Yahoo Sports 2024 NFL playoff predictions to win AFC Bracket, NFC Bracket, and Super Bowl
The 2023-24 regular NFL season is over and the final playoff berths have been clinched.
In the final game of the season, the Buffalo Bills secured the AFC East title and the No. 2 seed with a 21-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans clinched the AFC South title for the first time since 2019 by defeating the Indianapolis Colts, while the Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Tennessee Titans. In the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys won the NFC East title after defeating the Washington Commanders. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinched the NFC South title with a win over the Carolina Panthers.
The NFL playoffs are set to begin this weekend and some teams will be playing in weather conditions that could significantly impact their performance. The Miami Dolphins will be leaving their sunny city to head to Kansas City for an AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns head to Houston to take on the Texans on Saturday, January 13th.
AFC Standings
1. Baltimore Ravens – 1st AFC North (13-4)
2. Buffalo Bills – 1st AFC East (10-6)
3. Kansas City Chiefs – 1st AFC West (11-6)
4. Houston Texans – 1st AFC South (10-7)
5. Cleveland Browns – 2nd AFC North (11-6)
6. Miami Dolphins – 2nd AFC East (11-6)
7. Pittsburg Steelers – 3rd AFC North (10-7)
Per NFL.com
AFC Championship Predictions
DraftKings: Ravens over Browns
Teddy Robinson writes: "It’s the old Browns vs. the new Browns in the AFC Championship Game and unfortunately for Flacco and company, this is the end of the road. Baltimore lost the last matchup between these AFC North rivals back in Week 10, a game where it choked away a comfortable lead in the second half. I don’t anticipate that happening again as I think the Ravens win this comfortably and clinch their first AFC title since 2012."
Sporting News: Kansas City Chiefs
Vinnie Iyer writes: "The more adversity Patrick Mahomes seems to be battling, the more dangerous it seems he and the Chiefs are. Mahomes and Andy Reid will figure out a few more solutions offensively, and that's all that's needed given how well the defense should continue to play and make big plays through the AFC tournament. The rest and reset in Week 18 was a nice substitute for not having a first-round bye, and they match up well with the Ravens. They've already beaten the Dolphins, and they've had the Bills' number in the playoffs. Mahomes might not carry them this time, but the Chiefs can show what a complete team they are."
Pro Football Network: Going with Buffalo
Dallas Robinson writes: "Two of the NFL’s most creative quarterbacks will face off in this matchup, and choosing one over the other is difficult. Allen is the most physical signal-caller in the game and has the arm to hit any location on the field. Meanwhile, Jackson upped his game from the pocket in 2023 while retaining his ability on the ground and is on track to win his second MVP award. There’s no wrong answer here. We’re going with Buffalo, but this may be the most challenging game to project among the entire playoff slate."
NFC Standings
1. San Francisco 49ers – 1st NFC West (12-5)
2. Dallas Cowboys – 1st NFC East (12-5)
3. Detroit Lions – 1st NFC North (12-5)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 1st NFC South (9-8)
5. Philadelphia Eagles – 2nd NFC East (11-6)
6. Los Angeles Rams – 2nd in NFC West (10-7)
7. Green Bay Packers – 2nd NFC North (9-8)
Per NFL.com
NFC Championship Predictions
DraftKings: 49ers represents the NFC in the 2024 Super Bowl
Teddy Robinson writes: "At the very least, I think this game is much closer than the regular season matchup that saw Dallas lose 42-10 in San Francisco. As the better seed, the 49ers would get to host the NFC Championship Game, which would be their third NFC Championship Game in as many seasons. San Francisco lost to the Rams in 2021 and the Eagles last season. With the team they have this season and the way they have been playing, it feels like if it doesn’t happen for the 49ers this season it may not happen. It feels very chalky not picking any upsets in the NFC playoff picture, but I think that San Francisco represents the NFC in the 2024 Super Bowl."
Sporting News: San Francisco 49ers
Vinnie Iyer writes: "They have been wire-to-wire the best team in the conference. It was no contest when they battled the Cowboys at home and the Eagles on the road. The Lions' young defense isn't equipped to stop any of their weapons. The biggest threat may come from the division-rival Rams, given Sean McVay's familiarity with Kyle Shanahan and their intriguing playoff history. Still, the rested, ready, and revved-up 49ers with no AFC North foes in sight remain the absolute best bet to get to Vegas."
Pro Football Network: Buffalo Bills are your Super Bowl 58 champions
Dallas Robinson writes: "The Bills and Cowboys squared off in what would become the first of back-to-back Super Bowl matchups at this time 30 years ago. Dallas got the better of Buffalo in both games, and the Bills are still searching for their first Super Bowl trophy. But in our world, Buffalo’s drought ends this season. In what would project as a high-scoring, back-and-forth contest, Allen drives down the field for a game-winning score, leaving no time on the clock for Prescott to rebut. Securing the Lombardi would cap an incredible run for the Bills, who fired their offensive coordinator after Week 10, were still at .500 after Week 12, and had a chance to miss the playoffs altogether entering Week 18. You heard it here first: the Buffalo Bills are your Super Bowl 58 champions."
Super Bowl LVIII Predictions
Sports Illustrated: 49ers 31, Ravens 24
Albert Breer writes: "There’s a lot of chalk here, yes, and a big part of that, to me, is that once you get past the first group (49ers, Ravens, Bills and Chiefs, if they turn it on), the league sort of flattens out and you pretty quickly get to the teams that are banged up, flawed or young. And that leaves a golden opportunity in front of the two teams I have in the Super Bowl—teams that have knocked on the door, and looked as prepared as they’ve ever been to blow it down and get to what would be a pretty incredible rematch. When they get there, I like the Niners on the premise that it’s really hard to beat teams this good twice (meaning if the Ravens had lost the regular season game, I’d probably pick them). Also, I think McCaffrey would be the X-factor in that game, after going for 131 scrimmage yards on 20 touches in the teams’ regular season showdown—winning a ring with the same franchise his dad did in 1994 and burnishing a case for Canton that could get pretty compelling with a nice playoff run."
New York Post: 49ers 27, Ravens 26
Steve Serby writes: "A rematch of the Blackout Bowl and yes, that’s Colin Kaepernick out for the coin toss with 49ers players. This was the Crystal Ball’s preseason pick and it does not change. In a fourth-quarter huddle, Purdy gazes up into the stands and asks: “Isn’t that Aaron Rodgers and Jimmy Kimmel?” Big players make big plays in big games and Nick Bosa, McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk keep pace with Lamar and Justin Tucker, until rookie Jake Moody wins it with a 49-yard field goal as time expires."
The Ringer: This is Baltimore’s year
Steven Ruiz writes: "I’m breaking my vow to always take the Chiefs as my Super Bowl pick. I’ve seen enough. They don’t have the juice this year. But Baltimore does—on both sides of the ball. The Ravens have the league’s most valuable player at quarterback and the league’s best defensive coordinator leading the other unit. The Ravens are the league’s most balanced team. They’ve looked like the league’s best team for the past two months, and they embarrassed every contender they played in the regular season. This is Baltimore’s year. (And I swear I’ll never pick against the Chiefs again if they win it all somehow. For real this time.)"
Super Bowl LVIII Odds breakdown
BetMGM: San Francisco 49ers
Staff writes: "According to the current betting odds at BetMGM, the San Francisco 49ers are +225 favorites to win this season’s Super Bowl LVIII."
NBC Sports: 49ers have the best odds
Matthew Jackson writes: "As for actual, actionable betting odds, Bet MGM also places the 49ers and the Ravens at the top of their list, with the 49ers currently garnering the best odds to make the Super Bowl at +225 and the Ravens right behind them at +325. As with ESPN's stats, the Bills and Cowboys are close behind at at +650 and +750, respectively."
Fox Sports: 49ers still favored
Staff writes: "As the regular season wrapped up on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers remained alone atop the Super Bowl oddsboard at +230, dipping slightly from +210 last week. The Baltimore Ravens remained at +350, second behind San Francisco. Making a hard charge up the betting board are the Buffalo Bills, who moved to third at +650 from tied for fourth at +950."
Covers: San Francisco 49ers
Ryan Murphy writes: "The San Francisco 49ers (+220) are favored to win Super Bowl LVIII, based on the latest odds available at DraftKings. Rounding out the Top 3 are the surging Baltimore Ravens (+310) and the Buffalo Bills (+650)."
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 NFL playoff predictions: Picks to win the Super Bowl
