NFL Playoff Bracket 2024: Updated Picture, Schedule After Super Wild Card

The NFL’s Divisional Round is now in the books, with both of the top seeds handling business.

In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to put away the upstart Houston Texans, while the San Francisco 49ers needed a late touchdown drive to survive the Green Bay Packers.

On Sunday, the Detroit Lions defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to secure a trip to San Francisco. Detroit’s defense helped stave off a comeback effort by the Buccaneers, recording a game-sealing interception with under two minutes remaining in the contest.

A missed field goal proved to be the difference in the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the Buffalo Bills, as two of the league’s top quarterbacks faced off in the postseason yet again.

Here’s an updated look at the current playoff picture following the results, as well as a brief recap of each game.

Wild Card Round

Saturday, Jan. 13

(4) Houston Texans def. (5) Cleveland Browns, 45-14

(3) Kansas City Chiefs def. (6) Miami Dolphins, 26-7

Sunday, Jan. 14

(7) Green Bay Packers def. (2) Dallas Cowboys, 48-32

(3) Detroit Lions def. (6) Los Angeles Rams, 24-23

Monday, Jan. 15

(2) Buffalo Bills def. (7) Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-17

(4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers def. (5) Philadelphia Eagles, 32-9

Divisional Round

Saturday, Jan. 20

(1) Baltimore Ravens def. (4) Houston Texans, 34-10

(1) San Francisco 49ers def. (7) Green Bay Packers, 24-21

Sunday, Jan. 21

(3) Detroit Lions def. (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-23

(3) Kansas City Chiefs def. (2) Buffalo Bills, 27-24

Conference Championships

Sunday, Jan. 28

AFC Championship Game, (3) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (1) Baltimore Ravens, 3 p.m. ET, CBS

NFC Championship Game, (3) Detroit Lions vs. (1) San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox

Super Bowl LVIII

Sunday, Feb. 11

AFC vs. NFC, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS

Divisional Round Recaps

The Texans played the Ravens tough in the first half and Steven Sims’ punt return for a touchdown late in the second quarter sent the two teams into halftime locked at 10 points apiece.

But it was all Baltimore from there, as MVP frontrunner Lamar Jackson ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to burgeoning tight end Isaiah Likely in the second half.

Jackson was incredible, throwing for 152 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 11 times for another 100 yards and two scores. He’s an offense all by himself.

It was an impressive performance from the Baltimore defense as well, as the explosive Houston offense was held to just 213 yards of total offense and only managed 38 yards on the ground.

In the day’s second game, the Green Bay Packers had the San Francisco 49ers on the ropes, as a pair of Jordan Love touchdown passes in the second half gave the Packers a 21-17 lead in the fourth quarter.

That advantage should have been 24-17, but Green Bay kicker Anders Carlson missed a 41-yard attempt with 6:18 remaining.

That was plenty of time for Brock Purdy and the San Francisco offense, as Christian McCaffrey capped off a 12-play, 69-yard drive with a go-ahead touchdown run.

The Packers got the ball back with just over a minute remaining, but an ill-advised throw by Love led to a game-ending interception.

And so the top two seeds both advanced and remain the favorites to meet in the Super Bowl.

In a battle between the winner of the NFC North and the NFC South, the Lions emerged victorious. After failing to record a postseason win for 32 years, Detroit has notched two in the past two weeks.

The Lions struck first, with quarterback Jared Goff finding Josh Reynolds for a nine-yard touchdown to gain an early 10-3 advantage.

The Buccaneers answered back just before halftime, as Baker Mayfield connected with tight end Cade Otton for his first career touchdown catch in the playoffs.

Both Detroit and Tampa Bay traded touchdowns in the third quarter, although a sack by Aidan Hutchinson helped keep the Buccaneers out of field goal range on the opening drive of the half. The former No. 2 overall pick has now recorded three sacks in two postseason games.

Detroit extended its lead to 31-14 following another touchdown pass from Goff, who finished the afternoon with 287 yards through the air.

The Buccaneers responded with a touchdown of their own and got the ball back with just under two minutes remaining in the game, needing a touchdown as well as a two-point conversion to tie. Their efforts were quickly thwarted, as Mayfield was intercepted by linebacker Derrick Barnes on the second play of the drive.

The Lions will now travel to Levi’s Stadium for the NFC Championship game.

Kansas City’s marquee matchup with Buffalo didn’t disappoint, with several lead changes occurring throughout the game before the Chiefs finally solidified their 27-24 win.

The Bills entered halftime with a four-point lead after star quarterback Josh Allen scored on a two-yard run, his second rushing touchdown of the game. He finished the contest with 186 yards through the air and 72 on the ground.

After both teams scored touchdowns in the third quarter, Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco powered his way into the end zone at the start of the fourth to give Kansas City a three-point advantage.

Following a pair of unsuccessful drives, Allen led the Bills down to the Chiefs’ 26-yard line with less than two minutes remaining. After failing to convert on third down, kicker Tyler Bass missed a 44-yard field goal that would have tied the game.

This allowed the Chiefs to run out the clock, marking their sixth consecutive appearance in the AFC Championship game.

Wild Card Recaps

The AFC’s wild-card action has come to a close, with the divisional round set following Buffalo’s victory.

The Bills’ offense jumped out to an early 21-0 lead thanks to an impressive 52-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Josh Allen.

Buffalo’s defense held strong throughout the contest, picking off Steelers signal-caller Mason Rudolph in the Bills’ own end zone to maintain a 14-point first-half lead.

Pittsburgh’s rushing attack also struggled, as Pro Bowl running back Najee Harris was only able to muster 37 yards on 12 carries.

The Bills will host the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 21, as Allen and Patrick Mahomes are set to face off in the playoffs for the third time in their respective careers.

On the other side of the AFC bracket, the No. 1 seed Baltimore Ravens will host the Houston Texans after a first-round bye.

The Texans easily dispatched the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, winning 45-14 due to three touchdown passes from rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. The win set up a matchup with Lamar Jackson and a stout Ravens defense that led the NFL in sacks in the regular season.

For the NFC, the matchups were decided prior to Monday night’s game. With the No. 7 seed Green Bay Packers defeating the Dallas Cowboys, they are now locked into a matchup with the No. 1 seed San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.

Baker Mayfield shined during Tampa Bay’s victory, passing for 337 yards and three touchdowns without recording an interception. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers defense pressured Eagles signal-caller Jalen Hurts all night. Tampa Bay’s front seven was especially dominant, stopping Philadelphia on a “tush push” to deny a two-point conversion in the first half.

As the team began to pull away in the fourth quarter, a 23-yard touchdown pass from Mayfield to wide receiver Chris Godwin ended any hopes of a potential comeback by the Eagles.

The Buccaneers will travel to face the Lions on Sunday afternoon following Detroit’s first playoff victory since January 1992.