Crucial scenarios for week 18

Crucial scenarios for week 18

The NFL playoff picture is still taking shape as Week 18 begins.

The AFC and NFC each have a playoff spot up for grabs in the final week of the regular season. Three division titles and playoff berth also remain to be determined.

Here’s a look at the NFL playoff scenarios for Week 18.

AFC

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs, looking to become the first team ever to score three goals as Super Bowl champions, have already secured first place and home-field advantage.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills secured the No. 2 seed with their home win over the Jets on Sunday and will host the No. 7 seed in the wild-card round. If they win, they’ll be back home in the Divisional Round.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens, currently seeded No. 3, need a win or a draw against the Browns on Saturday (4:30 p.m.) to win the AFC North and the associated home playoff game. A loss would leave the door open for the Steelers to face the Bengals on Saturday night (8 p.m.).

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will face the Texans on December 25, 2024. Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Houston Texans

The Texans are 9-7 and are the No. 4 seed, having already won the AFC South. They host the No. 5 seed in the wild card round, which could be the Steelers, Ravens or Chargers.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are currently 10-6 and in fifth place, winning a tiebreaker over the Chargers after beating them in Week 3. If the Ravens fail against the Browns and the Steelers beat the Bengals, Pittsburgh will win the AFC. Go north and jump to No. 3. If the Steelers lose or tie, they could move up to No. 6 with a Chargers win fall back.

Los Angeles Chargers

Already in the playoffs, the Chargers are on the road in the wildcard round. It’s just a matter of whether they can move up to No. 5 and compete with the Texans, or whether they stay at No. 6 and travel to the winner of the AFC North. Los Angeles travels to Las Vegas on Sunday for a 4:25 p.m. kickoff, and a win combined with a Steelers loss or tie will earn them fifth place.

Denver Broncos

They could have secured their spot in the playoffs on Saturday, but fell to the Bengals in overtime. They now face the Chiefs at home on Sunday at 4:25 p.m., although the Chiefs will reportedly rest their key players since they already have the No. 1 seed. A win or draw puts the Broncos in the game. A Bengals loss or tie combined with a Dolphins loss or tie also puts them in the game.

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix throws a pass against the Bengals on December 28, 2024. Getty Images

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins stayed alive with a win over the Browns in Week 17 despite the absence of Tua Tagovailoa, who was sidelined with a hip injury. His status for Sunday’s away game against the Jets at 4:25 p.m. is uncertain. Miami needs a win combined with a Broncos loss to make the playoffs.

Cincinnati Bengals

It was hard to believe that the talented Bengals were 4-8 and looked like they were already dead in the water. But four straight wins behind Joe Burrow’s MVP-level performance has Cincinnati heading into Week 18 well, although they need help. They first have to beat a Steelers team that can still play for a division title, then the Broncos have to lose and the Dolphins have to lose or tie to get into the game. The Bills are probably hoping Cincy’s season ends next weekend.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow runs into trouble in a win over the Broncos on December 28, 2024. Getty Images

NFC

Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold continues to pen a surreal season in Minnesota, with the former Jets draft bust leading the Vikings to their 14th win on Sunday. With the Lions’ Week 17 game against the 49ers coming up on Monday night, the Vikings have jumped to No. 1 for the time being. But regardless of the result on Monday, the NFC North and the No. 1 seed will be up for grabs on Sunday night when the Lions host the Vikings. The loser will be number 5.

Philadelphia Eagles

The NFC East champions are seeded No. 2 after beating the Cowboys on Sunday. They will host either the Packers or the Commanders in the wild card round.

Sam Darnold celebrates the Vikings’ victory over the Packers on December 30, 2024. Getty Images

Los Angeles Rams

The Commanders’ win on Sunday night clinched the NFC West for the Rams and ensured they will host a game in the wild card round. However, they are not yet tied to the No. 3 seed, as a loss to the Seahawks at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday combined with a Buccaneers win over the Saints at 1 p.m. would drop Los Angeles to No. 4.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After falling to the Cooper Rush-led Cowboys in Week 16 and handing control of the NFC South to the Falcons, the Bucs are back in the driver’s seat with their win over the Panthers and Atlanta’s overtime loss to the Commanders. A win or draw against the Saints or a loss or draw by the Falcons against the Panthers will decide Tampa Bay in the division. If the results are not convincing, the Bucs will be eliminated from the playoffs.

Detroit Lions

Detroit, which has led the NFC for most of the season, must break the rival Vikings’ nine-game winning streak on Sunday night to secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage. A defeat would mean falling back to 5th place and having to be eliminated in the wildcard round.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield plans to suit up against the Panthers on December 29, 2024. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Washington commanders

Jayden Daniels’ touchdown pass to Zach Ertz in overtime against the Falcons secured the Commanders a playoff spot. At 11-5, Washington is in sixth place thanks to a tiebreaker over the Packers. A win over the Cowboys on Sunday (1 p.m.) secures the Commanders sixth place.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers, who secured a playoff spot, lost to the Vikings on Sunday, falling to 11-5 and now the No. 7 seed. Green Bay hosts the Bears next Sunday (1 p.m.) and needs a win and a Commanders loss to move up to No. 6. Otherwise, they travel to face the Eagles in the wild card round.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons lost control of their own destiny when they lost to the Commanders in overtime. Now they have to beat the Panthers on Sunday and the Buccaneers also have to lose to the Saints to win the NFC South and secure the No. 4 seed.

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