The NFL playoff picture is still taking shape entering Week 18.
The AFC and NFC each have one playoff spot up for grabs entering the final week of the regular season, with three division тιтles and playoff seeding still to be determined as well.
Here’s a look at the NFL playoff scenarios heading into Week 18.
AFC
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs, looking to become the first team ever to three-peat as Super Bowl champions, have already locked up the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills clinched the No. 2 seed with their dismantling of the Jets at home on Sunday and will host the No. 7 seed in the wild-card round. If they win, they’ll be home again in the Divisional Round.
Baltimore Ravens
Currently occupying the No. 3 seed, the Ravens need a win or a tie against the Browns on Saturday (4:30 p.m.) to win the AFC North and the home playoff game that comes with it. A loss would leave the door open for the Steelers against the Bengals on Saturday night (8 p.m.).
Houston Texans
The Texans are locked into the No. 4 seed at 9-7, having already won the AFC South. They’ll host the No. 5 seed, which could be the Steelers, Ravens or Chargers, in the wild-card round.
Pittsburgh Steelers
As of now, the Steelers own the No. 5 seed at 10-6, winning a tiebreaker over the Chargers after defeating them in Week 3. If the Ravens blow it against the Browns and the Steelers beat the Bengals, Pittsburgh will capture the AFC North and vault up to the No. 3 spot. If the Steelers lose or tie, they could fall to the No. 6 spot with a Chargers win.
Los Angeles Chargers
Already in the playoffs, the Chargers will be going on the road in the wild-card round. It’s just a matter of whether they can jump up to No. 5 and get a matchup with the Texans, or if they’ll stay at No. 6 and travel to the AFC North winner. Los Angeles travels to Las Vegas on Sunday for a 4:25 p.m. kickoff, and a win combined with a Steelers loss or tie will get them the No. 5 seed.
Denver Broncos
They could’ve locked up their playoff spot on Saturday but fell to the Bengals in overtime. Now they have to face the Chiefs at home at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday, though the Chiefs reportedly will rest their key players since they already locked up the No. 1 seed. A win or tie will get the Broncos in. A Bengals loss or tie combined with a Dolphins loss or tie will also get them in.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins stayed alive with a win over the Browns in Week 17 despite not having Tua Tagovailoa, who was out with a hip injury. His status for Sunday’s road game against the Jets at 4:25 p.m. is uncertain. Miami needs a win combined with a Broncos loss to get into the playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals
It was hard to believe that the talented Bengals were 4-8 and looking like they were already ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in the water. But four straight wins behind the MVP-level effort of Joe Burrow have Cincinnati alive entering Week 18, though they need help. They first need to beat a Steelers team that still has a division тιтle to play for, then they need the Broncos to lose and the Dolphins to lose or tie to get in. The Bills are probably hoping to see Cincy’s season end next weekend.
NFC
Minnesota Vikings
Sam Darnold continues to author a surreal season in Minnesota, with the former Jets draft bust leading the Vikings to their 14th win on Sunday. With the Lions’ Week 17 game against the 49ers coming Monday night, the Vikings have for now jumped up to the No. 1 seed. But regardless of Monday’s outcome, the NFC North and the No. 1 seed will be up for grabs Sunday night when the Lions host the Vikings. The loser will be the No. 5 seed.
Philadelphia Eagles
The NFC East champions are locked into the No. 2 seed after blowing out the Cowboys on Sunday. They will host either the Packers or Commanders in the wild-card round.
Los Angeles Rams
The Commanders’ win Sunday night clinched the NFC West for the Rams, ensuring they’ll host a game in the wild-card round. They are not yet locked into the No. 3 seed, however, as a loss to the Seahawks at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday combined with a Buccaneers win over the Saints at 1 p.m. would drop Los Angeles to the No. 4 seed.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After falling to the Cooper Rush-led Cowboys in Week 16 and handing control of the NFC South to the Falcons, the Bucs are back in the driver’s seat with their win over the Panthers and Atlanta’s overtime loss to the Commanders. A win or tie against the Saints or a Falcons loss or tie against the Panthers will clinch the division for Tampa Bay. If the results don’t break their way, the Bucs will be out of the playoffs.
Detroit Lions
Leading the NFC for most of the season, Detroit will have to snap the rival Vikings’ nine-game winning streak on Sunday night to earn a first-round bye and home-field advantage. A loss would mean falling to the No. 5 seed and having to hit the road in the wild-card round.
Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels’ touchdown pᴀss to Zach Ertz in overtime against the Falcons clinched the Commanders a playoff berth. At 11-5, Washington owns the No. 6 seed thanks to a tiebreaker over the Packers. A win over the Cowboys on Sunday (1 p.m.) will secure the No. 6 spot for the Commanders.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers, who have clinched a playoff spot, fell to the Vikings on Sunday to drop to 11-5 and are now the No. 7 seed. Green Bay hosts the Bears next Sunday (1 p.m.) and will need a win and a Commanders loss to jump up to No. 6. Otherwise, they’ll travel to face the Eagles in the wild-card round.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons lost control of their own destiny with their overtime loss to the Commanders. Now they need to beat the Panthers on Sunday and also need the Buccaneers to lose to the Saints to win the NFC South and claim the No. 4 seed.
