The NFL's playoff picture remains murky going into Week 18.
A record-tying 20 teams are still in contention for a trip to the Super Bowl heading into the final week of the regular season. Nine franchises have already clinched a postseason appearance, while five other bids, including four division titles, remain unclaimed. So plenty will be at stake around the league in what could be a chaotic conclusion to the campaign. Week 18 kicks off with two Saturday games and wraps up with a Buffalo Bills-Miami Dolphins prime-time battle for the AFC East on Sunday Night Football.
Before the games begin, here's a glimpse at the current standings, plus playoff scenarios for every team still alive in the postseason race.
NFL Playoff Picture Entering Week 18
The No. 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC are already locked up.
The Baltimore Ravens (13-3) and San Francisco 49ers (12-4), winners of the AFC North and NFC West, will both receive first-round playoff byes and home-field advantage in the postseason as the top teams in their respective conferences.
As things currently sit in the AFC, the other division leaders and Nos. 2-4 seeds are the Dolphins (11-5), Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) and Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7). The conference's three Wild Card spots are occupied by the Cleveland Browns (11-5), Buffalo Bills (10-6) and Indianapolis Colts (9-7). And the Houston Texans (9-7) and Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) are the two AFC teams on the outside looking in that still have playoff hopes.
Along with Baltimore, the Dolphins, Chiefs and Browns have also sealed AFC postseason berths. Just in different ways. Kansas City won the AFC West last weekend, while Miami is in but doesn't have a division crown yet; the Dolphins can clinch the East on Sunday night. The Browns are married to the No. 5 seed, the top Wild Card spot, since the Ravens won the division.
In the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys (11-5), Detroit Lions (11-5) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) are the three other division leaders entering Week 18. The Philadelphia Eagles (11-5), Los Angeles Rams (9-7) and Green Bay Packers (8-8) are in Wild Card territory. Four teams—the Seattle Seahawks (8-8), New Orleans Saints (8-8), Minnesota Vikings (7-9) and Atlanta Falcons (7-9) — are the only other squads remaining in the NFC hunt.
Detroit has already clinched the NFC North title. The Cowboys, Eagles and Rams (firmly a Wild Card team) will make playoff appearances regardless of what happens this weekend.
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AFC, NFC Playoff-Clinching Scenarios
The NFC East, NFC South, AFC East and AFC South are still up for grabs this weekend, as are two AFC Wild Card spots and the final NFC opening. And things could get tricky when determining which teams are in and which are out. The NFL released paths to clinching playoff berths for various squads earlier this week.
Here's a team-by-team look at postseason scenarios for franchises still in the hunt.
Bills
Buffalo plays in Miami against the Dolphins at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Bills will clinch the AFC East title with a win. Sean McDermott's team can also clinch a playoff berth with:
Texans
Houston squares off with the AFC South rival Colts at 8:15 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Texans will clinch the division with:
The Texans would also clinch a playoff berth with;
Colts
Similar stakes will be on the line on the Indianapolis sideline when the Colts host the Texans on Saturday night. Indianapolis will clinch the AFC South with:
The Colts would also clinch a playoff berth with:
Jaguars
The AFC South is in Jacksonville's hands when the Jaguars play at the Tennessee Titans at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Jags clinch the division with:
Jacksonville is also into the playoffs with:
Dolphins
Miami will move safely along into the postseason no matter the results of Sunday night's matchup with the Bills. But winning the division is the preferred route. The Dolphins have already locked up a playoff spot, but will win the AFC East, and secure a home playoff game, with:
Steelers
Pittsburgh plays the Ravens on the road this week, but may be in luck. Baltimore will likely rest some of its starters to close out the regular season since it has already clinched the top seed. Entering that 4:30 p.m. ET AFC North matchup on Saturday, the Steelers can move on to the postseason with:
Falcons
Atlanta plays in New Orleans against the Saints at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. And the Falcons' playoff hopes ride on a relatively straightforward scenario. The team will clinch the NFC South division with:
Cowboys
Dallas travels to Washington to play the 4-12 Commanders at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Cowboys are already locked into the playoffs, but will clinch the NFC East with:
Packers
Sunday's 4:25 p.m. home game against the Chicago Bears (7-9) isn't a win-or-go home game for the Packers, but losing to the NFC North foe would complicate things. The Packers clinch a playoff berth with:
Vikings
The second half of the 2023 season has been a whirlwind for the Vikings. Three different quarterbacks have started in Kirk Cousins' absence. But no matter which signal-caller takes the field against the Lions in Detroit at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Minnesota faces a tough path to the postseason. The Vikings would clinch a playoff berth with:
Saints
New Orleans' playoff path has a few alternative routes compared to its Sunday opponent. While the Falcons are in with a win and Bucs loss, the Saints can clinch the NFC South with:
The Saints also clinch a playoff berth with:
Eagles
The NFC, at one time, seemed like it would go through Philadelphia this postseason. Well, not anymore. The Eagles have lost four of their last five games and close out the regular season at the 5-11 New York Giants (4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday). While Philly's playoff trip is already clinched, it would win the NFC East title with:
Seahawks
Seattle plays at the 4-12 Arizona Cardinals at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Seahawks clinch would clinch a playoff berth with:
Buccaneers
The Bucs control their own playoff destiny on the road against the NFL-worst Carolina Panthers (2-14) at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. Tampa Bay will clinch the NFC South title with:
Baker Mayfield and company would also clinch a playoff berth with:
NFL Playoff Probabilities
Among NFC teams that have yet to clinch a playoff spot, the Bucs (66 percent) have the best chance to reach the postseason entering Week 18, according to data released by the league via NFL Next Gen Stats. Behind the Buccaneers are the Packers (64 percent), Saints (29 percent), Seahawks (25 percent), Falcons (13 percent) and Vikings (4 percent).
In the AFC, the Bills (86 percent) lead the way among teams that haven't clinched yet, ahead of the Jaguars (70 percent), Colts (55 percent), Texans (45 percent) and Steelers (44 percent).
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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