Week 18 is finalizing the NFL playoff picture and we are updating it live!
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.
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. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)*
6. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
7. Denver Broncos (9-7)*
8. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8, 6-6 AFC)*
9. Miami Dolphins (8-8, 6-5 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
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
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.
The Bengals are 9-8 and have won their fifth straight game to stay aline in the playoff race. They need a lot of help un Sunday, but they are alive.
The Steelers lost four straight in December, and could slip to the sixth seed if the Chargers win on Sunday. Pittsburgh would then travel to the Baltimore Ravens, who won the AFC North on Saturday.
We’ve been tracking the teams that clinched playoff spots since November, and the list will be complete by the end of the weekend:
