from Baltimore or Tennessee. The defending champion Kansas City has clinched a top-two seed, but clinches the top seed in the conference with a win and a Baltimore loss.
NFC Slate and Stakes
- Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles
- Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions
- Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers
- New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons
- San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals
- Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Rams
The NFC has two games without playoff implications: Carolina vs. Atlanta and San Francisco vs. Arizona. Both Carolina and Atlanta cannot make the playoffs, while San Francisco has the top seed in the NFC locked in.
If Detroit beats Minnesota, it clinches the second seed in the conference. Should Minnesota win and Dallas also beat Washington, the Cowboys take that spot instead. If Washington beats Dallas and Philadelphia wins, then Philadelphia clinches the NFC East and, depending on Detroit’s result, the second or third seed.
The NFC South will come down to a showdown in Tampa. New Orleans has won five of its last six games at Raymond James Stadium, but has not made the playoffs since 2020, when they got eliminated by Tampa Bay.
Two wild card spots remain, and they will be taken by two of Los Angeles, Green Bay, and Chicago. If Los Angeles wins or Chicago and Green Bay do not tie, the Rams will return to the playoffs. Should the Rams lose and the Bears and Packers tie, both Chicago and Green Bay take the final two spots in the NFC. If Chicago vs. Green Bay does not end in a tie, it is win-or-go-home conditions for the Bears.
Week 18
This is how the 2024-25 NFL regular season ends. Chaos descends upon the league as the AFC South claims three playoff spots. Miami cannot handle the cold as the Jets return to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. Los Angeles does what it needs to do, but does not get the help needed.
Meanwhile in the NFC, Chicago wins a tense battle in Lambeau Field to make the playoffs in Caleb Williams’ first try. Arizona gets an “upset” win over a San Francisco team resting its starters. Detroit clinches the second seed by taking care of Minnesota while Dallas and Philadelphia both take care of business.
Playoffs
Baltimore and San Francisco, just like last year, get first-round byes. The first-round matchups are as follows:
AFC
- #5 Cincinnati @ #4 Houston
- #6 Jacksonville @ #3 New York
- #7 Indianapolis @ #2 Kansas City
NFC
- #5 Philadelphia @ #4 Tampa Bay
- #6 Los Angeles @ #3 Dallas
- #7 Chicago @ #2 Detroit
The AFC South puts up mostly good results while the NFC East goes the inverse of what it did last year in the playoffs: 2-0. In the Divisional Round, Baltimore draws Jacksonville while San Francisco draws Philadelphia. Houston and Kansas City square off while Dallas and Detroit have a playoff grudge match.
This week, Houston looks like the team of destiny as the only road team to win. The back-to-back champions are knocked out in the Divisional Round. The playoffs now are wide open. Houston gets its playoff rematch in Baltimore while Detroit and San Francisco run back last year’s NFC Championship Game.
Baltimore will again fall short. This looks to be Houston’s year. CJ Stroud has the Texans firing on all cylinders going into its first-ever Super Bowl appearance. Meanwhile, in the NFC, the Lions also get revenge. They do not blow a three-score lead to San Francisco and make franchise history. Two teams that have never made the Super Bowl will fight for NFL immortality.
In the end, the first-time Super Bowl winner will be… the Houston Texans. This game will be evenly matched, one where the last team with possession will win the game. That team will be Houston thanks to CJ Stroud leading the drive of his life. Detroit will have to wait another year for its first Lombardi Trophy. The Houston Texans will be the 2024-25 NFL Champions.
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