Playoff scenarios for Week 18 in NFL

As we enter Week 18 in the NFL, the Bengals(8-8), Dolphins(8-8), and Broncos(9-7) are fighting for the seventh seed in the AFC. If Denver defeats the Chiefs, they make the playoffs.

The Chiefs(15-1) clinched the number one seed last weekend, while the Bills(13-3) are locked into the second seed. The Texans(9-7) have won the AFC South and are the fourth seed, and the Ravens(11-5) and Steelers(10-6) are still battling it out for the AFC North title. If Baltimore defeats the Browns, they win the division.

In the NFC, the Lions(14-2) and Vikings(14-2) will play next Sunday night to determine who wins the NFC North and who will be the conference’s number-one seed. The loser of this game will be the fifth seed.

The Eagles(13-3) have the second seed. The Rams(10-6), who won the NFC West, could end up the third or fourth seed, while the Packers(11-5) and Commanders(11-5) could be sixth or seventh. 

The Buccaneers(9-7) and Falcons(8-8) are fighting for the NFC South title. If the Buccaneers defeat the Saints, they will win the division. The team that does not win the NFC South will be eliminated from the playoffs.

Here are all the playoff scenarios for Week 18:

AFC:

CLINCHED:

Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) – AFC West, No. 1 seed, first-round bye and home-field advantage

Buffalo Bills (13-3) – AFC East, No. 2 seed

Houston Texans (9-7) – AFC South, No. 4 seed

Baltimore Ravens (11-5) – playoff berth

Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) – playoff berth

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) – playoff berth

Baltimore Ravens (11-5) vs. Cleveland Browns (3-13); Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

Baltimore clinches AFC North division title and No. 3 seed with:

1. BAL win or tie

2. PIT loss or tie

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8); Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

Pittsburgh clinches AFC North division title and No. 3 seed with:

1. PIT win + BAL loss

Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6); Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

Cincinnati clinches a playoff berth with:

1. CIN win + DEN loss + MIA loss or tie

Denver Broncos (9-7) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

Denver clinches a playoff berth with:

1. DEN win or tie

2. MIA loss or tie + CIN loss or tie

Miami Dolphins (8-8) at New York Jets (4-12); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX

Miami clinches a playoff berth with:

1. MIA win + DEN loss

NFC:

CLINCHED:

Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) – NFC East, No. 2 seed

Los Angeles Rams (10-6) – NFC West

Detroit Lions (14-2)– playoff berth

Green Bay Packers (11-5) – playoff berth

Minnesota Vikings (14-2) – playoff berth

Washington Commanders (11-5) – playoff berth

Detroit Lions (13-2) vs. Minnesota Vikings (14-2); Sunday night, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Detroit clinches NFC North division title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:

1. DET win over MIN

Minnesota Vikings (14-2) at Detroit Lions (13-2); Sunday night, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Minnesota clinches NFC North division title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:

1. MIN win over DET

Atlanta Falcons (8-8) vs. Carolina Panthers (4-12); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Atlanta clinches NFC South division title with:

1. ATL win + TB loss

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) vs. New Orleans Saints (5-11); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Tampa Bay clinches NFC South division title with:

1. TB win or tie

2. ATL loss or tie