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NFL playoff picture, every updated playoff clinching scenario in Week 18
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- NFL playoff picture, every updated playoff clinching scenario in Week 18
The long, winding road to the 2025 NFC South champion concluded in Week 18 among the NFL playoff picture on Jan. 4.
Atlanta 's win over New Orleans on Jan. 4 clinched the division for the Carolina Panthers despite Carolina's loss at Tampa Bay on Jan. 3.
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Seattle clinched the NFC West and the No. 1 seed in the NFC on Jan. 3 by winning at San Francisco .
The AFC North will be decided on Sunday Night Football, with Pittsburgh hosting Baltimore . That one is simple: Win and in.
Jacksonville can clinch the AFC South with a win over Tennessee . Houston wins the division with a win and a Jaguars loss.
Here is the NFL playoff picture in Week 18, with the standings updated throughout Jan. 4:
TITANS-JAGS LIVE UPDATES: Titans vs Jaguars score, NFL Week 18 game updates, highlights, live stats
AFC Playoff Picture
Division leaders
1. Denver Broncos (14-3) Clinched AFC West, No. 1 seed, first-round bye
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This week: Won 19-3 vs. LA Chargers
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Clinching scenarios: The Broncos clinched the No. 1 seed, home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye with a win .
2. New England Patriots (14-3) Clinched AFC East, No. 2 seed
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This week: Won 38-10 vs. Miami
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) Clinched AFC South, No. 3 seed
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This week: Won 41-7 vs. Tennessee
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) Clinched AFC North, No. 4 seed
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This week: Won 26-24 vs. Baltimore
Clinching scenarios: The Steelers clinched the AFC North with a win.
Wild cards
5. Houston Texans (12-5) Clinched playoff berth, No. 5 seed
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This week:Won 38-30 vs. Indianapolis
6. Buffalo Bills (12-5) Clinched playoff berth, No. 6 seed
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This week: Won 35-8 vs. NY Jets
7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) Clinched playoff berth, No. 7 seed
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This week: Lost 19-3 at Denver
Outside looking in
8. Indianapolis Colts (8-9); eliminated from playoff contention
9. Baltimore Ravens (8-9); eliminated from playoff contention
10. Miami Dolphins (7-10); eliminated from playoff contention
11. Cincinnati Bengals (6-11); eliminated from playoff contention
12. Kansas City Chiefs (6-11); eliminated from playoff contention
13. Cleveland Browns (5-12); eliminated from playoff contention
14. Tennessee Titans (3-14); eliminated from playoff contention
15. New York Jets (3-14); eliminated from playoff contention
16. Las Vegas Raiders (3-14); eliminated from playoff contention
NFC playoff picture
Division leaders
1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3) Clinched NFC West, No. 1 seed, first-round bye
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This week: Won 13-3 at San Francisco
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Clinching scenarios: The Seahawks clinched the NFC West, the No. 1 seed, home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs and a first-round bye with a win .
2. Chicago Bears (11-6) Clinched NFC North
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This week: Lost 19-16 vs. Detroit
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) Clinched NFC East
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This week: Lost 24-17 vs. Washington
4. Carolina Panthers (8-9) Clinched NFC South, No. 4 seed
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This week: Lost 16-14 at Tampa Bay
Clinching scenarios: The Panthers clinced the NFC South with a Falcons win .
Wild cards
5. Los Angeles Rams (12-5) Clinched playoff berth, No. 5 seed
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This week: Won 37-20 vs. Arizona
6. San Francisco 49ers (12-5) Clinched playoff berth, No. 6 seed
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This week: Lost 13-3 vs. Seattle
7. Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) Clinched playoff berth, No. 7 seed
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This week:Lost 16-3 at Minnesota
Outside looking in
8. Minnesota Vikings (9-8); eliminated from playoff contention
9. Detroit Lions (9-8); eliminated from playoff contention
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9); eliminated from playoff contention
11. Atlanta Falcons (8-9); eliminated from playoff contention
12. Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1); eliminated from playoff contention
13. New Orleans Saints (6-11); eliminated from playoff contention
14. Washington Commanders (5-12); eliminated from playoff contention
15. New York Giants (4-13); eliminated from playoff contention
16. Arizona Cardinals (3-14); eliminated from playoff contention
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NFL playoff picture, every playoff scenario heading into Week 18
