NFL Playoff Schedule: All Weekend Game Odds and Bracket Info
The NFL playoff picture was finalized on Sunday, highlighted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinching their fifth straight playoff appearance. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos are making their playoff return for the first time since their Super Bowl win in 2015 with Peyton Manning as quarterback.
The Broncos are joined by three other teams making their first playoff appearance this season: the Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders, and Minnesota Vikings. These four teams will be playing on January 11-13, along with eight others, during the NFL’s “Super Wild Card Weekend.”
Understanding the NFL Playoff Format
Following the games next weekend, the records of the remaining four teams in each conference will determine the matchups for the divisional championships scheduled for January 18 or 19:
â—¾ The top seed will host the lowest remaining seed.
â—¾ The next highest seed will host the other wild-card winner.
Wild Card Weekend Betting Odds
As of Wednesday morning, BetMGM updated the betting lines for two of the six wild card games. A positive number signifies the potential winnings on a $100 bet, while a negative number shows how much one needs to wager to win $100.
AFC Wild Card Game Odds
Chargers (-160) are the 3-point favorites against Texans (+135)
Steelers (+425) are playing against Ravens (-600), who are 10-point favorites
Broncos (+350) are up against Bills (-450), who are favored by 9 points
NFC Wild Card Game Odds
Packers (+195) face off against Eagles (-250), who are favored by 4.5 points
Commanders (+140) will play the Buccaneers (-165), who are favored by 3 points
Vikings (-110) will compete against Rams (-110), with a slight point advantage
Top Offenses and Defenses of the 2024 NFL Season
The Chiefs closed the regular season with the league’s best overall record; however, they had the lowest scoring margin among top playoff teams, finishing with just a 59-point advantage over opponents. This was further compounded by their 38-0 loss last Sunday, falling short of the NFC-leading Detroit Lions. Both the Lions and the Buffalo Bills surpassed 500 points this season, marking a feat only achieved by the Dallas Cowboys in 2023.
In his first year back in the league, head coach Jim Harbaugh substantially improved the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense, reducing their points allowed to 301, nearly a 100-point drop from 2023, and leading the league in this category. The five-seed Chargers will face the Houston Texans to kick off Wild Card Weekend on Saturday afternoon. Notably, the underdog 10-7 Texans scored exactly as many points as they surrendered this season.
