The NFC playoff picture is starting to get clearer as Week 17 draws to a close. The Detroit Oilers and Minnesota Vikings will play the No. 1 seed. 1 next week, as the Philadelphia Eagles wrap up the NFC East with the No. 1 seed. 2 with their win on Sunday.
The Los Angeles Rams won the NFC West. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took the NFC South lead from the Atlanta Falcons, falling to the playoff-bound Washington Wizards (who confirmed their home court on Sunday night).
The AFC playoff picture is also looking at one spot left. The Los Angeles Chargers completed their playoff run with a win over the New England Patriots on Saturday, but the final playoff spot will be in 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 loss to the New York Giants. The Miami Dolphins are also alive in the playoff race. Denver can still clinch the playoff spot with a win over the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18. The Dolphins can tie with a loss to the Broncos and a win over the Jets, while the Bengals can win with a win over the Steelers along with losses by the Broncos and Dolphins.
Below is a breakdown of the conference standings and the completed Week 17 schedule:
AFC playoff picture
z — reached the first stage
y — the major difference
x — location of the mounted game
yes — 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 one season in the conference and could rest the starters in Week 18.
The rest of the list: to the Broncos
2. Buffalo Bills (13-3)
The Bucks wrapped up the No. 1 seed. They will face the No. 1 seed. 7 in the wild-card round.
The rest of the list: to the Patriots
3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
The Ravens took over the lead in the AFC North with their win and loss over the Steelers, taking a one-game lead over Pittsburgh last week. A Steelers win or loss in Week 18 gives Baltimore the split.
The rest of the list: vs. Browns
4. Houston Texas (9-7)
The Texans have already won the AFC South. He will be the No. 1 seed. 4 in the AFC and will have a home game in the wild-card game of the playoffs.
The rest of the list: to the Titans
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
The Steelers lost the lead in the AFC North after falling to the Chiefs. They need a win and a Ravens loss last week to win the division. They hold a tiebreaker over the Chargers for the No. 1 seed. 5 to beat Los Angeles in Week 3.
The rest of the list: against the Bengals
6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
The Chargers reached the playoffs with their victory over the Patriots.
The rest of the list: to the Raiders
7. Denver Broncos (9-7)
The Broncos are one win away from reaching the playoff spot, despite their overtime loss to the Bengals. They need to win in Week 18 to earn a playoff spot.
The rest of the list: against the Kings
8. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
The Dolphins’ AFC playoff hopes remain alive with their win over the Browns. They need a Broncos loss and a Jets win in Week 18 to make the playoffs. Miami holds the conference-record tiebreaker (6-5) over Cincinnati (5-6) for the No. 1 seed. 8.
The rest of the list: to the Jets
9. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
The Bengals are still alive in the AFC playoff race, thanks to their overtime win over 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.
The rest of the list: to the Steelers
Eliminated game controversy
Seven teams have been eliminated from the playoff race in the AFC: Raiders, Patriots, Titans, Jets, Jaguars, Browns and Colts.
An image of the NFC game
| 1 |
x – Lions |
14 |
2 |
0 |
.875 |
| 2 | y – Eagles | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 |
| 3 | y- Rams | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 |
| 4 |
The Buccaneers |
9 |
7 |
0 |
.563 |
| 5 | x – Vikings | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 |
| 6 | x – Managers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 |
| 7 | x – Packages | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 |
| 8 | the Seahawks | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 |
| 9 | Falcons | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 |
| 10 | Yes – Cowboys | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 |
| 11 | e-Cardinals | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 |
| 12 | the 49ers | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 |
| 13 | yes- Saints | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 |
| 14 | e – Bears | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 |
| 15 | Yes – Panthers | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 |
| 16 | e – Giants | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 |
y — the major difference
x — location of the mounted game
yes — eliminated from the playoffs
1. Detroit Lions (14-2)
The Lions will play 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 now hold the top seed. -head over Vikings.
The rest of the list: against the Vikings
2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Philadelphia won the NFC East title and the No. 1 seed. 2 with its win over the Cowboys. When the Vikings beat the Packers, the Eagles were eliminated from the race for home field advantage.
The rest of the list: against the Giants
3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
The Rams won the division thanks to the Chiefs’ victory over the Falcons on the strength of a victory over the Seahawks. As a result, Seattle was eliminated from the playoffs.
The rest of the list: against the Seahawks
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
The Buccaneers take over the NFC South after beating the Panthers and the Falcons falling to the Chiefs. They need to finish with a better record than the Falcons to win the division as they lost both games to Atlanta. Tampa Bay can clinch the division with a win against the Saints.
The rest of the list: against the Saints
5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
Minnesota will play for the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed. 1 next week against Detroit, and the loser gets the No. 1 seed. 5 in the playoffs. The Lions now have the No. 1 seed. 1 based on their head-to-head win over the Vikings earlier this year.
The rest of the list: to the Lions
6. Washington Chiefs (11-5)
The Commanders completed the playoffs with a win over the Falcons. They hold the conference-record tiebreaker (8-3) over the Packers (6-5) for the No. 1 seed. 6, and they can finish it off with a win next week.
The rest of the list: to the Cowboys
7. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
The Packers clinched a playoff berth and are currently the No. 1 seed. 7 in NFC. They need a win and a Commanders loss for the No. 1 seed. 6.
The rest of the list: against the Bears
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
The Falcons drop first in the NFC South after losing to the Commanders. They need a win and a Buccaneers loss in Week 18 to clinch the NFC West.
The rest of the list: against the Panthers
Eliminated game controversy
The Seahawks, Cardinals, Cowboys, 49ers, Saints, Bears, Panthers and Giants have been eliminated from the playoffs.
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