2024 NFL Playoff Outlook, Week 7: All Four NFC North Teams Eyeing Postseason Berths
Detroit, Minnesota, Green Bay, and Chicago seem to be competing in the league’s strongest division. Meanwhile, Kansas City holds a two-game lead for the AFC’s top seed.
In Green Bay, the Packers narrowly defeated the Houston Texans 24–22 with a last-second field goal. Meanwhile, in the NFC North, Jared Goff delivered a near-flawless performance as the Detroit Lions handed the Minnesota Vikings their first loss of the season, winning 31–29 on a 44-yard Jake Bates field goal in the final minute. Over in Santa Clara, the Kansas City Chiefs stayed undefeated with a 28–18 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, despite Patrick Mahomes now having more interceptions (eight) than passing touchdowns (six).
Overall, these results have helped shape the evolving NFL playoff picture, which will be revisited weekly throughout the rest of the season.
Updates will follow after the Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football games. All playoff probabilities are provided by The Athletic’s model. 2024 NFL Playoff Outlook Study29
AFC: Who’s In
Table of Contents
No. 1: Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 6–0, first place, AFC West
Remaining opponents over .500: 7
Playoff probability: >99%
The Chiefs may not look sharp on offense, but they keep finding ways to win. Despite Mahomes throwing two interceptions and no touchdowns, Kansas City still managed to defeat the 49ers. Up next, the Chiefs face the Las Vegas Raiders before returning home for matchups against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos. 2024 NFL Playoff Outlook
No. 2: Houston Texans
Record: 5–2, first place, AFC South
Remaining opponents over .500: 4
Playoff probability: 94%
Despite losing on the final play in Green Bay, the Texans hold onto the second seed, regardless of whether the Baltimore Ravens win in Tampa on Monday night, thanks to their superior conference record. 2024 NFL Playoff Outlook
No. 3: Buffalo Bills
Record: 5–2, first place, AFC East
Remaining opponents over .500: 4
Playoff probability: 95%
Buffalo extended its lead in the AFC East with a victory over the Tennessee Titans. Amari Cooper made an immediate impact, scoring a touchdown on his first catch in a Bills uniform. For Buffalo, the focus now shifts more toward playoff seeding than anything else. 2024 NFL Playoff Outlook
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2024 NFL Playoff Outlook, Week 7: All Four NFC North Teams Eyeing Postseason Berths
Q. As of Week 7 in the 2024 NFL season, how are all four NFC North teams positioning themselves for potential playoff berths?
Answer: Entering Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season, all four NFC North teams are surprisingly in the mix for playoff spots, which highlights the division’s competitiveness this year.
Detroit Lions: The Lions are currently leading the NFC North, building on the momentum from last season. Behind the strong play of quarterback Jared Goff and a stifling defense, Detroit is poised for a deep playoff run, holding a comfortable lead in the division.
Green Bay Packers: After transitioning from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love, the Packers have shown resilience. Their defense has been a key factor, keeping them competitive in tight games. Love has been gradually improving, and if he continues to progress, Green Bay could secure a wild card spot.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have been inconsistent but are still in the hunt for a playoff spot. Injuries to key players like Justin Jefferson have hindered their progress, but veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has kept them afloat. They will need to put together a strong second half of the season to solidify their postseason chances.
Chicago Bears: Despite a slow start to the season, the Bears are surprisingly still in the playoff picture. Justin Fields has flashed potential with his dual-threat abilities, and if the young team can find consistency, especially on defense, they could make a push for a wild card spot.
Overall, while the Lions appear to be the frontrunners in the division, the Packers, Vikings, and Bears are all within striking distance of a playoff berth, making the NFC North a division to watch as the season progresses.
2024 NFL Playoff Outlook
