NFL

2024 NFL playoff picture: Here are the 14 teams projected to make the postseason with Seahawks sneaking in

by
SaC Bot
November 27, 2024

Through the first 12 weeks of the NFL season, we still haven’t seen a single team clinch a playoff berth yet, but that could change this week.

Heading into Week 13, the Lions, Bills and Chiefs could all clinch a spot in the postseason if a few things fall into place for them. Buffalo and Kansas City essentially have the same path: If the Dolphins lose to the Packers on Thursday night, then both the Bills and Chiefs will clinch a spot with a win this week (The Chiefs play the Raiders on Friday while the Bills play the 49ers on Sunday).

If the Bills get in, they’d become the first team in 15 years (2009 Colts) to clinch a division title with five weeks left in the season.

So who else will be making the postseason? Let’s get to this week’s playoff projections and find out.

These projections are based on data from number-cruncher Stephen Oh of SportsLine. Each week, Oh plugs some numbers into his SportsLine computer and simulates the rest of the NFL season. Using those numbers, we then project the 14 teams we expect to make the playoffs.

With that in mind, let’s get to the projections heading into Week 13.

AFC playoff projection

Here’s a list of the playoff chances for all the other AFC teams (their percentage chances of getting into the playoffs is listed next to them in parentheses): Dolphins (15.7%), Colts (11.5%), Bengals (11.3%), Titans (1.3%), Jaguars (1.2%), Browns (0.2%), Jets (0.1%), Patriots (0.0%), Raiders (0.0%)

Note: The Raiders and Patriots aren’t eliminated from playoff contention, but their chances are listed at zero because the computer has given up on both of them.

NFC playoff projection

Here’s a list of the playoff chances for all the other NFC teams (their percentage chances of getting into the playoffs is listed next to them in parentheses): Buccaneers (46.7%), Cardinals (43.7%), Seahawks (16.5%), Rams (8.5%), Saints (6.2%), Cowboys (1.4%), Panthers (0.1%), Bears (0.1%), Giants (0.0%)