The final push to the playoffs is on, and it started Saturday with a doubleheader to kick off Week 18.
The first game of the day took place in Baltimore, where the Ravens destroyed the Browns 35-10. With the win, the Ravens have now clinched the AFC North and the third overall seed in the AFC.
Heading into Week 15, the Ravens were sitting two games out of first place and they seemed like a long shot to win the division, but since then, they've won four in a row while the Steelers have lost three in a row, which allowed the Ravens to steal the division.
In the nightcap on Saturday, the Bengals will be fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. If the Bengals lose, they'll be eliminated from playoff contention. On the other hand, the Steelers also have plenty to play for: If they beat the Bengals, they'll clinch the fifth seed in the AFC, which would guarantee them a wild-card game against the Texans.
With that in mind, let's take a look at where the playoff picture stands following Baltimore's win. We'll take a look at all the possible seeds and possible opponents for each team in the playoff race.
AFC playoff standings
| 1. AFC West champion (15-1) |  |
| Seed: Clinched No. 1. The Chiefs have clinched the top seed in the AFC, which is why they'll be resting most of their starters on Sunday against the Broncos. Possible wild-card round opponents: BYE | |
| 2. AFC East champion (13-3) |  |
| Seed: Clinched No. 2. With the two-seed locked up, the Bills will be resting several starters on Sunday against the Patriots. Possible wild-card round opponents: Broncos, Dolphins or Bengals | |
| 3. AFC North champion (12-5) |  |
| Seed: Clinched No. 3. With their win over the Browns, the Ravens clinched the AFC North, which means they'll definitely be hosting at least one home game. The Ravens will either be playing the Steelers for the third time this season or we'll be getting the fourth edition of the Harbaugh Bowl. Possible wild-card round opponents: Chargers or Steelers | |
| 4. AFC South champion (9-7) |  |
| Seed: Clinched No. 4 seed. The Texans will be watching closely when the Steelers and Bengals play on Saturday night because if Pittsburgh wins, that means Houston will be facing them in the wild-card round. Possible wild-card round opponents: Chargers or Steelers | |
| 5. Wild Card 1 (10-6) |  |
| Possible seeds: 5 or 6. The Steelers can clinch the fifth seed with a win over the Bengals on Saturday night, but if they lose, they could fall to the sixth seed if the Chargers beat the Raiders on Sunday. Possible wild-card round opponents: Ravens or Texans | |
| 6. Wild Card 2 (10-6) |  |
| Possible seeds: 5 or 6. If the Steelers win on Saturday night, that will clinch the sixth seed for the Chargers, so they'll have the option of resting their starters on Sunday against the Raiders. However, if the Steelers lose, then the Chargers can steal the fifth seed by winning on Sunday. Possible wild-card round opponents: Ravens or Texans | |
| 7. Wild Card 3 |  |
| Possible seed: 7 or out of the playoffs. If the Broncos beat the Chiefs on Sunday, they'll clinch the AFC's final playoff spot. If they lose, they can still get in, but only if the Bengals and Dolphins both lose or tie. Possible wild-card round opponent: Bills | |
STILL ALIVE
Dolphins (8-8): For the Dolphins to make the playoffs, they have to beat the Jets on Sunday AND the Broncos have to lose to the Chiefs.
Bengals (8-8): For the Bengals to make the playoffs, three things have to happen: They have to beat the Steelers, the Broncos have to lose to the Chiefs AND the Dolphins have to lose to the Jets.
Note: The Bengals and Dolphins can only get the seventh seed, which means the team that eventually earns the final wild card spot will be heading to Buffalo for the opening round of the playoffs.
AFC wild-card matchups (Based on current standings)
(Teams in bold have clinched their seed)
(7) Broncos at (2) Bills
(6) Chargers at (3) Ravens
(5) Steelers at (4) Texans
Bye: (1) Chiefs
NFC playoff standings
| 1. NFC North leader (14-2) |  |
| Possible seeds: 1 or 5. The biggest game of the NFL season will take place on Sunday night between the Lions and Vikings. If the Lions win, they'll clinch the NFC North and the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC, but if they lose, they'll drop all the way down to the five-seed. Possible wild-card round opponents: Rams, Buccaneers or BYE | |
| 2. NFC East champion (13-3) |  |
| Seed: Clinched No. 2. With the two-seed locked up, the Eagles will be resting several starters on Sunday against the Giants. The Eagles will play Washington or Green Bay in the wild-card round. Philly went 1-1 against the Commanders this year and 1-0 against the Packers. Possible wild-card round opponents: Commanders or Packers | |
| 3. NFC West champion (10-6) |  |
| Possible seeds: 3 or 4. The Rams could clinch the three-seed with a win, but Sean McVay has decided to bench his starters this week, which means there's a very good chance that L.A. could end up with the four-seed. Possible wild-card round opponents: Commanders, Packers or Lions-Vikings loser | |
| 4. NFC South leader (9-7) |  |
| Possible seeds: 3, 4 or out. The Buccaneers could move up to the three-seed with a win over the Saints on Sunday combined with a Rams' loss, but they could also miss the playoffs entirely with a loss to New Orleans combined with a win by the Falcons. Possible wild-card round opponents: Commanders, Packers, Lions-Vikings loser, OUT | |
| 5. Wild Card 1 |  |
| Possible seeds: 1 or 5. The Vikings will be facing the Lions and we already mentioned the stakes, but we'll mention them again: If the Vikings win, they'll clinch the NFC North and the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC, but if they lose, they'll drop all the way down to the five-seed. Possible wild-card round opponents: Buccaneers, Rams or BYE | |
| 6. Wild Card 2 |  |
| Possible seeds: 6 or 7. If the Commanders beat the Cowboys, they'll clinch the six-seed, but if they lose, that will open the door for the Packers to move to the sixth-spot with a win over the Bears. Possible wild-card round opponents: Eagles, Buccaneers or Rams | |
| 7. Wild Card 3 |  |
| Possible seeds: 6 or 7. If Commanders win on Sunday, that will lock the Packers into the seven-seed, which would set up a wild-card game with the Eagles. However, if the Commanders lose, the Packer could grab the sixth-seed with a win over the Bears. Possible wild-card round opponents: Eagles, Buccaneers or Rams | |
STILL ALIVE
Falcons (8-8): The Falcons only have one route to the playoffs: They have to beat the Panthers AND the Buccaneers have to lose to the Saints.
Possible seed: 4 or out.
Possible wild-card opponent: Lions/Vikings loser or season over
NFC wild-card matchups (Based on current standings)
(Teams in bold have clinched their seed)
(7) Packers at (2) Eagles
(6) Commanders at (3) Rams
(5) Vikings at (4) Buccaneers
Bye: (1) Lions
