The playoff schedule is close to being settled. Here’s how the NFL playoff picture looks after the Sunday afternoon games in Week 18:
NFC Playoff Picture
DIVISION LEADERS
1. 49ers (12-5): Clinched NFC West and No. 1 seed.
2. Cowboys (12-5): Clinched NFC East and No. 2 seed.
3. Lions (12-5): Clinched NFC North and No. 3 seed.
4. Buccaneers (9-8): Clinched NFC South and No. 4 seed.
WILD CARDS
5. Eagles (11-6): Clinched a playoff berth and No. 5 seed.
6. Rams (10-7): Clinched a playoff berth and No. 6 seed.
7. Packers (9-8): Clinched a playoff berth and No. 7 seed.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Seahawks (9-8): Mathematically eliminated.
9. Saints (9-8): Mathematically eliminated.
10. Vikings (7-10): Mathematically eliminated.
11. Bears (7-10): Mathematically eliminated.
12. Falcons (7-10): Mathematically eliminated.
13. Giants (6-11): Mathematically eliminated.
14. Commanders (4-13): Mathematically eliminated.
15. Cardinals (4-13): Mathematically eliminated.
16. Panthers (2-15): Mathematically eliminated, clinched the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, which the Panthers traded to the Bears.
AFC Playoff Picture
DIVISION LEADERS
1. Ravens (13-4): Clinched AFC North and No. 1 seed.
2. Dolphins (11-5): Clinched a playoff berth, will win the AFC East if they beat the Bills.
3. Chiefs (11-6): Clinched AFC West and No. 3 seed.
4. Texans (10-7): Clinched AFC South and No. 4 seed
WILD CARDS
5. Browns (11-6): Clinched wild card and No. 5 seed.
6. Bills (10-6): Clinched playoff berth, will win the AFC East if they beat the Dolphins Sunday night.
7. Steelers (10-7): Clinched wild card.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Bengals (9-8): Mathematically eliminated.
9. Jaguars (9-8): Mathematically eliminated.
10. Colts (9-8): Mathematically eliminated.
11. Raiders (8-9): Mathematically eliminated.
12. Broncos (8-9): Mathematically eliminated.
13. Jets (7-10): Mathematically eliminated.
14. Titans (6-11): Mathematically eliminated.
15. Chargers (5-12): Mathematically eliminated.
16. Patriots (4-13): Mathematically eliminated.
Week 18 Clinching Scenarios
Here are the official NFL playoff scenarios distributed by the league office:
AFC
CLINCHED:
Baltimore Ravens (13-3) – AFC North, No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and homefield advantage
Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) – AFC West
Houston Texans (10-7) - AFC South
Cleveland Browns (11-5) – wild card
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) - wild card
Miami Dolphins (11-5) – playoff berth
Buffalo Bills (10-6) - playoff berth
BUFFALO BILLS (10-6) at Miami (11-5); Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Buffalo clinches AFC East division title with:
- BUF win
MIAMI DOLPHINS (11-5) vs. Buffalo (10-6); Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Miami clinches AFC East division title with:
- MIA win or tie
NFC
CLINCHED:
San Francisco 49ers (12-4) – NFC West division title, No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and homefield advantage
Detroit Lions (11-5) – NFC North
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) NFC South
Dallas Cowboys (11-5) – NFC East
Los Angeles Rams (9-7) – wild card
Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) – wild card
Green Bay Packers (9-8) - wild card
