Using playoffpredictors.com I went through and picked a winner for every single game of the NFL regular season. Once I completed that I went through and picked a winner for every single playoff matchup and eventually a Super Bowl Champion. Below are the results of those predictions.
The NFC looks like it will run through San Francisco, as the 49ers claim the top seed with a strong 13-4 record. Their elite talent keeps them ahead of the pack in the West, where Seattle and Los Angeles both hover at 7-10 and Arizona bottoms out at 5-12. Despite some competitive moments from the Seahawks and Rams, neither emerges as a true playoff threat, leaving the Niners clearly in control of the division.
The NFC North shapes up as one of the most competitive divisions in football. The Packers narrowly edge out the Lions for the crown, both finishing 11-6 but with Green Bay holding the tiebreaker. Detroit and Minnesota, who finishes 10-7, also earn playoff berths, setting up the possibility of multiple NFC North teams making postseason noise. Even the Bears take a step forward with a winning record at 9-8, sneaking into the seventh seed. This paints the North as arguably the deepest division in the conference, with all four teams in the playoff mix.
In the East, Philadelphia once again proves to be a steady contender, posting an 11-6 record and a stellar 5-1 divisional mark. The Cowboys put together a solid 9-8 season but fall just short of the playoffs, while Washington and New York struggle, the latter falling all the way to 2-15. The Eagles’ consistency makes them the clear class of the division, with only Dallas posing a real threat.
The NFC South features one of the bigger surprises in the standings, as the Falcons finish 10-7 to capture the division title. Their steady divisional performance (4-2) gives them the edge over Carolina and Tampa Bay, who both end up just below .500 at 8-9. New Orleans finishes at 5-12, signaling a rough season in the Big Easy. While the South may not produce a powerhouse, Atlanta looks poised to be a dangerous matchup once the playoffs begin.
Overall, the playoff picture shows a strong concentration of talent in the North, a steady Eagles team in the East, and a Falcons squad seizing its opportunity in the South. With San Francisco sitting atop the conference, the road to the Super Bowl may once again come down to whether anyone can take down the 49ers in January.
NFC Super Bowl Chances
Tier 1: Elite Contenders
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49ers (13-4, #1 seed) – The clear favorite in the NFC. With the best record, home-field advantage, and a complete roster, San Francisco is the team to beat. Their balance of offense and defense gives them the highest Super Bowl ceiling.
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Eagles (11-6, #3 seed) – Philadelphia’s playoff experience and dominant offensive line make them a real threat, even if they aren’t as dominant as their 2022 season. Their divisional strength shows they can win big games.
Tier 2: Strong Dark Horses
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Packers (11-6, #2 seed) – A strong season and division crown put Green Bay in a good position, especially if their young offense continues to mature. They may lack the depth of the 49ers or Eagles but have enough upside to make a run.
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Lions (11-6, #5 seed) – Detroit is built tough and can grind out playoff wins. As a wild card, the path is harder, but their momentum and offensive identity make them a legitimate dark horse contender.
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Falcons (10-7, #4 seed) – Winning the South secures a home playoff game, but Atlanta looks more like a dangerous spoiler than a true Super Bowl favorite. Their upside is real, but they’re a step behind the NFC’s elite.
Tier 3: Playoff-Caliber but Limited Upside
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Vikings (10-7, #6 seed) – Minnesota has offensive firepower but a tendency for inconsistency, which could limit their postseason run. They’re talented enough to pull an upset but not favored to go all the way.
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Bears (9-8, #7 seed) – Sneaking into the playoffs is a big accomplishment for Chicago, but their roster isn’t on par with the NFC’s top-tier teams. A playoff win would be an overachievement.
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| Standings created using playoffpredictors.com |
The AFC West looks like it belongs to Denver in 2024, as the Broncos surge to a 13-4 record and claim the conference’s top seed. Their divisional dominance and consistency separate them from the rest of the West. Kansas City remains a playoff team at 11-6, though not quite as invincible as in past years. The Chargers manage a strong 10-7 finish but narrowly miss the postseason in a crowded AFC, while the Raiders tumble to 5-12, far behind the rest of the division.
In the AFC North, the Bengals emerge as one of the league’s true heavyweights, matching Denver with a 13-4 record and a commanding 5-1 divisional mark. Baltimore isn’t far behind at 12-5, making the North one of the strongest divisions in football. The Steelers battle to respectability at 8-9 but miss out on the postseason, while the Browns crash to the bottom at 2-15 in a lost season. The Bengals and Ravens, both playoff-bound, look poised to make deep January runs.
The AFC South sees Jacksonville take full control. The Jaguars’ 12-5 record, including a perfect 6-0 divisional slate, cements them as the division's best. Tennessee lingers in mediocrity at 7-10, Houston struggles to 6-11, and Indianapolis suffers through a 5-12 campaign. Jacksonville’s rise cements them as a legitimate contender in the AFC picture, while the rest of the South looks far from playoff-ready.
The AFC East remains competitive but ultimately belongs to Buffalo, who finish 12-5 with a balanced attack. The Patriots surprise many by going 11-6 and snagging the seventh seed, proving they should be in the playoff conversation. Miami’s 9-8 record keeps them close, but they fall just short of the postseason, while the Jets collapse to 3-14 in a disastrous campaign. Buffalo and New England both head to the playoffs, ensuring the East stays relevant in the AFC race.
Altogether, the AFC playoff field is stacked, with the Broncos, Bengals, Jaguars, and Bills as division winners, joined by the Ravens, Chiefs, and Patriots in the wild card. The AFC is top-heavy, with three 12+ win teams and a few very dangerous wild cards. Denver and Cincinnati look like the frontrunners, but Baltimore, Buffalo, Jacksonville, and Kansas City all have the firepower to make a Super Bowl push.
AFC Super Bowl Chances
Tier 1: True Favorites
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Bengals (13-4, #2 seed) – With an elite QB and a loaded offense, Cincinnati has both the record and the roster to challenge for the Super Bowl. Their divisional battles sharpen them, and they enter the playoffs battle-tested.
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Broncos (13-4, #1 seed) – Home-field advantage and consistency make Denver a serious threat. If they maintain balance on both sides of the ball, they’re a true championship-caliber team.
Tier 2: Strong Contenders
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Ravens (12-5, #5 seed) – Baltimore looks like one of the most dangerous wild cards in recent memory. Despite finishing second in the North, they’re built to beat anyone in January and could be the AFC’s dark horse favorite.
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Bills (12-5, #4 seed) – Buffalo is steady and dangerous, though their playoff inconsistency in recent years leaves questions. Still, a 12-win season and a strong roster put them firmly in the contender class.
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Jaguars (12-5, #3 seed) – Jacksonville’s dominance of the South (6-0 in division play) gives them a great seed and a favorable path early in the playoffs. The question is whether they can handle elite competition outside the division.
Tier 3: Dangerous but Flawed
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Chiefs (11-6, #6 seed) – Kansas City is still a playoff team, but at 11-6, they no longer look unbeatable. They have the pedigree to surprise anyone, but they’re not the same juggernaut they once were.
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Patriots (11-6, #7 seed) – Sneaking into the playoffs as the last seed, New England has grit and discipline but lacks the firepower to match the AFC’s elite. A team capable of an upset, but not likely to go all the way.
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| Standings created using playoffpredictors.com |
Playoff Matchups and Predictions
The AFC playoffs will prove to be a gauntlet, but in the end the Cincinnati Bengals will emerge as the conference’s champion. After dispatching the Patriots in the Wild Card round, Cincinnati will face the Jaguars, who themselves will knock off the Chiefs. The Bengals’ balance of offensive firepower and defensive resilience will carry them through, setting up a heavyweight showdown with their division rival, the Ravens. Baltimore, after upsetting both the Bills and the Broncos on the road, will look every bit the playoff giant-killer. But in the end, Cincinnati’s consistency will prevail, giving the Bengals the AFC crown and a trip to the Super Bowl.
The NFC side will tell a much different story, one full of surprises. The 49ers enter as the top seed but are stunned early by the Chicago Bears, who will ride a late-season surge into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed. The Bears’ underdog run will continue with another upset of the Packers, catapulting them into the NFC Championship Game. On the other side of the bracket, the Lions live up to their long-awaited potential. After knocking out the Falcons, they face the Eagles and then meet Chicago in a clash of NFC North rivals for a spot in the Super Bowl. In a gritty matchup, Detroit prevails, capping a remarkable postseason run with their first-ever Super Bowl berth.
That will set the stage for an unlikely Super Bowl: the Bengals against the Lions. Cincinnati enters as the battle-tested favorite, having taken down divisional foes and elite competition to get there. Detroit, however, carries the weight of history, seeking to complete a magical season and cement themselves as champions after decades of heartbreak. In the end, the Bengals’ experience and talent prove too much, and they hoist the Lombardi Trophy, solidifying themselves as one of the NFL’s modern powerhouses.