NFL playoff picture: Week 18 finalizing AFC and NFC standings

Week 18 is set up to be monumental in the NFL starting with big games in the AFC on Saturday and ending with a winner-take-all game on Sunday night. In between, there is plenty of intrigue.

On Saturday, the Baltimore Ravens clinched the three seed and in the process, forced the Pittsburgh Steelers into a wild card spot. The majority of the AFC playoff picture could be decided as early as Saturday night.

The most intriguing part of the early afternoon window on Sunday is the NFC South, where a Buccaneers win solidifies them as the winner of the division. The Atlanta Falcons are in play, as well.

In the late afternoon, the Denver Broncos can clinch their playoff spot with a win and there is seeding at stake for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Sunday night game is a huge showdown between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. The winner is the one seed in the NFC while the loser is the five seed.

AFC standings during Week 18

1. z-Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) – clinched No. 1 seed
2. y-Buffalo Bills (13-3) – clinched No. 2 seed
3. y-Baltimore Ravens (12-5) – clinched No. 3 seed
4. y-Houston Texans (9-7) – clinched No. 4 seed

5. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, win over LAC)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, loss to PIT)*
7. Denver Broncos (9-7)*

8. Miami Dolphins (8-8, 6-5 AFC)*
9. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8, 5-6 AFC)*
10. Indianapolis Colts (7-9) — eliminated
11. New York Jets (4-12, 4-7 AFC, win over JAX) — eliminated
12. Las Vegas Raiders (4-12, 3-8 AFC, win over JAX) — eliminated
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12, 4-7 AFC, loss to NYJ & LV) — eliminated
14. Tennessee Titans (3-13, win over NE) — eliminated
15. New England Patriots (3-13, loss to TEN) — eliminated
16. Cleveland Browns (3-14) — eliminated

NFC standings during Week 17

1. x-Detroit Lions (14-2, win over MIN)
2. y-Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
3. y-Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)

5. x-Minnesota Vikings (14-2, loss to DET)
6. x-Washington Commanders (11-5, 8-3 NFC)
7. x-Green Bay Packers (11-5, 6-5 NFC)

8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7) — eliminated
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
10. Dallas Cowboys (7-9, 5-6 NFC) — eliminated
11. Arizona Cardinals (7-9, 3-8 NFC) — eliminated
12. San Francisco 49ers (6-9, win over DAL) — eliminated
13. New Orleans Saints (5-11) — eliminated
14. Chicago Bears (4-11, win over CAR) — eliminated
15. Carolina Panthers (4-12, loss to CHI) — eliminated
16. New York Giants (3-13) — eliminated

Teams with an asterisk (*) have been eliminated from divisional contention
Teams with an (x) have clinched a playoff spot
Teams with a (y) have clinched their division
Teams with a (z) have clinched the one seed, home-field advantage, and a first-round bye

Key playoff picture takeaways in Week 17

Baltimore Ravens clinch the AFC North with convincing win over Browns

The Browns stink and most of their best players were out in Week 18, but the Ravens left no doubt. They scored with just over three minutes left to make it a 25-point game and clinch the three seed in the AFC.

Which NFL teams have already clinched playoff spots?

We’ve been tracking the teams that clinched playoff spots since November, and the list will be complete by the end of the weekend:

• Kansas City Chiefs
• Buffalo Bills
• Detroit Lions
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Minnesota Vikings
• Houston Texans
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Baltimore Ravens
• Green Bay Packers
• Los Angeles Chargers
• Washington Commanders
• Los Angeles Rams

Which NFL teams have been eliminated from the playoffs?

• New York Giants
• New England Patriots
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Las Vegas Raiders
• Tennessee Titans
• Cleveland Browns
• New York Jets
• Chicago Bears
• Carolina Panthers
• Dallas Cowboys
• Arizona Cardinals
• San Francisco 49ers
• New Orleans Saints
• Indianapolis Colts
• Seattle Seahawks

NFL Division Standings

AFC East standings

1. Buffalo Bills, 13-3 — division clinched
2. Miami Dolphins, 8-8
3. New York Jets, 4-12 — eliminated from playoff contention
4. New England Patriots, 3-13 — eliminated from playoff contention

AFC North standings

1. Baltimore Ravens, 12-5 – division clinched
2. Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-6
3. Cincinnati Bengals, 8-8
4. Cleveland Browns, 3-14 — eliminated from playoff contention

AFC South standings

1. Houston Texans, 9-7
2. Indianapolis Colts, 7-9
3. Jacksonville Jaguars, 4-12 — eliminated from playoff contention
4. Tennessee Titans, 3-13 — eliminated from playoff contention

AFC West standings

1. Kansas City Chiefs, 15-1 — division clinched
2. Los Angeles Chargers, 10-6
3. Denver Broncos, 9-7
4. Las Vegas Raiders, 4-12 — eliminated from playoff contention

NFC East standings

1. Philadelphia Eagles, 13-3 – division clinched
2. Washington Commanders, 11-5
3. Dallas Cowboys, 7-9 — eliminated from playoff contention
4. New York Giants, 3-13 — eliminated from playoff contention

NFC North standings

1. Minnesota Vikings, 14-2
2. Detroit Lions, 13-2
3. Green Bay Packers, 11-5
4. Chicago Bears, 4-12 — eliminated from playoff contention

NFC South standings

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 9-7
2. Atlanta Falcons, 8-8
3. New Orleans Saints, 5-10 — eliminated from playoff contention
4. Carolina Panthers, 4-12 — eliminated from playoff contention

NFC West standings

1. Los Angeles Rams, 10-6 – division clinched
2. Seattle Seahawks, 9-7 — eliminated from playoff contention
3. Arizona Cardinals, 7-9 — eliminated from playoff contention
4. San Francisco 49ers, 6-9 — eliminated from playoff contention