2024 NFL playoffs predictions: Experts pick which teams earn spots in the postseason

The NFL season may be starting tomorrow, but it's never too early to look ahead to the postseason (unless you're a Cowboys fan; definitely don't want to start thinking about that first-round exit). Of course, not everyone can reach the playoffs. A little less than half the teams in the NFL will earn playoff berths, and experts are already trying to determine who the lucky few will be that get to compete for a Lombardi Trophy.

Here are some pre-Week 1 playoff predictions from around the internet.

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2024-25 NFL Playoff Predictions:

Bob Rose, Sports Illustrated:

• Division Champs (AFC): Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills

• AFC Wild Card Teams: Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars

• Division Champs (NFC): Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints

• NFC Wild Card Teams: Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams

• AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Chiefs over Texans

• NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Lions over 49ers

• SUPER BOWL 59: Lions 31, Chiefs 27

The biggest shockers in Rose's predictions are the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints. The Jaguars are a fine team, but in a stacked AFC, they don't seem to stand out ahead of teams like the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, or even their division rivals the Indianapolis Colts. The Jaguars haven't made any game-changing this offseason either, with DT Arik Armstead being their best signing. While teams like the Colts, Steelers, and Jets should all be getting better quarterback play compared to last season, it's tough to see a world where Jacksonville keeps up.

The Saints, on the other hand, have always been a mediocre team. In a division as soft as the NFC South, that can sometimes be enough to squeak into the playoffs. However, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not recapture some of their late season magic from last year, both the Falcons and Panthers will likely be much better in 2024 than they were a season ago. This Saints team will likely finish anywhere between 7-10 and 9-8, but with a little more competition in their own division this year, it's hard to envision a world where those records are enough to claim the NFC South title.

Nate Davis, USA Today:

• Division Champs (AFC): New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts

• AFC Wild Card Teams: Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars

• Division Champs (NFC): Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons

• NFC Wild Card Teams: Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams

• AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Jets over Chiefs

• NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Packers over 49ers

• SUPER BOWL 59: Jets over Packers

An absolute shocker here is the absence of the reigning No. 1 seed in the AFC, Baltimore. Despite adding Derrick Henry to their backfield this offseason, Davis does not have Baltimore reaching the playoffs, believing the Bengals and Browns will have superior records to the Ravens this year.

On the NFC side, Davis believes Chicago's decision to move on from Justin Fields will pay off immediately. Although he will not claim an NFC North title this year, Williams will make the playoffs according to Davis, giving Williams the opportunity to become just the third rookie quarterback since 2012 to win a playoff game (C.J. Stroud, Brock Purdy).

NFL.com Staff:

• Division Champs (AFC): Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs

• AFC Wild Card Teams: Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets

• Division Champs (NFC): Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers

• NFC Wild Card Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams

In regards to the NFC South, NFL.com wrote, "The arrival of Kirk Cousins and Raheem Morris in Atlanta has dramatically changed the complexion of this division race from a season ago." They continued, "The [NFC] South is widely predicted to have only one playoff rep this year. But that one rep can do plenty of damage, as the champion of the NFC South has won at least one postseason game in 11 of the past 15 seasons."

The most shocking pick on the AFC side is the decision to name the Miami Dolphins division champs over the Buffalo Bills, breaking Buffalo's streak of four straight years winning the AFC East. Buffalo certainly lost a lot of key pieces such as Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, and Tre'Davious White, but Josh Allen is still undeniably the best quarterback in the division, giving Buffalo a massive edge over their division rivals.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 NFL playoff predictions: Which teams will reach the postseason?