The NFL playoffs get under way this weekend, live on Sky Sports – here is your guide to the final 14 teams battling for a place at Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans.

The reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs and high-flying Detroit Lions will enjoy a break during a bye week as the respective AFC and NFC No 1 seeds, while the remaining 12 playoff teams enter the Wild Card round.

Eight teams, including the Chiefs and Lions, will compete in the Divisional Round to determine the AFC and NFC Championship Games, the winners of which will meet at the Caesars Superdome in February.

AFC

1) Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

Next game: Divisional Round

Andy Reid’s Chiefs enter the playoffs as back-to-back defending champions amid their bid to become the first team to win three successive Super Bowls in NFL history. Having marched out to a 9-0 start, they were dealt their first defeat of the campaign in Week 11 as Josh Allen inspired the Buffalo Bills to a 30-21 victory over their fierce AFC rivals, after which the Chiefs went on to win six straight while clinching the No 1 seed against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.

As was the case last season, this is a different Chiefs team operating with a different identity to the high-octane aerial offensive juggernaut that tormented teams behind Patrick Mahomes during his early years as starter. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense has again played a defining roll, ranking second in scoring while spearheaded by star corner Trent McDuffie and veteran defensive tackle Chris Jones.

Three-time Super Bowl MVP Mahomes has experienced the least prolific season of his NFL career as pilot to an offense ranked down in 16th in total yards, 14th in passing, 22nd in rushing, 15th in scoring and ninth in EPA/play. The Chiefs and their stuttering offense had been dealt an early-season blow when wide receiver Rashee Rice was ruled out for the year through injury after four games having already seen offseason addition Hollywood Brown sidelined, placing an added emphasis on rookie receiver Xavier Worthy. It would later prompt Kansas City to trade for three-time First-Team All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins as support for tight end Travis Kelce.

Injury to starting running back Isiah Pacheco meanwhile paved the way for the return of Kareem Hunt, who would play a starring role behind one of the league’s top interior rushing schemes, led by three Pro Bowlers in Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith. Pacheco, Brown and defensive end Charles Omenihu have since returned in time to hand the Chiefs a boost in the playoffs. The story of the Chiefs’ season, though, has tight finishes, with 11 of their wins this year coming by one score.

2) Buffalo Bills (13-4)

Next game: Wild Card playoff vs Denver Broncos

Questions had loomed for the Buffalo Bills entering the new season as you wondered whether their Super Bowl window might be narrowing on the back of three straight Divisional Round exits and an AFC Championship defeat in 2020, the offseason departure of Stefon Diggs leaving a mix of youthful and unproven weapons at the disposal of Josh Allen.

That was until Josh Allen reminded the league that the Bills will always remainder contenders so long as he is still under center, reeling off another MVP-calibre campaign while becoming the first player in NFL history to record five straight 40-touchdown seasons after producing 18 scores to just one turnover in December alone.

Khalil Shakir emerged as his most favoured target with support from rookie receiver Keon Coleman, while Amari Cooper arrived from the Cleveland Browns as welcome veteran help ahead of the trade deadline. James Cook has also been instrumental to Joe Brady’s offense with 1,267 yards and 18 touchdowns from scrimmage.

Buffalo opened the year 3-0 before suffering a heavy 35-10 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens and a 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans, sparking a seven-game winning streak to take control of the AFC East until they were stunned 44-42 in a thriller against the Los Angeles Rams. A week later they out-scored the Detroit Lions 48-42 to underline their Super Bowl credentials as one of 12 teams yet to lift the Lombardi Trophy.

3) Baltimore Ravens (12-5)

Next game: Wild Card round vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens continue to knock on the Super Bowl door as one of the NFL’s nearly powerhouses after losing out to the Chiefs in last season’s AFC Championship Game and twice seen their star quarterback named MVP. Jackson returns to the playoffs as one of the favourites to win a third MVP award alongside Buffalo’s Josh Allen after throwing for 41 touchdowns to just four interceptions with the highest passer rating among starters in the league, having also rushed for 915 yards after breaking Michael Vick’s NFL record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in history.

Derrick Henry has been as advertised after signing in the offseason, the former Tennessee Titans running back bulldozing his way to 1,921 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns to rival the likes of Saquon Barkley and Ja’Marr Chase for Offensive Player of the Year as part of the league’s top-ranked running attack.

Zay Flowers earned his first Pro Bowl selection after a maiden 1,000-yard campaign, though could be a doubt to feature on Wild Card weekend due to a knee injury, while Rashod Bateman has enjoyed a career year with 756 yards and nine touchdowns.

Baltimore are ranked second with 54 sacks on the year after seeing both Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh hit double figures, their defense recovering from a disappointing start to the year to rank No 1 in yards, passing and scoring since Week 11. John Harbaugh’s side lost by the toe of Isaiah Likely against the Chiefs in Week One before suffering a shock defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders to fall to 0-2, responding with a five-game winning run that saw them outmuscle the Bills in a 35-10 statement win as well denying the Bengals in an overtime epic. They were dealt another unlikely setback against the Cleveland Browns in Week Eight, but won seven of their last nine to edge out the Steelers for the AFC North title.

4) Houston Texans (10-7)

Next game: Wild Card round vs Los Angeles Chargers

It has been an indifferent year for DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans, who may have clinched the AFC South comfortably but enter the postseason deemed one of the more favourable matchups. CJ Stroud has thrown for just 3,677 and 19 touchdowns to 12 interceptions following his glittering rookie year, while being sacked 52 times – second only to Caleb Williams’ 67 across the league amid major concerns over Houston’s pass protection.

The Texans opened their campaign 6-2 in a run that included an impressive win over the Bills, before having to wait over a month until their next win streak in December as they won just three of eight heading into the final weekend. In the process they have had to overcome a season-ending injury to offseason acquisition Diggs, while also missing star wide receiver Nico Collins for over a month due to a hamstring injury, with the Texans offense ranked 22nd in total yards, 21st in passing, 15th in rushing and 19th in scoring. Collins still leads the team with 1,006 yards and six touchdowns, while veteran running back Joe Mixon has 1,325 yards and 12 touchdowns from scrimmage.

Houston’s defense has meanwhile been among the sternest in the league, with Danielle Hunter (12) and Will Anderson Jr (11) combining for 23 sacks and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr breaking up a second-most 18 passes alongside his five interceptions.

5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)

Next game: Wild Card round @ Houston Texans

Justin Herbert is reborn, the Los Angeles Chargers are reinvented and Jim Harbaugh is doing what Jim Harbaugh does, turning a programme into a winning team. Harbaugh has guided the Chargers to their playoffs in his first season since returning to the NFL following his College National Championship success with Michigan, having led the San Francisco 49ers to two NFC Championship Games either side of a runner-up finish at Super Bowl XLVII during his four-year stint in the Bay Area between 2011-2014.

He has rebranded a tame and porous Chargers team that had failed to live up to expectations under predecessor Brandon Staley, ensuing Herbert is back competing among the league’s elite quarterbacks, where his talent dictates he belongs. Herbert has thrown for 3,870 yards and 23 touchdowns to just three interceptions while rushing for 306 yards and two scores as the heartbeat of an offense that bid farewell to veteran wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and running back Austin Ekeler in the offseason. With that has come a career year for left tackle Rashawn Slater, who has played a defining role in both the pass and run game.

The Chargers spent much of the first half of the season seeking to establish a reliable running game through offensive coordinator Greg Roman and Comeback Player of the Year contender JK Dobbins as the former Ravens duo reunited in Hollywood. It would pave the way for Herbert and the passing game to play more expansively down the stretch as rookie receiver Ladd McConkey won the audition as his quarterback’s most trusted target. Besides Herbert, the most notable improvement came courtesy of a No 1-ranked Khalik Mack and Derwin James-inspired scoring defense.

Harbaugh’s side held off the Denver Broncos for a crucial 23-16 division victory in Week Six as part of a run that saw them win six of eight after their bye to get to 8-4, eventually booking their return to the playoffs with a 40-7 win over the New England Patriots.

6) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

Next game: Wild Card round @ Baltimore Ravens

Such has become the norm in Pittsburgh, the Steelers logged another non-losing season – their 18th straight under Mike Tomlin and 21st straight in total – to reach the playoffs for the seventh time in the last 10 years. Four consecutive defeats to finish the season did, however, see them relinquish control of the AFC North to the Ravens, whom they will meet again after winning one and losing one to their division rivals earlier in the year.

It had been Justin Fields who started the season at quarterback for the Steelers after his offseason duel with Wilson was ultimately decided by an injury to the latter ahead of the opening week. Fields went 4-2 as starter before being replaced by Wilson in Week Seven as the former Broncos play-caller rediscovered long-awaited form following his dismal spell in Denver. Wilson guided Pittsburgh to seven wins in their next eight until his and the team’s late slump, finishing with 2,482 passing yards for 16 touchdowns and five interceptions as more questions were raised over Arthur Smith’s offense heading into the postseason.

As has been common in Pittsburgh in recent years, Tomlin’s Steelers leaned heavily on their defense once more as defensive tackle Cam Heyward thrust himself into Defensive Player of the Year contention as one of three Pro Bowlers on the team alongside TJ Watt, who led the way with 11.5 sacks, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Yet again the depth in talent along Pittsburgh’s defensive front would prove defining, the production of Watt and Heyward supplemented by Nick Herbig, Larry Ogunjobi and Alex Highsmith as part of one of the league’s most potent rotations.

7) Denver Broncos (10-7)

Next game: Wild Card round @ Buffalo Bills

The Denver Broncos are back in the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 at the end of the 2015 campaign after thumping the Chiefs backups 38-0 on the final day of the regular season to clinch the final AFC wild card berth. In doing so they extended Bo Nix’s sparkling rookie season after arriving as the 12th overall pick of the NFL Draft to take over from Russell Wilson, Sean Payton’s latest quarterback protégé threatening to lead a new era of contention for Denver after throwing for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for 430 yards and four scores.

Courtland Sutton has served as Nix’s most prolific target on the outside with the second 1,000-yard campaign of his career, coupled with the support of Marvin Mims Jr, while Javonte Williams has led a committee backfield alongside Jaleel McLaughlin. Vic Fangio has also orchestrated one of the league’s most efficient defenses, with the Broncos seeing out the regular season ranked seventh in yards and third in scoring, while leading the NFL with 63 sacks courtesy behind Nik Bonitto (13.5), Jonathan Cooper (10.5), Zach Allen (8.5) and John Franklin-Myers (7).

Having opened the year 0-2, Denver won three on the bounce before suffering the first of two defeats to their divisional rival Chargers. Week Nine saw them endure a 41-10 thrashing at the hands of the Ravens, before they were a blocked field goal away from taking down the Chiefs the following Sunday.

A four-game winning streak pulled them back into the playoff hunt until a dramatic overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals ensured the postseason race would head into the final weekend, Denver making light work of dispatching Carson Wentz and his fellow Kansas City backups – with the Chiefs having already clinched the No 1 seed – to advance into Wild Card weekend.

NFC

1) Detroit Lions (15-2)

Next game: Divisional Round

The Lions flexed their Super Bowl credentials on the final day of the regular season by cruising to a 31-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings to cement the No 1 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye with a record of 15-2. It was nothing less than they deserve as the most consistent and explosive offense across the league all season long, as much set to see offensive coordinator Ben Johnson become one of the most in-demand head coaching candidates over the next month.

Jared Goff finished second only to Joe Burrow in passing yards this season while throwing for 37 touchdowns with a second-ranked passer rating among starting quarterbacks. He has been an unflappable focal point to an offense loaded with talent, led by Amon-Ra St Brown and Jameson Williams on the outside and with running back Jahmyr Gibbs contributing 1,929 yards and 20 touchdowns from scrimmage, compensating for the loss of backfield partner David Montgomery to injury down the stretch. Detroit finished the regular season ranked second in total yards, second in passing, sixth in rushing and first in scoring.

Dan Campbell’s side lost Defensive Player of the Year candidate Aidan Hutchinson after just five games, but continued to spread the workload across Aaron Glenn’s unit as Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph asserted themselves as one of the most formidable safety duos in the league.

The Lions kickstarted the campaign with a 26-20 overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams before being pegged back by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week Two. From there they won 11 straight games to surge to the top of the NFC standings, twice defeating the Green Bay Packers as well as putting up 47 points on the Dallas Cowboys, 52 points on the Tennessee Titans and 52 points on the Jacksonville Jaguars. They were then reminded of the challenge that could await down the line when they were out-scored 48-42 in a thriller against Buffalo in Week 15, which could yet prove a Super Bowl preview.

2) Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)

Next game: Wild Card round vs Green Bay Packers

The Eagles emerged as one of the hottest teams in the NFL over the second half of the season with a 10-game winning streak that saw them topple the Washington Commanders, Rams and Ravens across three straight weeks in November and December. Their run then came to an end in a 36-33 loss to the Jayden Daniels-inspired Commanders as Philly lost starting quarterback Jalen Hurts to a concussion that would also keep him out in Week 17 as the Eagles beat the Dallas Cowboys to clinch the NFC East title.

Saquon Barkley has been central to the success of Nick Sirianni’s side following the running back’s arrival in free agency on the back of six seasons with the New York Giants. The former No 2 overall pick became just the ninth player to pass 2,000 rushing yards in a season having moved within 101 of beating Erick Dickerson’s all-time single-season record, his impact coming from behind what remains one of the league’s most potent offensive lines including center Cam Jurgens as what appears a perfect successor to Jason Kelce.

Barkley’s influence has coincided with Hurts finishing with a career-high completion percentage and passer rating while throwing 18 touchdowns to five picks – a tandem AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith feasting yet again – in addition to 630 rushing yards and 14 scores. On the other side of the ball, the Eagles boast the NFL’s top-ranked defense in yards and passing as well as finishing second in scoring, linebacker Zack Baun asserting himself as a Defensive Player of the Year contender and Quinyon Mitchell ascending as one of the most gifted young corners in the league.

The Eagles were beaten by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round last season, having come up shy in a 38-35 defeat to the Chiefs at Super Bowl LVII the prior year.

3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)

Next game: Wild Card round vs Washington Commanders

Baker Mayfield capped an outstanding individual season on the last day of the regular season as he held his nerve to inspire the Buccaneers to a 27-19 comeback win over the New Orleans Saints, helping Tampa win the NFC South and clinch the final NFC playoff spot ahead of the Atlanta Falcons.

Mayfield has reignited his career in Tampa after being unjustly shipped to make way for Deshaun Watson in Cleveland, amplifying the Browns’ mistake by thriving under offensive coordinator Liam Coen to the tune of 4,500 passing yards (third in the NFL) and 41 touchdowns (tied-second) to 16 interceptions.

Mike Evans helped Tampa overcome the loss of Chris Godwin to injury by recording a historic 11th straight 1,000-yard season, fourth-round rookie running back Bucky Irving dazzled out of the backfield with a maiden 1,000-yard campaign, Tristan Wirfs continued to prove why he is considered one of the league’s elite left tackles and in tight end Cade Otton and two-way running back Rachaad White came critical dimensions to the Coen attack.

Tampa and Atlanta had jostled for NFC South honours throughout the year, the Bucs taking down the Commanders, Lions and Eagles across a 3-1 start before making amends for a four-game skid mid-season by winning six of their last seven to win the division for a fourth straight year since their Super Bowl triumph.

4) Los Angeles Rams (10-7)

Next game: Wild Card round vs Minnesota Vikings

Write off the Los Angeles Rams at your peril. An advert for how dangerous Sean McVay’s side can be in the playoffs arrived in Week 14 when they fended off the Bills 44-42 in what, at the time, marked the highest-scoring game of the season. In doing so it also reiterated the threat the Rams pose when their star quartet of quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Kyren Williams and wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua is healthy and on the field together. Williams has rushed for 1,299 and 14 touchdowns, while Kupp and Nacua have combined for 1,700 receiving yards and nine touchdowns having missed nine games between them through injury.

Having previously built their Super Bowl-winning team are marquee veteran trades and free agency additions, the success of the 2024 Rams has been largely built on youth. Particularly on defense where first-round pick edge rusher Jared Verse has asserted himself as Defensive Rooke of the Year favourite, and where second-round rookie Braden Fiske is tied-first on the team with eight sacks with key contributions from Kobie Turner (8 sacks) and Byron Young (7.5 sacks) as success stories from the 2023 Draft in the post Aaron Donald era.

The Rams had found themselves in the thick of a wide-open NFC West race with the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals during the season, eventually nudging themselves in front to clinch the title with nine wins in 11 following their bye week having opened 1-4.

5) Minnesota Vikings (14-2)

Next game: Wild Card round @ Los Angeles Rams

Sam Darnold enters the playoffs as one of the stories of the season after resurrecting his career as a starting quarterback in the NFL in Minnesota. The former No 3 overall pick arrived on a one-year deal in the offseason to compete with rookie first-round pick JJ McCarthy following the departure of veteran Kirk Cousins, Darnold eventually earning the spot following a season-ending injury to the former Michigan signal-caller. He has since become one of the favourites to win Comeback Player of the Year by throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns to 12 interceptions under the guidance of head coach Kevin O’Connell, who in turn has bolstered his stock as one of the league’s best offensive minds.

Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison have combined for 2,408 yards and 19 touchdowns through the air, while Aaron Jones has rushed for over 1,000 yards after signing during free agency from the Packers. Across from them Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy defense has been a familiar feature to Minnesota’s success, ranking tied fourth with 49 sacks and tied first in takeaways.

Jonathan Greenard (12 sacks) and Andrew Van Ginkel (11.5 sacks) have served as beacons of Minnesota’s savvy business in free agency, Josh Metellus has ascended as one of the league’s most effective utility defensive backs and Flores continues to squeeze every ounce of football left in veteran safety Harrison Smith.

The Vikings were denied the No 1 seed after their final-day loss to the Lions, and will therefore visit the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Rams in the final game of Wild Card weekend. Minnesota marched out to a 5-0 start, including victory over the New York Jets in London, before falling in back-to-back weeks to the Lions and Rams. O’Connell’s side then won their next nine games to reach the playoffs after missing out in 2023.

6) Washington Commanders (12-5)

Next game: Wild Card round @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The standout story of the season in Washington has been a scintillating rookie year for quarterback Jayden Daniels, who took the reins on a new era for the Commanders as the No 2 overall pick at the Draft. Daniels has fast-tracked Dan Quinn’s side into surprise contention as the string-puller to a Kliff Kingsbury offense that has helped repair the former Arizona Cardinals head coach’s reputation in the NFL. Daniels has completed 331 of 480 passes for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns to nine interceptions while carrying the ball 148 times for 891 yards and six scores, in turn setting a new NFL record for single-season rushing yards by a rookie quarterback.

Daniels’ early impact even thrust him into MVP contention as Washington opened their year 7-2, before Quinn’s team were pegged back by a three-game skid including defeats to the Cowboys and Eagles. They followed up with four straight wins to secure a Wild Card spot, their first since 2020 and just their second playoff berth since 2015.

Brian Robinson Jr has also starred alongside Daniels as part of the league’s No 3-ranked rushing offense, carrying the ball 187 times for 799 yards and eight touchdowns, while Terry McLaurin leads Washington through the air with 82 catches for 1,096 and 13 touchdowns ahead of Zach Ertz’s 66 receptions for 654 and seven scores. All-action linebacker Frankie Luvu has meanwhile been a cruel Pro Bowl snub after managing 99 tackles, eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

7) Green Bay Packers (11-6)

Next game: Wild Card round @ Philadelphia Eagles

The Packers have featured as part of a loaded NFC North playoff hunt alongside the Lions and Vikings, taking up the division’s second wild card spot after finishing 11-6 as the calibre of team rivals would have been keen to swerve. Jordan Love stunned the Cowboys to dump Mike McCarthy’s side out of the playoffs last January, and has since continued his rise as a long-term successor to Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau Field by advancing to the postseason in his second straight year as starter.

Green Bay lost Love to injury during their kickoff week loss to the Eagles in Brazil, head coach Matt LaFleur earning his flowers with masterful game-plans to take down the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans behind back-up quarterback Malik Willis over the next two weeks.

Love returned in Week Four’s 31-29 loss to the Vikings, during which the Packers scored 22 unanswered points to threaten a remarkable comeback from 28-0 down, before LaFleur’s side enjoyed a four-game winning-run while flexing their playoff credentials against the Rams, Cardinals and Texans. Besides the Eagles, their only defeats this season have come at the hands of the Vikings and Lions, both of whom have beaten them twice.

Josh Jacobs has flourished in his first season since signing during free agency with 1,329 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, while four Packers receivers have surpassed 600 yards through the air, led by Jayden Reed’s 857 yards and six touchdowns. Former Giants safety Xavier McKinney’s eight interceptions are second only to Kerby Joseph’s nine for Detroit, featuring as part of Green Bay’s third-most 31 takeaways and their sixth-ranked scoring defense.

When is the Super Bowl?

Wildcard weekend will take place from Saturday January 11-Monday January 13 before the playoffs enter the Divisional Round on Saturday January 18 and Sunday January 19, at which point the respective No 1 seeds will join the action following their bye.

It is then onto the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday January 26, before Super Bowl LIX takes place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9.

It will be the 11th time the Super Bowl has been hosted in New Orleans, the first time since 2013, and the eighth game to be held at the Caesars Superdome.

Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the Super Bowl half-time show.