“Ravens win AFC North, Bengals must win.”

Each week during the 2024 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates on the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture – typically starting after late games on Sunday afternoon and continuing through the remainder of the week (through Monday and Thursday). games or Saturdays, if applicable.)

What just happened? What does it mean? What relevant factors (and perhaps the deciding factors) will play a prominent role as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to emerge? Everything will be explained and analyzed until the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, January 5th.

Here’s where things stand in Week 18 of the 2024 season:

NFC playoff image

x – 1. Detroit Lions (14-2), NFC North leaders: They didn’t gain anything of substance with Monday night’s win in San Francisco, aside from regaining the NFC overall lead. But the Lions can achieve everything they want from the regular season, including home-field advantage and a division title, by defeating Minnesota at Ford Field in the final regular-season game of the 2024 league schedule on Sunday night. Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings

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J – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3), NFC East champions: They clinched the division title in Week 17 and secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC. For now — with nothing to gain on Sunday and key starters like RB Saquon Barkley sidelined — they’ll have to get QB Jalen Hurts (concussion) healthy while they wait for their wild-card round opponent. Remaining schedule: vs. Giants

J – 3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6), NFC West champions: Like Philly, they completed their division in Week 17 and simply want to get through Week 18 unscathed before preparing for the playoff opener. Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7), NFC South leaders: Their win against the Panthers in Week 17 moved them back into first place, and Atlanta’s overtime loss at Washington kept Tampa Bay in that spot. If the Bucs win their Week 18 game, they will clinch the division crown for the fourth straight year – and they would also move up to third place if the Rams lose on Sunday. Remaining schedule: against saints

x – 5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2), Wild Card No. 1: They have a win in Week 18 after completing the division, home-field advantage and a first-round bye in the NFC. Who saw this coming? Remaining schedule: at Lions

x – 6. Washington Commanders (11-5), wild card No. 2: A thrilling overtime win in Sunday night’s Week 17 game against Atlanta put them on the field…and perhaps earned QB Jayden Daniels Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Washington’s 8-3 record in NFC games is two better than Green Bay’s, giving the Commanders the sixth seed if those teams end up with the same record. Remaining schedule: at cowboys

x – 7. Green Bay Packers (11-5), Wild Card No. 3: Victories over Detroit and (eventually) Minnesota relegated the Pack to wild card status before Week 17. It should be remarkable how hard she and the Commanders are working to set up a matchup with the No. 3 seed next week instead of having to face a trip to Philadelphia. Remaining schedule: against bears

8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7), eliminated: Despite having a better record than the Falcons, who defeated the Seahawks earlier this season, Seattle has no path to the playoffs. Remaining schedule: at Rams

9. Atlanta Falcons (8-8), in the hunt: A heartbreaking loss to the Commanders in Week 17 means they have to beat Carolina in Week 18 and hope the Bucs also lose to win the NFC South. Remaining schedule: against Panthers

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AFC playoff image

yz – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), AFC West champions: By beating Pittsburgh on Christmas, they secured home-field advantage and a first-round bye – and, in fact, more than two weeks off, as many starters rest in the now meaningless (at least for KC) Week 18 in Denver. Remaining schedule: at Broncos Playoff schedule: BYE

J – 2. Buffalo Bills (13-3), AFC East champions: They’ve secured the No. 2 seed, meaning the road to Super Bowl 59 could come via Western New York if the Chiefs lose their playoff opener. Remaining schedule: at Patriots

J – 3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5), AFC North champions: Catch fire? Probably an understatement as they powered their way through smoking Cleveland to the division crown and No. 3 seed on Saturday afternoon. Playoff schedule: vs. Chargers or Steelers

J – 4. Houston Texans (9-7), AFC South champions: They rule a weak division for the second year in a row and have established themselves as the fourth seed… which will likely mean a tough wild card matchup, albeit in Houston. Remaining schedule: at Titans Playoff schedule: vs. Steelers or Chargers

x – 5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6), Wild Card No. 1: They have lost three straight by an average of 16.7 points, a skid that knocked them out of the AFC North spot. There’s little argument that they need to play better on Saturday night, even if the division title is no longer a possibility. Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals Playoff schedule: at Texans or Ravens

x – 6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6), Wild Card No. 2: After losing to the Ravens and Steelers earlier this season, the Chargers will most likely remain the sixth seed – and likely travel to Baltimore for a rematch in the wild card round. But another win combined with a Steelers loss in Week 18 could push Los Angeles to the fifth seed. Remaining schedule: at Raiders Playoff schedule: at Texans or Ravens

7. Denver Broncos (9-7), wild card No. 3: They had win-and-in scenarios in their last two games and lost both times. But another win – or draw – would put Denver in the playoffs for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50 with Peyton Manning and Von Miller nearly nine years ago. The Broncos’ Week 18 game against Kansas City essentially means nothing to the Chiefs — and that should be a real advantage for Denver, which can’t do better than the seventh seed. Remaining schedule: vs Chiefs

8. Miami Dolphins (8-8), in the hunt: After beating the Browns on the road in Week 17 — and without injured QB Tua Tagovailoa, who will likely face the Jets again — they will qualify if they win and the Broncos lose in Week 18. Miami’s record in AFC play (6-5) is one better than Denver and Cincinnati. Remaining schedule: at Jets

9. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8), in the hunt: Still alive thanks to a four-game winning streak. Although they seem like the best team outside of the postseason, the Bengals still need the most help to get into play, including a loss to the Dolphins. Cincinnati also has to beat Pittsburgh in Week 18 and hopes Denver falters again. It probably doesn’t hurt that the Ravens swept the AFC North on Saturday afternoon, leaving the Steelers with little to regain other than their mojo. Remaining schedule: at Steelers

X – secured the playoff spot

j – Division decided

z – secured home advantage, a bye in the first round

NFL playoff win scenarios for Week 18

Cincinnati secures the playoff spot with:

▶ Win + Denver loss + Miami loss or draw

Denver secures the playoff spot with:

Win or draw
Miami loss or draw + Cincinnati loss or draw

Miami secures the playoff spot with:

▶ Win + Denver loss

Detroit secures NFC North and No. 1 seed in NFC (first-round bye and home advantage) with:

▶ Win or draw

Minnesota secures NFC North and No. 1 seed in NFC (first-round bye and home-field advantage) with:

▶ Win

Atlanta wins NFC South with:

▶ Win + loss in Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay wins NFC South with:

Win or draw
Atlanta loss or draw

First Round Order for the 2025 NFL Draft (Planned)

(Team records in brackets)

Cleveland Browns (3-14)
New England Patriots (3-13)
Tennessee Titans (3-13)
New York Giants (3-13)
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)
Carolina Panthers (4-12)
New York Jets (4-12)
Las Vegas Raiders (4-12)
Chicago Bears (4-12)
New Orleans Saints (5-11)
San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
Dallas Cowboys (7-9)
Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
Miami Dolphins (8-8)
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
Houston Texans (9-7)
Denver Broncos (9-7)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
Washington Commanders (11-5)
Green Bay Packers (11-5)
Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Buffalo Bills (13-3)
Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
Detroit Lions (14-2)
Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)

(Note: Places 19 to 32 will be determined by playoff results)

***

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“Ravens win AFC North, Bengals must win.”

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