The Ultimate Guide to NFL Divisions 2024

For anyone who is new to watching the NFL or betting on it, the first step is learning the structure of the leagues. That’s the best way to understand how the schedule works, why some teams play each other more than others, and gauging potential Super Bowl matchups. Therefore, we put together a comprehensive guide to NFL divisions.

NFL Structure: Conferences, Divisions, and Team

Since 1970 when the NFL merged with the rival AFL, the league has been made up of two separate conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC).

One representative from each conference reaches the Super Bowl at the end of the season, guaranteeing that the Super Bowl is played between one team from the AFC and one team from the NFC.

The 32 NFL franchises are split evenly between the AFC and NFC with each conference having 16 teams. Each conference also has a North, South, East, and West division with all eight divisions having four teams.

During the 18-week regular season, every team will play 17 games with each team getting a designated bye week in which they don’t play. Teams face the other members of their division twice every season, meaning six games are played against divisional opponents while the other 11 games are played against teams from other divisions, including the opposite conference.

Let’s get more specific so that you can learn what conference and what division each team is a part of in the NFL structure.

AFC Divisions - East, North, South, West

Over the last 10 years, the AFC representative has won the Super Bowl seven times, leaving the NFC with just three Super Bowl victories. Of course, only three different AFC teams have won the Super Bowl during that time: the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs. 

Heading into the 2024 season, the Chiefs are attempting to win their third consecutive Super Bowl after winning each of the last two. Kansas City’s run has actually been quite impressive considering the stiff competition they’ve faced from teams like the Bills, Ravens, and Bengals during that time.

Let’s take a closer look at the composition of each division in the AFC and a brief forecast of what’s ahead for the team in 2024. Check out our predictions and picks for the AFC Championship.

AFC East

See our full preview with picks and predictions for the AFC East.

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo’s overall roster looks weaker than a team that barely won the AFC East last year. But Josh Allen can carry the Bills on his back and may have to do it to win a fifth straight division title. 

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins have proven to be a threat to Buffalo’s AFC East supremacy. But they also have to keep Tua Tagovailoa healthy all season.

New England Patriots

Will Drake Maye be ready as a rookie to turn the tide for the Patriots in New England’s first season without Bill Belichick since 1999.

New York Jets

The Jets are simply hitting the reset button after Aaron Rodgers got hurt in Week 1 last year. There is plenty of talent around the 40-year-old quarterback if he can stay healthy and prove he has something left in the tank.

AFC North

See our full preview with picks and predictions for the AFC North.

Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson is a two-time league MVP, but can he keep Baltimore atop a competitive division and finally overcome the Chiefs in the playoffs?

Cincinnati Bengals

If Joe Burrow is healthy, the Bengals should be contenders not just in the AFC North but to get back to the Super Bowl.

Cleveland Browns

Does the return of Deshaun Watson make the Browns worse? He wasn’t the one that led them to a playoff appearance last season; that was Joe Flacco.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Is Russell Wilson the answer to Pittsburgh’s quarterback quandary? Maybe it’s Justin Fields. The Steelers need to find an answer to that question. 

AFC South

See our full preview with picks and predictions for the AFC South.

Houston Texans

C.J. Stroud had an amazing rookie season, potentially making the Texans a Super Bowl contender this year. But can he actually take a step forward this year?

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts were painfully close to the playoffs last year with a backup quarterback. The core of the roster is largely intact, but can Shane Steichen get the most out of Anthony Edwards after an injury-plagued rookie year?

Jacksonville Jaguars

Remember when the Jags won this division and a playoff game two years ago? How do Doug Pederson and Trevor Lawrence recapture that form?

Tennessee Titans

Does anyone think the Titans won’t be the worst team in this division? They have the skill players, but do they have a quarterback?

AFC West

See our full preview with picks and predictions for the AFC West.

Denver Broncos

They have three quarterbacks, so perhaps one of them is good enough to keep them in the playoff hunt. If not, Denver might be one of the worst teams in the NFL.

Kansas City Chiefs

No team has ever won the Super Bowl in three straight years. But would anybody put it past Patrick Mahomes.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders will play hard for Antonio Pierce. But is that going to matter with Gardner Minshew or Aidan O’Connell at quarterback?

Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert is going to put up big numbers because that’s what he does. However, can Jim Harbaugh translate that into enough wins to make the playoffs?

NFC Divisions - East, North, South, West

As mentioned, the NFC can claim just three Super Bowl victories in the last 10 years.

The Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Los Angeles Rams have each won the final game of the season once in the last decade. Likewise, the Eagles, Rams, and San Francisco 49ers each have two Super Bowl appearances during that span.

Heading into the 2024 season, the 49ers appear to be the class of the NFC.

San Francisco has participated in four of the last five NFC Championship Games.

The 49ers have won two of those four games to reach the Super Bowl twice. However, both Super Bowl appearances ended in a loss to the Chiefs in a game the 49ers led in the second half, including last year’s Super Bowl. Despite coming up short, the 49ers are considered by many to be the best team in the NFC.

NFC East

See the latest predictions and odds for the NFC East.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys won this division last year. However, they haven’t won back-to-back division titles since 1996, which is a bad omen for Dallas in 2024.

New York Giants

Brian Daboll is such a good coach. Unfortunately, Daniel Jones is still his quarterback.

Philadelphia Eagles

Surely, the Eagles are better than the team that went 1-5 down the stretch last year and then got blown out in the playoffs. But do they know that?

Washington Commanders

What’s easier, winning the Heisman Trophy or leading the Commanders to a winning record? Jayden Daniels is about to find out.

NFC North

See the latest predictions and odds for the NFC North.

Chicago Bears

The hype train on the Bears is borderline crazy for a team that’s 16-35 over the last three seasons. Plus, the season hinges on Caleb Williams being able to hit the ground running as a rookie.

Detroit Lions

Do not be alarmed, this is not an alternate reality. The Lions are actually a bonafide Super Bowl contender in the NFC and the NFC North favorites. 

Green Bay Packers

As long as the Jordan Love that played during the second half of last season shows up, the Packers will be a team to watch closely.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings no longer have Kirk Cousins, but could J.J. McCarthy be a younger, more mobile version of Cousins?

NFC South

See the latest predictions and odds for the NFC South.

Atlanta Falcons

Will Kirk Cousins prove to be the missing piece in Atlanta winning the NFC South? If not, perhaps it’s top pick Michael Penix Jr.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers can’t get much worse than last year’s 2-15 record. But that doesn’t guarantee things will get that much better in Carolina.

New Orleans Saints

In two years, Dennis Allen has a losing record and has never been to the playoffs. Both he and Derek Carr could be fighting for their futures this season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After getting a three-year contract with $50 million guaranteed, Baker Mayfield better prove last year’s division title and playoff win weren’t a fluke.

NFC West

See the latest predictions and odds for the NFC West.

Arizona Cardinals

Despite back-to-back 4-13 seasons, there is hope in Arizona now that Kyler Murray is healthy. 

Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles defense looks a lot different without Aaron Donald, which could put the pressure on Matthew Stafford to carry the Rams back to the playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers

Plain and simple, it’s Super Bowl or bust for the 49ers.

Seattle Seahawks

For the first time since 2009, there’s no Pete Carroll in Seattle. However, the Seahawks still have Geno Smith and the NFL’s best wide receiver trio.