NFL playoff bracket 2024: Divisional playoff matchups, schedule for AFC & NFC

Bryan Murphy

NFL playoff bracket 2024: Divisional playoff matchups, schedule for AFC & NFC image

The opening round of the 2024 NFL playoffs is over, and the divisional round is up next. 

Super Wild Card Weekend delivered a number of blowout victories to begin the postseason. On Saturday, C.J. Stroud led the Texans to a dominant win over the Browns before Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs handled the Dolphins with ease on a freezing Kansas City evening. 

The action continued on Sunday with the Packers going down to Dallas and stunning the Cowboys, handing Dak Prescott and Co. another early exit in embarrassing fashion. The highly anticipated Lions-Rams matchup did not disappoint, as Jared Goff and Detroit edged Matthew Stafford and Los Angeles for the Lions' first playoff win in more than 30 years. 

The final two matchups on Super Wild Card Weekend wrapped up on Monday. First, the Bills prevailed on a snowy day in Buffalo, beating the Steelers to advance to the divisional round for the fourth consecutive year. In the night cap, the Buccaneers dominated the defending NFC champion Eagles. 

Here's what you need to know about the schedule for the divisional round:

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NFL playoff bracket 2024

NFL playoff bracket divisional 2024
(SN illustration)

There were 14 teams in the 2024 NFL playoffs, but the field has since been cut down to eight. Here's a look at who will be seeded in each spot and the matchups for the divisional round. 

AFC

— Baltimore Ravens (1) vs. Houston Texans (4) 

— Buffalo Bills (2) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (3) 

NFC

— San Francisco 49ers (1) vs. Green Bay Packers (7)

— Detroit Lions (3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4)

NFL divisional round matchups

AFC

Baltimore Ravens (1) vs. Houston Texans (4)

The Texans started off wild-card weekend with a bang, thumping the Browns at home to advance to the divisional round, where they will play the top-seeded Ravens. Baltimore is fresh off a bye week after earning the top spot in the AFC. 

The two sides met in Week 1 of the 2023 season. The Ravens ruined C.J. Stroud's NFL debut, handing the Texans a 25-9 loss. Baltimore and Houston have only met once previously in postseason play. That matchup came in 2016 during the divisional round, with Baltimore edging out Houston 20-13 in that matchup. 

Buffalo Bills (2) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (3)

With the Bills taking care of business against the Steelers and the Chiefs knocking out the Dolphins, NFL fans are in for a treat in the divisional round, as Buffalo hosts Kansas City. 

For the third time in four postseasons, football fanatics are going to be treated to a Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes showdown. Mahomes and Co. emerged victorious in the previous two contests, which included the electric AFC Championship in 2020. However, this time is different, as the game is being played in Buffalo, marking the first time Mahomes will play a postseason contest outside of Arrowhead Stadium or a neutral site. 

NFC

San Francisco 49ers (1) vs. Green Bay Packers (7)

The Packers went up against another storied franchise in the wild-card round, delivering a 48-32 thumping to the Cowboys in Dallas. The reward? A date with the 49ers in San Francisco. 

Jordan Love, Aaron Jones and Green Bay balled out against Dallas, becoming the first No. 7 seed to win a game since the expanded format was introduced three years ago. The Packers ride a ton of momentum into next weekend, facing a stout 49ers team that is fresh off a bye week. It's the 10th time the two organizations will play in the playoffs, with San Francisco riding a four-game winning streak over Green Bay in the postseason. 

Detroit Lions (3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4)

For the first time in three decades, Detroit hosted a playoff game, and it did not disappoint, as the Lions took out the Rams at Ford Field. The reward? Another home game in Motor City, with the Buccaneers coming to town in the divisional round. 

The two NFC franchises have only met once previously in the postseason. That came all the way back in 1997, with the pair squaring off in a NFC wild-card game. The Buccaneers prevailed in that contest. 

NFL divisional round TV schedule

Here is the complete schedule for the divisional round of the 2024 NFL playoffs: 

Divisional round

Saturday, Jan. 20

Matchup Time (ET) TV channel Live stream
Ravens 34, Texans 10 4:30 p.m. ABC, ESPN ESPN+, Fubo
Packers at 49ers 8 p.m. Fox FoxSports.com, Fubo

Sunday, Jan. 21

Matchup Time (ET) TV channel Live stream
Buccaneers at Lions 3 p.m. NBC Peacock, Fubo
Chiefs at Bills 6:30 p.m. CBS Paramount+, Fubo

NFL playoff seeds 2024

AFC

Seed Team Record Wild-card round result
1. Baltimore Ravens 13-4 Bye
2. Buffalo Bills 11-6 Defeated (7) Steelers 31-17
3. Kansas City Chiefs 11-6 Defeated (6) Dolphins 26-7
4. Houston Texans 10-7 Defeated (5) Browns 45-14

NFC

Seed Team Record Wild-card round result
1. San Francisco 49ers 12-5 Bye
3. Detroit Lions 12-5 Defeated (6) Rams 24-23
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-8 Defeated (5) Eagles 32-9
7. Green Bay Packers 9-8 Defeated (2) Cowboys 48-32

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.