Ranking all 32 NFL Teams, Playoffs Scenarios Heading Into Final Week of Regular Saeason

December 31, 2024 by CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff

Kansas City (15-1) tops the NFL Congrove Computer Rankings at CollegeFootballPoll.com as the Chiefs extended their winning streak to six games with their 29-10 rout of Pittsburgh on Christmas Day while handing the Steelers their third straight loss to drop 10-6.

Kansas City, No. 2 Detroit and No. 4 Buffalo are the only teams that are perfect against their division as each enters the final week of the regular season at 5-0. No team has a perfect conference record, but the Chiefs and Lions are both 10-1.

Three teams are winless against their division rivals with Chicago joining both New York teams at 0-5.

The Giants also stand alone with the worst conference record at 1-10, but they picked their first home win and snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 45-33 win over Indianapolis. In the process, they doused the Colts' hopes of sneaking in to the playoffs with a win at home over the Jaguars on Sunday. The G-men scored 16 points more than they had in any game this season, topping the 29-20 win at Seattle on October 6.

The Giants climbed out of the No. 32 spot in the rankings and landed Tennessee there, instead, after the Titans fell 20-13 at Jacksonville. The Hags actually have the second-best record in the division at 3-2, just behind Houston at 4-1.

There was no movement from week-to-week among the top five teams with Minnesota holding down the 3-spot and Philadelphia sticking at No. 5.

Detroit's Monday night 40-34 win at San Francisco on Monday night meant nothing to the playoff scenarios. The Lions and Vikings will meet in Detroit on Sunday in the later group of afternoon games to decide which team will be the 1-seed, with the loser dropping down to a 5-seed.

SEE: NFL odds, Computer Picks

AFC Playoff Seeds

Kansas City's victory over Pittsburgh clinched the AFC 1-seed while Buffalo's 40-14 romp over the Jets locked the Bills into the 2-seed.
Pittsburgh's loss also handed Houston the 4-seed, but the Steelers can still elevate to the 3-seed with a home win over Cincinnati and a Baltimore loss at home to the Browns.

1. Kansas City
2. Buffalo
3. Baltimore or Pittsburgh
4, Houston
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?

The Steelers or Ravens will take the 3-seed as the AFC North champion. The loser will drop to at least the 5-seed, though the Chargers can take that slot with a win and a Pittsburgh loss.

The Broncos control their own destiny, needing to beat or tie the Chiefs who will most likely rest Pat Mahomes and others.

The Dolphins get in with a win, and a Denver loss

The Bengals need a win, and the combination of a Denver loss, and a Miami loss or tie.

NFC Playoff Seeds

The Eagles wound up clinching the 2-seed with their 41-7 destruction of Dallas.

1. Detroit or Minnesota
2. Philadelphia
3.
4.
5. Detroit or Minnesota
6.
7.

The Rams enter the week as the 3 seed, but could fall to 4 if they lose at home to the Seahawks and the Buccaneers beat New Orleans.

Green Bay and Washington are locked in to the playoffs as wild cards

Tamps Bay clinches the NFC South with a win or tie vs. the Saints, or an Atlanta loss or tie vs. the Panthers.

Atlanta wins the NFC South with the combination of a win over the Panthers, and a Tampa Bay loss.