NFL Playoff Picture, Clinching Scenarios for Week 17 in AFC, NFC
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- Get the latest playoff standings, as well as how teams could clinch entering Week 17.
The playoff picture is becoming increasingly clear as we head into Week 17 of the NFL, with the NFL playoff clinching scenarios coming into focus.
There are just two remaining games on everybody's schedule, but they could provide lots of drama.
Let's take a look at the NFL playoff picture and clinching scenarios for Week 17.
Current Playoff Seeding & Matchups
Standings and matchups as of Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
* indicates clinched playoff spot.
AFC
No. 1: Chiefs*
No. 2 vs. No. 7: Bills* vs. Patriots
No. 3 vs. No. 6: Bengals* vs. Chargers*
No. 4 vs. No. 5: Jaguars vs. Ravens*
NFC
No. 1: Eagles*
No. 2 vs. No. 7: 49ers* vs. Seahawks
No. 3 vs. No. 6: Vikings* vs. Giants*
No. 4 vs. No. 5: Buccaneers* vs. Cowboys*
Teams That Have Already Clinched a Playoff Berth
AFC
Buffalo Bills (12-3)
The Bills have clinched the AFC East and currently sit atop the AFC standings, looking to clinch the No. 1 seed this week.
Buffalo can clinch the 1 seed by winning out in Weeks 17 and 18.
Pick: Bills To Be AFC No. 1 Seed |
Kansas City Chiefs (12-3)
The Chiefs have clinched the AFC West and currently sit in first in the AFC after their Week 17 win.
As the Bills own the head-to-head tiebreaker, Kansas City needs Buffalo to lose at least one game with the Chiefs winning out to clinch the AFC's No. 1 seed, OR to win at least one game and the Bills to lose out.
Pick: Chiefs To Be AFC No. 1 Seed |
Cincinnati Bengals (11-4)
The Bengals have clinched the playoffs and have a one-game lead on the Ravens for the AFC North.
Cincinnati is also still alive in the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC but needs to win against Buffalo on Monday Night Football in Week 17.
Pick: Bengals ML (-102) vs. Bills |
The Bengals own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Chiefs; if the Bills lose out (including a Week 17 loss against Cincinnati), the Bengals win out and the Chiefs lose in Week 18, Cincinnati would clinch the AFC's No. 1 seed.
Pick: Bengals To Be AFC No. 1 Seed |
Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
The Ravens have clinched the playoffs and are eying the Bengals for the division.
Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
The Chargers have clinched the playoffs and have locked in a Wild Card spot.
NFC
Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
The Eagles have clinched the playoffs and are in the driver's seat for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Philadelphia can clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC (home-field throughout and first-round bye) with a win in Week 18.
With the Eagles' loss to the Saints, they need to win in Week 18 to clinch the No. 1 seed. That or they need Dallas, Minnesota and San Francisco to all lose.
Pick: Eagles To Be NFC No. 1 Seed |
Minnesota Vikings (12-3)
The Vikings have clinched the NFC North and have a chance to finish with the No. 1 seed in the NFC, if they win out and the Eagles lose out.
Pick: Vikings To Be NFC No. 1 Seed |
San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
The 49ers have clinched the NFC West and are alive to finish with the No. 1 seed in the NFC but need quite a bit of help.
San Francisco will win the NFC's No. 1 seed if the 49ers win out, the Eagles lose out and the Vikings lose at least one game.
Pick: 49ers To Be NFC No. 1 Seed |
Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
The Cowboys have clinched the playoffs and sit in fifth place in the NFC, but they're still in the running for the No. 1 seed.
Dallas can clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed if they beat the Commanders in Week 18 and the Eagles, Vikings and 49ers all lose.
Pick: Cowboys To Be NFC No. 1 Seed |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)
The Buccaneers clinched the NFC South by beating the Panthers in Week 17. They will be the No. 4 seed in the NFC.
New York Giants (9-6-1)
The Giants clinched a playoff berth with a blowout win over the Colts in Week 17.
The Teams That Could Have Clinched A Playoff Berth In Week 17 (And Their Playoff Clinching Scenarios)
AFC
Miami Dolphins (8-8)
A win would have put the Dolphins in the playoffs, but now they're on the outside looking in.
The good news for Miami is that the Patriots have the Bills next week, and Buffalo will be playing for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
If the Dolphins beat the Jets in Week 18 and the Bills beat New England, Miami will be in ahead of the Patriots.
The Remaining Teams Still Alive For a Playoff Berth (And Their Clinching Scenarios)
AFC
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)
The Jaguars sit in first place in the AFC South. The division will be decided by Jacksonville's game against the TennesseeTitans in Week 18.
Pick: Jaguars ML (-260) vs. Titans in Week 18 |
The Jaguars' win over the Texans in Week 17 only slightly mattered, as the Jaguars can also make the playoffs now with a Seahawks win against the Jets in Week 17, the Dolphins losing out, the Bills beating the Patriots in Week 18 and the Steelers losing a game in either Week 17 or 18.
Tennessee Titans (7-9)
The Titans sit in second place in the AFC South. As mentioned above, they can make the playoffs simply (and only) by beating Jacksonville in Week 18.
Pick: Titans ML (+215) vs. Jaguars in Week 18 |
New England Patriots (8-8)
It's now simple for New England: Beat the Bills in Week 18, and they're in as the last AFC wild-card team.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)
The Steelers are in third in the AFC North but still have a shot at making the playoffs.
Their situation is complicated, but Pittsburg need to win next week and have the Dolphins to lose to the Jets and the Bills to beat the Patriots in Week 18.
NFC
Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
The Seahawks can only make the playoffs if the Lions beat the Packers and they beat the Rams in Week 18. If the Packers beat the Lions, they're in.
Detroit Lions (8-8)
The Lions sit eighth in the NFC ahead of the Seahawks and Packers playing in Week 17. Detroit can clinch a playoff spot in Week 18 by beating Green Bay at Lambeau Field and having the Seahawks lose to the Rams.
Green Bay Packers (8-8)
The Packers are third in the NFC North and are on the outside looking in for the playoffs.
The Packers clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Lions in Week 18, following Washington's Week 17 loss.
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