NFL playoff picture 2024: AFC, NFC standings and scenarios in Week 13 - Updated through Sunday

The calendar has reached Thanksgiving, meaning the NFL playoffs are starting to come into focus. While there are still five weeks of regular season football to be played after this weekend, clinching and elimination scenarios are starting to pop up for teams across the league. Will we have the first team lock into the postseason this weekend?

For Miami Dolphins fans – and since this is a Dolphins fan website, that is our primary focus – the answer to that question is, hopefully, no. The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs can both claim their spot in the AFC playoff picture in Week 13, but a Dolphins loss is a key to most of the scenarios.

As we have done over the last few seasons, we will break down the current standings heading into the week’s schedule, then look at any clinching or elimination scenarios. Typically we update those scenarios as game go final – but we may be a little slow this weekend given the holiday and travel. Hopefully, you understand if we are not on it as quickly in Week 13 as we will be the rest of the year.

Last update: Dec. 1, 2024 – 11:12 p.m. Eastern

2024 NFL Playoff Standings

AFC Playoff Picture (through Week 13 Sunday):

1 – Kansas City Chiefs (11-1, AFC West leader)^2 – Buffalo Bills (10-2, AFC East champion)+3 – Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3, AFC North leader)4 – Houston Texans (8-5, AFC South leader)

5 – Los Angeles Chargers (8-4, Wild Card 2 position)6 – Baltimore Ravens (8-5, Wild Card 1 position)7 – Denver Broncos (7-5, Wild Card 3 position)*

Indianapolis Colts (6-7)Miami Dolphins (5-7)Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)Cleveland Browns (3-8)*New York Jets (3-9)Tennessee Titans (3-9)Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)

Eliminated from playoffs:New England Patriots (3-10)Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)

*Week 13 playing/still to play^ Playoffs clinched+ Division championship clinched

Note: The Patriots are ahead of the Jaguars in the overall standings, but the Jaguars have not been eliminated from the playoffs yet.

Tie breaks:

Ravens over Chargers based on head-to-head results
Jets over Titans based on head-to-head results
Jaguars over Raiders based on AFC record

Note:

Bengals eliminated from AFC North title contention

NFL Playoff Picture (through Week 13)

1 – Detroit Lions (11-1, NFC North leader)2 – Philadelphia Eagles (10-2, NFC East leader)3 – Seattle Seahawks (7-5, NFC West leader)4 – Atlanta Falcons (6-6, NFC South leader)

5 – Minnesota Vikings (10-2, Wild Card 1 position)6 – Green Bay Packers (9-3, Wild Card 2 position)7 – Washington Commanders (8-5, Wild Card 3 position)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)Arizona Cardinals (6-6)Los Angeles Rams (6-6)San Francisco 49ers (5-7)Dallas Cowboys (5-7)New Orleans Saints (4-8)Chicago Bears (4-8)Carolina Panthers (3-9)

Eliminated from playoffs:New York Giants (2-10)

Tie breaks:

Falcons over Buccaneers based on head-to-head sweep
Buccaneers over Rams and Cardinals based on NFC record
Cardinals over Rams based on NFC record
49ers over Cowboys based on head-to-head results
Saints over Bears based on NFC record

Notes:

Bears eliminated from NFC North title contention