NFL playoff picture, draft order for most of Week 17, Saturday: Chargers nab wild-card spot, Bengals stay alive

NFL playoff picture, draft order for most of Week 17, Saturday: Chargers nab wild-card spot, Bengals stay alive

There will still be a lot of work to do in the standings in the final two weeks of the 2024 NFL regular season.

Six of the seven playoff spots are up for grabs in the AFC, with the Kansas City Chiefs securing first place in the conference with a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. The Los Angeles Chargers joined the postseason party with a 40-7 victory over the New England Patriots on Saturday afternoon. And the Cincinnati Bengals avoided elimination by beating the Denver Broncos in overtime on Saturday night.

In the NFC, four teams have secured tickets to the postseason, but all four division titles remain in play.

The playoff picture should become clearer in both conferences after this weekend.

The Broncos missed the chance to secure a spot in the playoffs with a win or draw at the Bengals. It would have been their first time in the postseason since winning Super Bowl 50. They will finish the regular season against the Chiefs, who don’t have much to play for since the No. 1 seed is already secured.

The NFC North title is open to the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings. The 13-2 Lions will get their first chance to clinch the division title if the Vikings lose to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon and Detroit defeats the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.

Another division that could crown a champion is the NFC East if the Philadelphia Eagles win or tie against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night or the Washington Commanders lose or tie against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night.

The Commanders can’t win the NFC East unless they win and the Eagles lose, but they can ensure their return to the playoffs for the first time since winning the division in 2020 if they win against the Falcons or Tampa or draw The Bay Buccaneers lose or tie the Carolina Panthers.

Speaking of the Falcons, they could win the NFC South if they beat the Commanders and the Panthers beat the Buccaneers.

The Los Angeles Rams can lock up the NFC West after Week 17 if they beat the Arizona Cardinals and gain the strength of the win tiebreaker over the Seahawks with 3.5 or more wins from Minnesota, Buffalo, San Francisco, Washington, Cincinnati or Cleveland .

Here’s a look at the playoff standings heading into the weekend of Week 17 of the NFL season.

This is what the playoff race in the NFC looks like starting December 28th. Teams marked in bold have secured a spot in the playoffs.

1. Detroit Lions (13-2)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3) vs. 7. Washington Commanders (10-5)

3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6) vs. 6. Green Bay Packers (11-4)

4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7) vs. 5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2)

On the bubble

8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

AFC playoff image

This is what the AFC playoff race looks like on December 28th. Teams marked in bold have secured a spot in the playoffs.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)

2. Buffalo Bills (12-3) against 7. Denver Broncos (9-6)

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) vs. 6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)

4. Houston Texans (9-7) vs. 3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

On the bubble

8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

9. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

10.Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)

As of December 28th, here is the state of play in the NFC. Teams marked in bold have secured a spot in the playoffs. Teams in italics are eliminated from the playoffs.

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)

2. Washington Commanders (10-5)

3. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)

4. New York Giants (2-13)

NFC North

1. Detroit Lions (13-2)

2. Minnesota Vikings (13-2)

3. Green Bay Packers (11-4)

4. Chicago Bears (4-12)

NFC South

1. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

3. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

4. Carolina Panthers (4-11)

NFC West

1. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)

2. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)

3. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)

4. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)

As of December 28th, here is the state of play in the AFC. Teams marked in bold have secured a spot in the playoffs. Teams in italics are eliminated from the playoffs.

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills (12-3)

2. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

3. New York Jets (4-11)

4. New England Patriots (3-13)

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

3.Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)

4. Cleveland Browns (3-12)

AFC South

1. Houston Texans (9-7)

2. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

3. Tennessee Titans (3-12)

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)

2. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)

3. Denver Broncos (9-7)

4. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)

With two weeks left in the regular season, there is still movement. The New York Giants currently have the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

This is what the top part of the draft order looks like at the start of week 17.

1. New York Giants (2-13)

2. New England Patriots (3-13)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)

4. Tennessee Titans (3-12)

5. Cleveland Browns (3-12)

6. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)

7. Chicago Bears (4-12)

8. New York Jets (4-11)

9. Carolina Panthers (4-11)

10. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

11. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)

12. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

13. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

14. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)

15. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)

16. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

18. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)

19. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)

20. Houston Texans (9-7)

21. Denver Broncos (9-7)

22. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)

23. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)

23. Washington Commanders (10-5)

25. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

26. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

27. Green Bay Packers (11-4)

28. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)

29. Buffalo Bills (12-3)

30. Minnesota Vikings (13-2)

31. Detroit Lions (13-2)

32. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)

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