NFL Playoff Picture 2024: AFC, NFC Wild-Card Scenarios and Week 18 Predictions | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Division Leaders

1. Baltimore (13-3)

2. Miami (11-5)

3. Kansas City (10-6)

4. Jacksonville (9-7)

Wild-Card Race

5. Cleveland (11-5)

6. Buffalo (10-6)

7. Indianapolis (9-7)

8. Houston (9-7)

9. Pittsburgh (9-7)

Pittsburgh is the chaos agent in the AFC wild-card race.

The Steelers need to beat the Ravens to make the Bills and Jaguars feel a bit uncomfortable going into Sunday.

Mike Tomlin's team can't clinch a playoff berth by beating the Ravens, but it can be in a position to jump into the No. 7 seed with a victory.

Pittsburgh gets into the postseason with a win and either a Buffalo loss, Jacksonville loss or Indianapolis-Houston tie.

The Steelers can also clinch by way of a tie combined with a Jaguars loss and no tie in the Colts-Texans game.

Pittsburgh should capture a win since the Ravens are focused on the divisional round. Baltimore secured the AFC's No. 1 seed last week.

The Colts-Texans contest is harder to figure out since the AFC South matchup will be a level contest.

Indianapolis won the first meeting back in Week 2, but it conceded 384 passing yards to C.J. Stroud.

Stroud could take advantage of a Colts passing defense that allowed over 300 yards on three occasions. Five of Indianapolis' seven highest pass-yard concessions took place inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

A strong passing day from Stroud coupled with an impressive defensive showing from Will Anderson and Co. will put the Texans into the postseason.

The Colts need to find a way to slow down Stroud, and if that happens, they will end up in the postseason field.

The Colts-Texans winner could end up with the AFC South title with a Jacksonville loss.

The Jaguars face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The Titans enter Sunday with the third-worst record in the AFC.

The AFC East will also be up for grabs on Sunday in the Buffalo-Miami contest. Buffalo can jump from No. 6 to No. 2 with a win, and that is probably its safest path to the postseason.

Miami is already locked into the postseason field, and if it loses, it will be on the road for wild-card weekend.

Buffalo can still clinch a playoff spot with a loss if either Pittsburgh or Jacksonville loses, or the Colts-Texans game ends in a tie.

Prediction

1. Baltimore

2. Buffalo

3. Kansas City

4. Jacksonville

5. Cleveland

7. Houston