NFL playoff predictions: AFC, NFC championship, Super Bowl 59 picks

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We're down to the final week of the 2024 NFL regular season and just over a month away from Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans. While the playoffs have yet to begin, the field is almost fully set and we know who will be competing for the Lombardi Trophy this season.

Twelve of the 14 playoff spots have been clinched and five of those 12 teams are locked into their current playoff seeds. In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans are locked into the No. 1-No. 4 seeds, respectively. In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles are locked into the No. 2 seed, respectively.

That means some questions remain about home-field advantage in the NFC and wild-card round matchups for teams in each conference, but the overall picture is pretty clear.

Here's a look at some predictions and picks for who will win the AFC, the NFC, and Super Bowl 59 ahead of Week 18's action.

AFC standings

*=clinched a playoff spot.

• No. 1 seed: Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West winners)*
• No. 2 seed: Buffalo Bills (13-3, AFC East winners)*
• No. 3 seed: Baltimore Ravens (12-5, AFC North winners)*
• No. 4 seed: Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South winners)*
• No. 5 seed: Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, wild card No. 2)*
• No. 6 seed: Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, wild card No. 2)*
• No. 7 seed: Denver Broncos (9-7, wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Cincinnati Bengals (9-8), Miami Dolphins (8-8).

AFC championship predictions

Ravens get revenge in AFC championship game rematch

The frontrunners for the MVP award are quarterbacks in the AFC in Baltimore's Lamar Jackson and Buffalo's Josh Allen. But the supporting casts are what makes a difference for these two quarterbacks in the playoffs. The Ravens have more talent on both sides of the ball outside of quarterback than the Bills.

Baltimore gets past the wild card round unscathed, goes to Buffalo, and wins a gruelingly close contest with the Bills. The Chiefs, meanwhile, have the first round off and easily take care of the Steelers, as they did on Christmas.

Since moving Kyle Hamilton to free safety more often, the Ravens' defensive improvement has been a transformational decision. Their pass defense has taken a much-needed step forward, making this Baltimore team a much better outfit than what Kansas City saw in Week 1.

The Ravens go into Kansas City and slow down the Chiefs' offense while Jackson and Derrick Henry power the offense past the Chiefs' defense.

NFC standings

• No. 1 seed: Detroit Lions (14-2, NFC North leaders)*
• No. 2 seed: Philadelphia Eagles (13-3, NFC East winners)*
• No. 3 seed: Los Angeles Rams (10-6, NFC West winners)*
• No. 4 seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7, NFC South leaders)
• No. 5 seed: Minnesota Vikings (14-2, wild card No. 1)*
• No. 6 seed: Washington Commanders (11-5, wild card No. 2)*
• No. 7 seed: Green Bay Packers (11-5, wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Atlanta Falcons (8-8).

NFC championship predictions

Eagles beat the Vikings for their second Super Bowl berth in three seasons

No disrespect meant to the Detroit Lions but eventually their terrible injury luck must catch up to them. The Lions' defense just allowed 475 yards to the banged up San Francisco 49ers' offense in primetime in Week 17. The Vikings' offense in Week 18 is a much more potent machine, and they are one of the best defenses in the league.

Minnesota gets by the Lions for the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage and makes it through the divisional round with a close win over the Commanders. Philadelphia enjoys a bye essentially in Week 18 by resting many of their crucial starters. It opens things up with a win over Green Bay in the wild-card round and a physical victory against Detroit in the divisional round.

That sets up a conference championship tilt in Minnesota. The Vikings' defense can game plan well against Jalen Hurts as a passer but cannot fully contain Saquon Barkley. The 2,000-yard rusher powers the offense as the Eagles force some key mistakes by Sam Darnold to get back to the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl LIX predictions

Eagles 27, Ravens 24

In the same stadium they won their last Super Bowl title, the Ravens cannot bring home another Lombardi Trophy in a rematch of a Week 13 matchup.

The Ravens' stout run defense forces Hurts to beat them through the air, but the line holds up well in pass protection, allowing A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert to make plays.

But the Eagles' defense and a missed kick by Justin Tucker make the difference. Philadelphia's unit is talented enough to handle the Ravens' pass-catching corps and hold up against Henry in the run game. It's a close game but the Eagles make enough plays to get their second title in the last decade.

Super Bowl LIX odds breakdown

According to the current betting odds at BetMGM, the Chiefs are the favorites to win the Super Bowl at +375. Here's how the top five looks:

• Kansas City Chiefs: +375
• Detroit Lions: +400
• Buffalo Bills: +550
• Baltimore Ravens: +700
• Philadelphia Eagles: +700

NFL playoff schedule

• Wild card round: Saturday, Jan. 11 to Monday, Jan. 13, 2025
• Divisional round: Saturday, Jan. 18 to Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025
• Conference championship: Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025
• Super Bowl: Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025