NFL Playoff Picture 2024: Examining Latest Scenarios and Top Bracket Busters

The NFL regular season has wrapped, and a couple of gridiron Goliaths have emerged as Super Bowl favorites.

There are a number of different ways this postseason could play out, though, and not all of them feature the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers locking horns in Las Vegas.

After laying out the upcoming playoff slate, we'll spotlight a team from each conference capable of busting their side of the bracket.

AFC Seeding

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-4, won AFC North)

2. Buffalo Bills (11-6, won AFC East)

3. Kansas City Chiefs (11-6, won AFC West)

4. Houston Texans (10-7, won AFC South)

5. Cleveland Browns (11-6)

6. Miami Dolphins (11-6)

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

AFC Wild-Card Schedule

(1) Ravens: bye

Saturday, Jan. 13

(5) Browns at (4) Texans, 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC

(6) Dolphins at (3) Chiefs, 8 p.m. ET on Peacock

Sunday, Jan. 14

(7) Steelers at (2) Bills, 1 p.m. ET on CBS

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NFC Seeding

1. San Francisco 49ers (12-5, won NFC West)

2. Dallas Cowboys (12-5, won NFC East)

3. Detroit Lions (12-5, won NFC North)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8, won NFC South)

5. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)

6. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-8)

NFC Wild-Card Schedule

(1) 49ers (bye)

Sunday, Jan. 14

(7) Packers at (2) Cowboys, 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox

(6) Rams at (3) Lions, 8 p.m. ET on NBC

Monday, Jan. 15

(5) Eagles at (4) Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. ET on ACB and ESPN

The injury bug did a number on the Browns this season, but they found their way to 11 victories regardless.

When a club shows this level of resilience, there just might be something special going on.

Cleveland's defense is wholly dominant, and it can malfunction an opposing offense at any level. Myles Garrett is a game-breaking pass-rusher, Denzel Ward and Martin Emerson Jr. are shut-down corners and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a tackle machine.

The offense isn't quite at the same level, but it came to life once veteran quarterback Joe Flacco took over late in the season. The 38-year-old let if fly early and often, tallying 1,616 yards and 13 passing touchdowns in his five games played.

While the Rams have significantly reshuffled their roster since winning Super Bowl LVI, several prominent players from that championship group remain. Ace play-caller Sean McVay is still working his magic from the sidelines, too.

So, while other clubs may secretly wonder if they really have enough to embark on a title-winning run, L.A. doesn't share this doubts. The Rams have more than the proverbial heart of a champion—they've secured the Vince Lombardi trophy before.

Their ability to outperform their seeding goes beyond championship holdovers like Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald, though. Several up-and-comers have turned this team into a potential bracket-busting force, like record-setting rookie receiver Puka Nacua, all-purpose running back Kyren Williams and run-stuffing linebacker Ernest Jones.

As long as their shaky special teams unit doesn't doom them, the Rams could go on a run.