NFL playoff picture Week 18: What clinching scenarios remain before postseason field is finalized?

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NFL playoff picture Week 18: What clinching scenarios remain before postseason field is finalized?

Nate Davis, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Wed, Jan 1, 2025 ·

7 min read

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Every week for the duration of the 2024 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the league's ever-evolving playoff picture − typically starting after Sunday afternoon's late games and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday's and Thursday's games or Saturday's, if applicable.)

What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference's seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, Jan. 5.

Here's where things stand with Week 17 of the 2024 season complete:

NFC playoff picture

x – 1. Detroit Lions (14-2), NFC North leaders:They couldn't gain anything substantive with Monday night's win at San Francisco aside from the resumption of the overall NFC lead. But the Lions can achieve everything they want from the regular season, including home-field advantage and the division title, by sweeping Minnesota at Ford Field in the final regular-season game of the league's 2024 schedule. Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings

Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, right, celebrates a touchdown against 49ers with quarterback Jared Goff during the first half of the NFC championship game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.

y – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3), NFC East champions:Despite being down to their third-string quarterback, they locked down the division crown Sunday and the No. 2 seed. Not much to play for in Week 18 aside from the single-season rushing record for RB Saquon Barkley ... if he and the team decide to pursue it. Remaining schedule: vs. Giants

Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) celebrates with with quarterback Kenny Pickett (7) after their touchdown connection during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

y – 3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6), NFC West champions:They took care of business Saturday night against Arizona , and the Commanders clinched the strength-of-victory tiebreaker – meaning the division – for LA on Sunday night. Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks

Dec 28, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) celebrates with tight end Colby Parkinson (86) after scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7), NFC South leaders:Their rout of the Panthers moved them back into first place Sunday, and Atlanta 's overtime loss at Washington keeps Tampa Bay there. Win their Week 18 game, and the Bucs earn a fourth consecutive division crown. Remaining schedule: vs. Saints

x – 5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2), wild card No. 1:They weathered Green Bay 's late surge for a massive win Sunday – one that temporarily moved the Vikes atop the conference and leaves them one Week 18 win from wrapping up the division, home-field advantage and a first-round bye in the NFC. Who saw this coming? (Detroit's win Monday knocked the Vikes back down to fifth place in the conference, but everything boils down to the regular-season finale.) Remaining schedule: at Lions

Dec 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) celebrates recovering a fumble by Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin via Imagn Images

x – 6. Washington Commanders (11-5), wild card No. 2:A thrilling overtime victory launched them into the field ... and maybe won QB Jayden Daniels the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. (The result also clinched the NFC West for the Rams.) Washington's 8-3 record in NFC games is two better than Green Bay's. Remaining schedule: at Cowboys

x – 7. Green Bay Packers (11-5), wild card No. 3:Getting swept by Detroit and (eventually) Minnesota relegated the Pack to wild-card status even before Week 17. Should be notable to see how hard they and the Commanders work to engineer a matchup with the No. 3 seed next week rather than facing a trip to Philadelphia. Remaining schedule: vs. Bears

Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium.

8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7), eliminated:Though they have a better record than the Falcons, whom the Seahawks beat earlier this season, Seattle has no path to the playoffs. Remaining schedule: at Rams

9. Atlanta Falcons (8-8), in the hunt:A gut-wrenching loss to the Commanders means they need to beat Carolina in Week 18 and hope the Bucs also lose in order to win the NFC South. Remaining schedule:vs. Panthers

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AFC playoff picture

yz – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), AFC West champions:By crushing Pittsburgh on Christmas , they secured home-field advantage and a first-round bye – and two-plus weeks off in actuality depending on whom the champs want to play in what's now a meaningless Week 18 contest at Denver . Remaining schedule: at Broncos, BYE

y – 2. Buffalo Bills (13-3), AFC East champions:They locked up the No. 2 seed by embarrassing the Jets on Sunday. Finishing second in the conference should still have meaning given the road to Super Bowl 59 could go through Western New York if the Chiefs lose their playoff opener. Buffalo won't have to go on the road again unless the AFC championship is staged in Kansas City . Remaining schedule: at Patriots

x – 3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5), AFC North leaders: Catching fire? Probably an understatement. The Steelers' loss before Baltimore's Christmas kickoff vaulted the Ravens atop the division, and their dominant win over Houston keeps them there. A win or tie in Week 18 clinches it. Remaining schedule: vs. Browns

y – 4. Houston Texans (9-7), AFC South champions:They rule a weak division for the second straight year, however Wednesday's loss cemented them as the fourth seed ... which will likely mean a tough wild-card matchup, albeit in Houston, against an AFC North team. Remaining schedule: at Titans

x – 5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6), wild card No. 1:That's three losses in a row, Wednesday's flat performance against K.C. costing them first place in the AFC North. However they can capture the divisional title by winning in Week 18 if Baltimore also loses to Cleveland . Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals

Dec 28, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) reacts after his touchdown pass against the New England Patriots in the third quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

x – 6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6), wild card No. 2:Saturday's rout of the Patriots locked the Bolts into the field and ensures Jim Harbaugh has been a playoff participant in four of his five NFL seasons as a head coach. Yet, having lost to the Ravens and Steelers earlier this season, the Chargers will most likely be the sixth seed – and probably head to Baltimore or Pittsburgh for a rematch. But another win combined with a Steelers loss in Week 18 could slot Los Angeles as the fifth seed. Remaining schedule: at Raiders

7. Denver Broncos (9-7), wild card No. 3:They've had win-and-in scenarios in their past two games and lost both times. Still, one more victory – or tie – will advance Denver to the playoffs for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50 with Peyton Manning and Von Miller nearly nine years ago. The Broncos' Week 18 game against Kansas City means basically nothing to the Chiefs – and that should be a real advantage for Denver, which can do no better than the seventh seed. Remaining schedule:vs. Chiefs

Dec 28, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) celebrates with wide receiver Andrei Iosivas (80) after a touchdown pass reception against the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

8. Miami Dolphins (8-8), in the hunt:After handling the Browns on the road – and without injured QB Tua Tagovailoa – they qualify if they win in Week 18 and the Broncos lose. Miami's record in AFC games (6-5) is one better than both Denver and Cincinnati . Remaining schedule: at Jets

9. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8), in the hunt: Still alive thanks to a four-game winning streak, including Saturday's overtime thriller against Denver. Though they appear like the best team outside the postseason field , the Bengals still need the most help to get in, including a loss by the Dolphins after the Indianapolis Colts were eliminated Sunday. Cincinnati must also beat Pittsburgh in Week 18 and hope Denver falters again. Though the Bengals jumped Miami on Saturday, the Dolphins hold the tiebreaker (AFC record) that moved them back over Cincinnati on Sunday. Remaining schedule: at Steelers