The NFC playoff picture is starting to become clearer as Week 17 comes to a close. THE Detroit Lions And Minnesota Vikings will play for the No. 1 seed next week, while the Philadelphia Eagles wrapped up the NFC East and the No. 2 seed with their win on Sunday.
The Los Angeles Rams have clinched the NFC West. THE Tampa Bay Buccaneers took the NFC South lead from the Atlanta Falcons, as they fell to the Washington Commanders in the playoffs (who sealed their playoff spot Sunday night).
The AFC playoff picture is also becoming clearer, there is still one spot left. The Los Angeles Chargers wrapped up their playoff berth with a win over the New England Patriots on Saturday, but the final playoff spot will be up for grabs heading into the final week of the season.
THE Cincinnati Bengals stayed alive in the playoff race with their thrilling overtime win over the Denver Broncos, but the Indianapolis Colts were eliminated with their defeat against New York Giants. THE Miami Dolphins also stay alive in the playoff race. Denver can still clinch a playoff spot with a win over the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18. The Dolphins can clinch with a loss to the Broncos and a win over the Jets, while the Bengals can clinch with a victory against the Steelers coupled with defeats of the Broncos and Dolphins.
Below you will find a breakdown of the conference standings with the week 17 list completed:
AFC Playoff Photo
z — earned a first-round bye
y — division won
x — clinched a playoff spot
e – eliminated from the playoffs
1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
The Chiefs wrapped up the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with their win over the Steelers. Kansas City gets the conference’s only bye and can rest its starters in Week 18.
Remaining schedule: at the Broncos
2. Buffalo Bills (13-3)
The Bills finished in second place with their blowout victory against the Jets. They will face the No. 7 seed in the wild-card round.
Remaining schedule: among the Patriots
3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
The Ravens took the lead in the AFC North with their win and the Steelers’ loss, holding a one-game lead over Pittsburgh heading into the final week. A Steelers win or loss in Week 18 gives Baltimore the division.
Remaining schedule: against the browns
4. Houston Texans (9-7)
The Texans have already clinched the AFC South. They will be the No. 4 seed in the AFC and will play a home game in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: has Titans
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
The Steelers fell out of the AFC North lead after falling to the Chiefs. They need a win and a Ravens loss in the final week to win the division. They hold the tiebreaker against the Chargers for the No. 5 seed who will beat Los Angeles in Week 3.
Remaining schedule: against the Bengals
6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
The Chargers clinched a playoff spot with their win over the Patriots.
Remaining schedule: has Raiders
7. Denver Broncos (9-7)
The Broncos are one win away from clinching a playoff spot, even with their overtime loss to the Bengals. They need to win in Week 18 to clinch a playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: against the leaders
8. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
The Dolphins’ AFC playoff hopes are still alive with their win over the Browns. They need a Broncos loss and a win against the Jets in Week 18 to make the playoffs. Miami holds the conference record (6-5) over Cincinnati (5-6) for the No. 8 seed.
Remaining schedule: at Jets
9. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
The Bengals stay alive in the AFC playoff race, thanks to their overtime victory against the Broncos. They will make the playoffs if they win in Week 18 and the Broncos lose to the Chiefs and the Dolphins lose to the Jets.
Remaining schedule: at the Steelers
Eliminated from the playoffs
Seven teams are eliminated from playoff contention in the AFC: Raiders, Patriots, Titans, Jets, Jaguars, Browns and Colts.
NFC Playoff Photo
| 1 |
x-Lions |
14 |
2 |
0 |
.875 |
| 2 | Yes – Eagles | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 |
| 3 | Yes- Rams | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 |
| 4 |
Buccaneers |
9 |
7 |
0 |
.563 |
| 5 | x-Vikings | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 |
| 6 | x – Commanders | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 |
| 7 | x- Packers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 |
| 8 | e- sea hawks | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 |
| 9 | Falcons | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 |
| 10 | e- Cowboys | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 |
| 11 | e- Cardinals | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 |
| 12 | e- 49ers | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 |
| 13 | e- Saints | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 |
| 14 | e – Bear | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 |
| 15 | e – Panthers | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 |
| 16 | e – Giants | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 |
y — division won
x — clinched a playoff spot
e – eliminated from the playoffs
1. Detroit Lions (14-2)
The Lions will face the Vikings for the NFC North title in Week 18. The winner gets the No. 1 seed and home field advantage while the loser gets the No. 5 seed. The Lions currently hold the tiebreaker against the Vikings.
Remaining schedule: against the Vikings
2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Philadelphia clinched the NFC East title and the No. 2 seed with its victory over the Cowboys. With the Vikings beating the Packers, the Eagles were eliminated from the race for home field advantage.
Remaining schedule: against the giants
3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
The Rams clinched the division with the Commanders’ tiebreaker victory over the Falcons by strength of victory over the Seahawks. Seattle is eliminated from the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: against the Seahawks
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
The Buccaneers take the lead in the NFC South after beating the Panthers and the Falcons falling to the Commanders. They need to finish with a better record than the Falcons to win the division since they lost both games to Atlanta. Tampa Bay can win the division with a win against the Saints.
Remaining schedule: against the saints
5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
Minnesota will play for the NFC North title and No. 1 seed next week against Detroit, with the loser getting the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. The Lions currently have the No. 1 seed thanks to their head-to-head win over the Vikings earlier this year.
Remaining schedule: among the Lions
6. Washington Commanders (11-5)
The Commanders clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Falcons. They hold the conference record tiebreaker (8-3) over the Packers (6-5) for the No. 6 seed, and can wrap that up with a win next week.
Remaining schedule: at the Cowboys
7. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
The Packers have clinched a playoff spot and are currently the seventh seed in the NFC. They need a win and a Commanders loss for the No. 6 seed.
Remaining schedule: against the bears
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
The Falcons lose the lead in the NFC South after their loss to the Commanders. They need a win and a Buccaneers loss in Week 18 to clinch the NFC West.
Remaining schedule: against the Panthers
Eliminated from the playoffs
The Seahawks, Cardinals, Cowboys, 49ers, Saints, Bears, Panthers and Giants were eliminated from the playoffs.