The Kansas City Chiefs have won Super Bowl LVIII, but the rest of the league is already focused on Super Bowl LIX.
The Super Bowl that concluded the 2023 NFL season needed to be decided in overtime, but Kansas City found a way to earn the 25-22 victory during the waning seconds of the extra frame.
This was the Chiefs' second consecutive Super Bowl victory and fourth all-time. This is the first time a team has repeated as champions since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004.
However, the end of the 2023 season already has many fanbases looking toward 2024 and their respective team's chances of making it to New Orleans in hopes of capturing a Lombardi Trophy.
The Chiefs and 49ers remain strong contenders next season but will obviously have a tall task in order to reach the Super Bowl again. Kansas City has been able to navigate this well over the past several seasons, getting to the game in four of the last five seasons.
San Francisco also reached the Super Bowl for the second time in the last five seasons and has reached the conference championship in four of those seasons.
While the recent history bodes well for the two franchises, each conference has plenty of potential powerhouses looking to break through.
Here's a look at how next year's playoff bracket could shake out and how difficult the road to the Caesar's Superdome could be.
AFC
No. 1 Baltimore Ravens: Bye
No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs vs. No. 7 New York Jets
No. 3 Houston Texans vs No. 6 Los Angeles Chargers
No. 4 Miami Dolphins vs No. 5 Buffalo Bills
No. 1 San Francisco 49ers: Bye
No. 2 Detroit Lions vs. No. 7 Chicago Bears
No. 3. Dallas Cowboys vs. No. 6 Green Bay Packers
No. 4 New Orleans Saints vs. No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles
The overall landscape of the postseason could be pretty similar to 2023-24, but some newcomers should be watched. The impact that incoming head coach Jim Harbaugh could have on the Los Angeles Chargers is something to monitor.
The Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers could move further up the standings, while the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills will need to make some noise or big changes could be coming.
However, the story for next season is still subject to change. Free agency, the NFL draft and the improvements made during the offseason will go a long way to determining the outcomes.
