The NFL playoff picture: Final seedings and how we got there (2024)

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Baltimore, Miami, Kansas City and Cleveland clinched before Week 18, and Houston joined them on Saturday by beating Indianapolis. Pittsburgh also beat Baltimore on Saturday and snuck into the final seven when Jacksonville lost to Tennessee on Sunday afternoon. The regular season concluded on Sunday night with the Bills defeating the Dolphins to win the AFC East crown and land the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

The 49ers are the top seed in the conference, and the Cowboys, Lions, Buccaneers, Eagles, Rams and Packers all punched their tickets to the playoffs on the NFC side of the bracket. The Buccaneers took the NFC South with their win over the Panthers, while the Packers clinched a wild-card spot with a win against Chicago. The Seahawks, Saints, Vikings and Falcons were all eliminated in Week 18.

The Texans have won the AFC South. At one point this season, the Jaguars were 8-3 and looked like a lock to take the division. But a slump down the stretch for Jacksonville and some impressive play from DeMeco Ryans' Houston team flipped the script. In Week 18, Houston first beat the Colts on Saturday night. Then it watched as Jacksonville lost to the Titans on Sunday. The Texans will now be the fourth seed in the AFC and play the Browns on wild-card weekend.

The Buccaneers won the NFC South at 9-8 after beating the Panthers -- the NFL’s worst team -- on Sunday. It is their third straight division title, and they will be the conference’s fourth seed and play the Eagles in their wild-card game.

We have not seen a repeat NFC East champion since 2004, and the streak continues in 2023. The Cowboys beat the Commanders on Sunday to take the title and land the No. 2 seed in the conference. The Eagles, meanwhile, struggled down the stretch, surrendered a lead in the division race and couldn't get going against the Giants in Week 18. They will now be the No. 5 seed and play Tampa Bay.