The 2024 NFL season didn’t disappoint. Saquon Barkley rushed for 2,000 yards, Ja’Marr Chase won the WR triple crown, Lamar Jackson posted arguably the best year of his career (and still might not win MVP), and the NFC’s top seed wasn’t decided until the final hour of the season. What more could you ask for?

Well, with the calendar officially flipped to 2025 and the NFL Playoff field set, we’re about to get a whole lot more.

The possibilities for Super Bowl 59 aren’t quite endless, but with some exciting newcomers (hello, Commanders and Chargers) mixed with plenty of the old guard (Chiefs, Bills, Ravens — we meet again), it’s anyone’s guess as to who will be left standing in New Orleans on Feb. 9.

Our preseason predictions hit on nine of 14 playoff teams, including the Commanders. Only the 49ers, Jets, and Bears were eliminated before the final day of the season, as their fans spent more time talking about coaching searches and draft picks than postseason aspirations. We nailed the top seeds in both conferences, though, and our Super Bowl pick is still very much a possibility.

Of course, whatever we thought we knew before the season is out the window now. We have 18 weeks worth of stats, trends, and results to go off — and you better believe we’re about to go off ahead of the NFL’s ultimate tournament.

Below are Sporting News’ predictions for the 2024 NFL playoffs, complete with updated Super Bowl 59 picks. Our NFL experts Vinnie Iyer, Bill Bender, Ed Williams, Dan Treacy, Bryan Murphy, and Matt Lutovsky break down the brackets and project which players will break out, which contenders will break down, and which teams will break through during the postseason.

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NFL playoff picks, predictions 2024

Which wild-card team (5-7 seeds) is the biggest threat to win it all?

Ed Williams: Minnesota Vikings. To be fair, none of the wild-card teams are likely to win the Super Bowl this season, but out of the group, the Vikings have the best chance. Sam Darnold gave plenty of reason for concern with his performance in Week 18 against the Lions, but his body of work this season is hard to deny. Brian Flores’ defense is also strong enough to give the elite offenses some issues. Minnesota is the most complete of the wild-card teams, so it’s the pick here. 

Dan Treacy: Minnesota Vikings. It’s hard to see any wild-card team making it to the Super Bowl, let alone winning it, but don’t be so quick to dismiss the Vikings after their Week 18 loss in Detroit. The NFC doesn’t feature a gauntlet of Hall of Fame-caliber quarterbacks as the AFC does, and Kevin O’Connell has the kind of mind that can take the disappointing performance against the Lions and use it to improve the offense. If Sam Darnold can put that one behind him and Brian Flores’ defense refocuses, the Vikings have what it takes to make a run.

Bill Bender: Los Angeles Chargers. Jim Harbaugh is officially back in the NFL playoffs. He’s 8-5 with three conference championship appearances for his career, and the Chargers led the NFL in scoring defense (17.7 ppg) under defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Justin Herbert has multiple TD passes in his past four games, and JK Dobbins is healthy. Los Angeles is a road favorite at Houston and lost two games by a combined total of just nine points to the Chiefs. 

Matt Lutovsky: Minnesota Vikings. The Commanders have a knack for winning close games in dramatic fashion, but there’s no need to overthink this and pick against the team that was a game away from being the NFC’s top seed. Minnesota has a dynamic offense, solid defense, and smart coaching. We have a little bit of pause after Sam Darnold’s clocking-striking-midnight performance in Week 18 vs. Detroit, but we’ll trust the stats — and results — that led to 14 wins during the regular season.

Vinnie Iyer: Washington Commanders. Jayden Daniels is a confident rookie with great young leadership skills, aided by the Commanders’ ability to steadily run the ball and deliver explosive pass plays, too. Their defense has some issues, but Dan Quinn helps them play well in big situations. This has been a special turnaround season in Washington, and it wouldn’t be too wild for the team to make a deep run.

Bryan Murphy: Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are a wild-card team in name only. Head coach Kevin O’Connell’s team put up 14 wins in 2024, and the reward is a wild-card spot and road matchup against one of the two teams to beat them this year. It’s not ideal, but Minnesota has been a buzzsaw this season, with an excellent defensive unit led by DC Brian Flores and a powerful offense headlined by Justin Jefferson. Don’t be surprised to see the Vikings make a deep run. 

Which of the top 1-3 seeds in either conference is most likely to be upset?

Ed Williams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While Tampa Bay boasts a prolific offense, their defense can be very concerning. Todd Bowles loves to blitz, and when the blitz is getting home, the Bucs can be dangerous. However, Jayden Daniels’ rushing ability will be able to negate some of that impact. If Daniels has time to throw, he can pick apart this secondary and eliminate the Bucs in the first round. Tampa should really pound the rock with Bucky Irving against a susceptible run defense, but with Baker Mayfield as hot as he’s been, it could be tempting to fall into the trap of airing it out, which could lead to an early exit.

Dan Treacy: Buffalo Bills. The Buccaneers don’t feel like they count at 10-7, so the Bills could be the ones in trouble solely because they might be staring down a divisional-round matchup with the Ravens. Baltimore isn’t without flaws, but the Bills simply couldn’t contain Derrick Henry in a 35-10 loss when these two teams faced off in Week 4. That game wasn’t close, so the pressure will be on the Bills to prove they have made strides defensively. Buffalo also draws a pesky Broncos team with nothing to lose in the wild-card round. If Denver’s strong pass rush can crack what’s been a strong Bills offensive line, that game could be closer than Buffalo is comfortable with.

Bill Bender: Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers won the NFC South and now face one of the hottest teams in the playoffs in a rematch of a Week 1 blowout. Jayden Daniels, however, is a much better quarterback now, and the Commanders have an outstanding pass defense. All it takes is a few turnovers for Washington to move on.

Matt Lutovsky: Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s tempting to say the Ravens since they face the rival Steelers in Round 1, but there’s just nothing positive coming out of the Steel City right now. Instead, we’ll take the chalk pick and go with the Bucs. It’s not really a knock against Baker Mayfield and Co, but the rest of the top-three seeds are just so strong. Tampa can play with anyone — shown by a win at Detroit and an OT loss in Kansas City — but it has an inconsistent defense and questionable decision-making. A loss in the first two rounds feels inevitable.

Vinnie Iyer: Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers started the season with a 37-20 rout of the Commanders in Week 1, but they face a much-improved and more battle-tested version of that team 18 weeks later in the wild-card round of the playoffs. The Chiefs, Lions, Eagles, Bills, and Ravens seem much more ready to live up to their seeds as overall better teams.

Bryan Murphy: Philadelphia Eagles. There are a lot of questions with the Eagles heading into the playoffs, mainly due to the concussion concern for QB Jalen Hurts. He was knocked out of the Week 16 contest against the Commanders early and hasn’t played in the past two games. He remains in concussion protocol as a wild-card matchup with Green Bay looms. Even with Saquon Barkley and a stout defense, if Hurts can’t go, it’s hard to envision the Eagles going far with backup QB Kenny Pickett at the helm. 

Who’s your pick for playoff MVP?

Ed Williams: Jalen Hurts. Saquon Barkley got all of the attention during the regular season, and rightfully so, but the table is set for Hurts to remind everyone why this is his team and that he’s the same quarterback who arguably outplayed Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl two years ago. Hurts is coming off a concussion, but he should also be well-rested. He caught plenty of criticism for not airing it out more with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but the Eagles didn’t have to do that much in the regular season. If they have to in the postseason, Hurts will be up to the task.

Dan Treacy: Patrick Mahomes. The playoff MVP is Patrick Mahomes until it isn’t Patrick Mahomes. The three-time Super Bowl champion always seems to rise to the occasion on this stage, and until someone like Lamar Jackson proves he can outplay Mahomes in January, it’s tough to bet against him.  

Bill Bender: Josh Allen. He is 5-5 with 21 TDs, four interceptions, and a 100 passer rating in the postseason. If Allen can lead Buffalo into the Super Bowl with victories against the Broncos, Ravens, and Chiefs — our projected order — then that would make him the easy pick here. Lamar Jackson could win the NFL MVP, but Allen will lead Buffalo to the Super Bowl. 

Matt Lutovsky: Saquon Barkley. Barkley has made the Eagles go all season, and that will continue in the playoffs. He won’t sniff the NFL MVP, fairly or unfairly, but in a four-game sample, his impact will be undeniable. From steady production through the air and on the ground to made-for-TV highlights, Barkley can — and will — do it all. 

Vinnie Iyer: Lamar Jackson. Jackson has been a better all-around QB than he was in either of his two MVP-winning seasons. He is taking over games with ease with consistent downfield passing and running boosted by the threat of Derrick Henry. That will continue in the playoffs.

Bryan Murphy: Josh Allen. The Bills have yet to reach a Super Bowl in the Josh Allen era, but it’s hardly been the star quarterback’s fault. The Buffalo superstar and potential league MVP has sensational numbers in the postseason, with 2,723 passing yards, 21 passing TDs, and four interceptions in 10 playoff games. He’s also added 190 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground. At some point, Allen has to take Buffalo over the postseason hump, and this feels like the year. 

What under-the-radar player will become a star in the playoffs?

Ed Williams: Ladd McConkey. The rookie wide receiver isn’t a household name just yet, but he had a stellar freshman campaign and almost immediately became Justin Herbert’s favorite target. Quentin Johnston has had some memorable moments at WR, as well, and J.K. Dobbins has been a great story out of the backfield. But McConkey is the glue that holds the Chargers’ offense together. If Herbert gets in a jam, he’ll surely look McConkey’s way to get things back on track.

Dan Treacy: Jalen McMillan. The Buccaneers have surged in recent weeks, partly because McMillan has made the loss of Chris Godwin digestible. The Washington product scored at least one touchdown in each of his last five regular season games, averaging 63.2 yards per contest over that span. As defenses try to keep Mike Evans contained, McMillan could be a difference-maker for Tampa Bay. 

Bill Bender: Khalil Shakir. Shakir’s numbers might not leap off the page, but he’s the go-to guy for Allen. In three games against Kansas City, Baltimore, and Detroit, Shakir had 18 catches (24 targets) for 171 yards and a TD. If the Bills need a clutch reception late against the best teams in this playoff, then the ball is going to Shakir. He will have a few memorable catches in this run. 

Matt Lutovsky: Jameson Williams. A college star at Alabama, Williams has made plenty of big plays in his young career. However, because of injuries and off-field indiscretions, he’s more well-known by the fantasy crowd than casual fans. Detroit likes to utilize his blazing speed in a variety of ways, from deep passes to jet sweeps and trick plays. If the Lions make a deep run, you can bet that Jamo will be uniquely involved. 

Vinnie Iyer: Odafe Oweh. Oweh has come on as a pass rusher of late with a double-digit sack season to show for it. The Ravens’ defense has done a 180 at the right time late with better pressure to boost their secondary, adding to their consistent strength vs. the run.

Bryan Murphy: Alex Anzalone. If he was healthy all year, he might not exactly fit in the “under-the-radar” category, but the return of Anzalone is massive for Detroit. The Lions inside linebacker missed the last two months of the season with a broken forearm, returning off injured reserve in Week 18. It’s a completely different defense for DC Aaron Glenn when Anzalone is on the field. He’s the heartbeat of a unit that is banged and bruised, and he most certainly will be called on to make big plays in the playoffs. 

What offense do you trust the most?

Ed Williams: Detroit Lions. Even without David Montgomery, this offense is still the most potent in the league. They boast one of the league’s best offensive lines, and they have electric weapons in Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown. They have a quarterback who is thriving in this system, and they have a great red-zone target in tight end Sam LaPorta. They also have the hottest play-caller in the league in Ben Johnson, as well as the league’s most aggressive head coach in Dan Campbell. That’s a recipe for offensive success.

Dan Treacy: Detroit Lions. The Lions have their share of defensive injuries, but the offense is undeniable at this point. Even when the unit had some tough moments in Week 18, it eventually wore down Minnesota’s defense and capitalized. With David Montgomery potentially returning, it’s hard to see a way to beat Detroit that doesn’t involve putting a huge number on the board. The Ravens and Eagles both bring terrific offenses to the table, but Baltimore has faltered on this stage before and Philadelphia has been a tough more hit-or-miss than the Lions this season. 

Bill Bender: Detroit Lions. The creativity that offensive coordinator Ben Johnson continues to show with Jared Goff is masterful, and Jahmyr Gibbs averaged 162.3 yards in Detroit’s last three games. Dan Campbell’s aggressive approach pays off, and the Lions were held to fewer than 30 points in just one of their last six home games. They will be tough to beat in Detroit. 

Matt Lutovsky: Philadelphia Eagles. This isn’t a knock on the Lions, Ravens, Bills, or any of the other great offenses in the playoffs, but when a team has the best RB in the league, a mobile QB, two dynamic WRs, and an unstoppable short-yardage play, it’s tough to beat. Yes, the Eagles went through a lull down the stretch and rank just 29th in passing yards, but they have the weapons to dominate in any situation.

Vinnie Iyer: Detroit Lions. With the emergence of Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams as takeover threats, the Lions can rip into teams every which way around Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta. Jared Goff is dealing at a high level, and Ben Johnson keeps calling the right plays at the right times. They also can be aggressive or conservative when needed based on game script and situation. 

Bryan Murphy: Detroit Lions. How can you pick against Ben Johnson and the Lions? Detroit averaged 33.2 points per game, the most in the NFL by more than two whole points. It’s far and beyond the most expansive, versatile offense in the league, possessing the ability to terrorize defenses through the air or on the ground. The Lions have scored more than 30 points in each of their past five games and were only held under 20 points once, which came back in Week 2 during a 20-16 loss to the Buccaneers. 

What defense do you trust the most?

Ed Williams: Philadelphia Eagles. Vic Fangio hasn’t received enough credit for turning this defense completely around. It was a giant help that GM Howie Roseman struck gold with not just Quinyon Mitchell at cornerback, but also with Cooper DeJean, and Fangio also took a part-time pass rusher in Zach Baun and turned him into a Pro Bowl inside linebacker. Jalen Carter took a giant step in his sophomore campaign and has been wrecking games even if the counting stats don’t always show it. On top of it all, the defense is battle-tested and travels well.

Dan Treacy: Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs’ defense wasn’t perfect down the stretch, but with CB Jaylen Watson back and the unit looking healthy entering the playoffs, it’s hard not to trust Steve Spagnuolo to have his unit firing on all cylinders. The Chiefs relied on their defense in the playoffs last season, and they should have no problem doing so again.

Bill Bender: Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore played seven games against teams that made the AFC playoff this season. The Ravens were 5-2 and allowed 15.3 points per game in those matchups. The two losses were on the road, so this defense will have to be on point if it has to go through Buffalo and Kansas City. 

Matt Lutovsky: Kansas City Chiefs. These dudes just find a way, and they’ll be rested and ready for their divisional-round opponent. Despite a “down year” from their offense, the Chiefs went 15-1 in games in which they tried, and that included holding opponents to fewer than 20 points 10 times. Yes, Buffalo hung 30 on the Chiefs earlier this season, but it will be a different story in Kansas City in January.

Vinnie Iyer: Philadelphia Eagles. Vic Fangio has been loaded with young playmakers, such as Jalen Carter and Cooper DeJean, and a fair share of veteran stalwarts. They also take away the running game in most matchups and play well off their offensive balance and explosiveness.

Bryan Murphy: Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs’ defense is the biggest reason why the defending Super Bowl champions are the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Excluding the Week 18 shutout loss with no starters playing, Kansas City held opponents to fewer than 20 points in the previous five games. The unit’s 19.2 points allowed per game rank fourth, and the 320.6 yards per game is ninth. The most important thing is the defense is holding up when it’s needed most, leading to wins. 

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Who’s your pick to win the AFC?

Ed Williams: Baltimore Ravens. Given some of Lamar Jackson’s past struggles in the postseason, this pick does come with some trepidation, but it’s hard to not go with what you’re seeing on the field. In any other season, Jackson would be the slam-dunk MVP, but given some voter fatigue and Josh Allen also having a great season, many think the Bills’ QB will win the award. Jackson also has a stronger running game this year with Derrick Henry. The bigger reason for taking the Ravens is that the defense has finally started to play like the unit we thought we’d be seeing all season. The pass defense has clamped down of late and should do enough to slow offenses down a bit, paving the way for Jackson to keep the foot on the gas on offense.

Dan Treacy: Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are well-positioned to get back to the Super Bowl. The Ravens seem like the AFC’s hottest team entering the playoffs, but we have seen how that story goes before. With the road to the Super Bowl running through Arrowhead Stadium and the Chiefs likely to be at least moderate favorites in the divisional round, their only major test might come against the Bills or Ravens in the AFC championship. Both Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson can beat Mahomes, but banking on them doing it on the road in January is another story.

Bill Bender: Buffalo Bills. Somebody has to knock the Chiefs off, right? The Bills put up 30-plus points in nine of their past 10 games, and they could play Baltimore the week after a physical Ravens-Steelers game. Turnover margin matters in the playoffs, and the Bills led the league at +24 this season. 

Matt Lutovsky: Kansas City Chiefs. It’s lazy to say the Chiefs always win because they have Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones…but they have Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones. And they always win. Sure, they’re facing the best Ravens offense of the past half-decade and a more efficient Bills team, but whether it’s because of Mahomes, the refs, or whatever conspiracy theory you want to come up with, the Chiefs always seem to find a way. 

Vinnie Iyer: Baltimore Ravens. The Chiefs remain the team to beat, but there’s something about the Ravens peaking at the right time with the pressure more on the back-to-back champs and the much-hyped Bills. The Ravens lost bad games earlier in the season but have gotten that out of their system with an improved defense to support an offense that keeps putting more together beyond Jackson and Henry.

Bryan Murphy: Buffalo Bills. The Bills haven’t made it to the Super Bowl since 1993. That has to change at some point in the Josh Allen era. He would almost certainly need to defeat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs for the first time in the playoffs to come out of the AFC, but Buffalo beat Kansas City earlier in the season. For the first time in over 30 years, the Bills will finally emerge from the AFC.

Who’s your pick to win the NFC?

Ed Williams: Philadelphia Eagles. Philly boasts the most complete team in the playoffs this year. They’ve shown they can air it out when they want to, but they’ve also shown they can wear down a defense in the running game and completely dominate time of possession. The defense has been just as strong barring a couple of hiccups, too. The Eagles have had issues with getting off to slow starts on offense, but the defense has been strong enough to mask those struggles so far. If the offense can keep pace, there could be no stopping this team.

Dan Treacy: Philadelphia Eagles. Eagles fans might still be traumatized by last season’s collapse, but there’s no questioning the ridiculous amount of talent on Philadelphia’s roster this season. There are no serious offensive concerns with Saquon Barkley in the backfield, and the defense is much more stable than last season with Vic Fangio at the helm. With the Lions’ defense still battling key injuries, the Eagles are best positioned to go into Detroit if necessary and win the NFC title.

Bill Bender: Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles had eight turnovers in their first four games. They’ve had seven turnovers since, and the addition of Saquon Barkley turned out to be the best move of the offseason. This is the one NFC team that can go into Detroit and win a conference championship game. That will be an amazing matchup if it materializes. 

Matt Lutovsky: Philadelphia Eagles. They had the best defense in the NFL this season, and the offense is as versatile as any in the league. You can’t get them off the field on 3rd-and-short, and they’re going to have the single best offensive weapon in any game they play in before the Super Bowl. There’s something magical happening in Detroit — and it won’t be easy for Philadelphia to win there — but the ingredients are present for another Super Bowl run from Jalen Hurts and Co.

Vinnie Iyer: Detroit Lions. It’s difficult to go against the Lions after they locked down the No. 1 seed and the conference’s best path to the Super Bowl. They have an often unstoppable offense and an overachieving defense overcoming injuries to help their cause. They learned from blowing the championship game lead to the 49ers on the road last year, and now they have home-field advantage and the bye.

Bryan Murphy: Los Angeles Rams. It’s hard to pick against the Lions, but I’ll go a little off-script here. Los Angeles quietly went 9-3 to end the season after a horrid 1-4 start, and one of those three losses came in Week 18 when Sean McVay was resting his starters. The Rams were the only team other than the Lions to beat the Vikings and were one of the few teams to defeat the Bills. Matthew Stafford and McVay are seasoned when it comes to the postseason, and they are my sneaky pick to pull off multiple upsets to reach the Super Bowl. 

Who wins Super Bowl 59?

Ed Williams: Eagles over Ravens. Full disclosure, I am an Eagles fan, but I’m also not one of the loud, obnoxious Eagles fans. Typically, I’m more comfortable tempering expectations and having the Eagles play in more of an underdog role. But this season just feels different. The vibes around this team have completely changed. The players continue to look like a cohesive team, but the biggest difference is the defense. And don’t they say that defense wins championships?

Dan Treacy: Eagles over Chiefs. At some point, the Chiefs’ penchant for playing close games has to catch up to them, right? They might be able to skate by at home, but this feels like the year Kansas City just doesn’t have enough in the tank to seal the deal. The Eagles and Lions look talented enough to overcome a strong Kansas City defense, and the Eagles are positioned better than anyone to win their second championship.

Bill Bender: Bills over Eagles. This is Josh Allen’s opportunity. Sean McDermott, an assistant with the Eagles from 2001-10, will get a shot at his former team. This is Josh Allen’s time. Once Buffalo overcomes the Chiefs in the playoffs — they are 0-3 with Allen — the rest will be a dream. The four Super Bowl losses in the 1990s will be a topic of conversation, but his Buffalo team ends the misery once and for all.

Matt Lutovsky: Chiefs over Eagles. The Eagles are the better team on paper, but the Chiefs have the better coach, better QB, and a seemingly never-ending horseshoe coming out of their rears. We know that Kansas City isn’t untouchable in the Super Bowl, but it will take a monumental effort to beat it. Picking against a prime Mahomes when he has a versatile arsenal of weapons doesn’t seem smart, so we’ll bet on the first three-peat in NFL history instead.

Vinnie Iyer: Ravens over Lions. There’s just something that sets them up nicely for a successful run as a No. 3 seed, giving John Harbaugh his second Super Bowl ring while Jackson transcends from two-time MVP into an elite immortal. They’ve been knocking on the door in the tournament and are due for the breakthrough while squeaking past the Chiefs and winning a high-scoring affair vs. the Lions.

Bryan Murphy: Bills over Rams. This year will see an end to the suffering for one of the league’s most devoted fan bases. Led by Josh Allen, the Bills will defeat the Rams in the Super Bowl and claim the franchise’s first Super Bowl in over 30 years. Allen is too good not to win at least one championship in his career, and what better way to cap off the 2024 season he’s had than with a ring?