The NFC playoff picture is starting to become clearer as Week 17 nears its end. The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings will play for the No. 1 seed next week, while the Philadelphia Eagles wrapped up the NFC East and the No. 2 seed with their win on Sunday.
The Los Angeles Rams moved one step closer toward clinching the NFC West. They could clinch the division as soon as Sunday under this scenario, or just defeat the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers put pressure on the Atlanta Falcons for the NFC South title with a blowout win over the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons face the Washington Commanders on Sunday night.
The AFC playoff picture is also coming into focus with one spot still remaining. The Los Angeles Chargers wrapped up their playoff berth with a victory over the New England Patriots on Saturday, but the final playoff spot will be up for grabs heading into the season's final week.
The Cincinnati Bengals remained alive in the playoff race with their thrilling overtime win over the Denver Broncos, but the Indianapolis Colts were eliminated with their loss to the New York Giants. The Miami Dolphins remain alive in the playoff race as well. Denver can still clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18. The Dolphins can clinch with a Broncos loss and a win over the Jets, while the Bengals can clinch with a win over the Steelers coupled with losses by the Broncos and Dolphins.
Below is a breakdown of the conference standings with the Week 17 slate winding down:
AFC playoff picture
| Seed | Team | W | L | T | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | z - Chiefs | 15 | 1 | 0 | .938 |
| 2 | y - Bills | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 |
| 3 | x - Ravens | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 |
| 4 | y - Texans | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 |
| 5 | x- Steelers | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 |
| 6 | x- Chargers | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 |
| 7 | Broncos | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 |
| 8 | Dolphins | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 |
| 9 | Bengals | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 |
| 10 | e - Colts | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 |
| 11 | e - Jets | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 |
| 12 | e - Raiders | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 |
| 13 | e - Jaguars | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 |
| 14 | e - Browns | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 |
| 15 | e - Titans | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 |
| 16 | e - Patriots | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 |
z -- clinched first-round bye
y -- clinched division
x -- clinched playoff berth
e -- eliminated from playoffs
1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
The Chiefs wrapped up the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with their win over the Steelers. Kansas City gets the lone bye in the conference and can rest its starters in Week 18.
Remaining schedule: at Broncos
2. Buffalo Bills (13-3)
The Bills wrapped up the No. 2 seed with their blowout win over the Jets. They will face the No. 7 seed in the wild-card round.
Remaining schedule: at Patriots
3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
The Ravens have taken over the AFC North lead with their win and the Steelers' loss, having a one-game lead over Pittsburgh heading into the final week. A win or a Steelers loss in Week 18 gives Baltimore the division.
Remaining schedule: vs. Browns
4. Houston Texans (9-7)
The Texans have already clinched the AFC South. They will be the No. 4 seed in the AFC and will have a home game in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: at Titans
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
The Steelers lost the AFC North lead after falling to the Chiefs. They need a win and a Ravens loss in the final week to win the division. They hold the tiebreaker over the Chargers for the No. 5 seed due beating Los Angeles in Week 3.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals
6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
The Chargers clinched a playoff berth with their win over the Patriots.
Remaining schedule: at Raiders
7. Denver Broncos (9-7)
The Broncos are a win away from clinching a playoff spot, even with their overtime loss to the Bengals. They need to win in Week 18 to clinch a playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. Chiefs
8. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
The Dolphins' AFC playoff hopes are still alive with their win over the Browns. They need a Broncos loss and a win over the Jets in Week 18 to make the playoffs. Miami holds the conference-record tiebreaker (6-5) over Cincinnati (5-6) for the No. 8 seed.
Remaining schedule: at Jets
9. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
The Bengals remain alive in the AFC playoff race, thanks to their overtime win over the Broncos. They will make the playoffs if they win in Week 18 and the Broncos lose to the Chiefs and the Dolphins lose to the Jets.
Remaining schedule: at Steelers
Eliminated from playoff contention
Seven teams are eliminated from the playoff race in the AFC: Raiders, Patriots, Titans, Jets, Jaguars, Browns and Colts.
NFC playoff picture
| Rank | Team | W | L | T | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x - Vikings | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 |
| 2 | y - Eagles | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 |
| 3 | Rams | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 |
| 4 | Buccaneers | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 |
| 5 | x - Lions | 13 | 2 | 0 | .867 |
| 6 | x - Packers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 |
| 7 | Commanders | 10 | 5 | 0 | .667 |
| 8 | Seahawks | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 |
| 9 | Falcons | 8 | 7 | 0 | .533 |
| 10 | e- Cowboys | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 |
| 11 | e- Cardinals | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 |
| 12 | e- 49ers | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 |
| 13 | e- Saints | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 |
| 14 | e - Bears | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 |
| 15 | e - Panthers | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 |
| 16 | e - Giants | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 |
y -- clinched division
x -- clinched playoff berth
e -- eliminated from playoffs
1. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
Minnesota takes over the NFC North lead after its win over Green Bay, but Detroit will take over the division lead again with a win against San Francisco on Monday. No matter the Lions result, Detroit and Minnesota will play for the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed next week.
Remaining schedule: at Lions
2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Philadelphia clinched the NFC East title and the No. 2 seed with its win over the Cowboys. With the Vikings beating the Packers, the Eagles were eliminated from the race for home-field advantage.
Remaining schedule: vs. Giants
3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
The Rams maintain their NFC West lead by a game over the Seahawks with their win over the Cardinals. Los Angeles clinches the division next week with a win, or in Week 17 if the Commanders or 49ers win due to the strength-of-victory tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
The Buccaneers take over the NFC South lead for the time being after beating the Panthers. They need to finish with a better record than the Falcons to win the division since they lost both games to Atlanta. The Falcons play the Commanders on Sunday night.
Remaining schedule: vs. Saints
5. Detroit Lions (13-2)
The Lions will play the Vikings for the NFC North title in Week 18, no matter their result against the 49ers. Winner gets the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage while the loser gets the No. 5 seed.
Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Vikings
6. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
The Packers clinched a playoff berth and are currently the No. 6 seed in the NFC.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bears
7. Washington Commanders (10-5)
The Commanders can wrap up a wild-card berth win a victory over the Falcons on Sunday night.
Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, at Cowboys
8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
The Seahawks are a game back for the NFC West lead, but are on life support. They could be eliminated in Week 17 due to this intriguing playoff scenario but even if they beat the Rams in Week 18, they need a miracle to get in. Seattle is eliminated if the Commanders or 49ers win this week.
Remaining schedule: at Rams
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)
The Falcons temporarily drop out of the lead in the NFC South. Atlanta holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Tampa Bay and controls its own destiny in the division. They'll retake the division lead Sunday night with a win over the Commanders.
Remaining schedule: at Commanders, vs. Panthers
Eliminated from playoff contention
The Cardinals, Cowboys, 49ers, Saints, Bears, Panthers and Giants have been eliminated from the playoffs.