NFL Playoff Schedule 2017-18: Postseason Dates, Wild-Card Predictions and More

The 2017-18 NFL playoff picture gained some much-needed clarity in Week 15. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars clinched a playoff berth, assuring the AFC the league's strongest defense will hope for some shots at elite offenses like the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers. Speaking of those two, the former upset the latter, gifting the Patriots the AFC East.  

Over in the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles wrapped up a first-round bye as Nick Foles picked up right where Carson Wentz left off, and the Minnesota Vikings took the NFC North crown at the same time Aaron Rodgers' return with the Green Bay Packers fell flat. 

In the aftermath of the action, it's time to start looking ahead to the playoffs and reviewing where things stand with two weeks left. 

Postseason Dates

Wild Card: January  6-7

Divisional Round: January 13-14

Conference Title Games: January 21 (3:05 p.m. ET CBS, 6:40 p.m. ET Fox)

Super Bowl LII: February 4, 6:30 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis

AFC

Division Leaders 

1. New England (11-3)

2. Pittsburgh (11-3)

3. Jacksonville (10-4) 

4. Kansas City (8-6) 

Wild-Card Race 

5. Tennessee (8-6)

6. Buffalo (8-6)

7. Baltimore (8-6)

8. Los Angeles Chargers (7-7) 

9. Oakland (6-8) 

10. Miami (6-8) 

Pretenders seemed to somewhat get sorted out in the AFC as Week 15 played out. The Los Angeles Chargers ended up dropping a game to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday in 30-13 fashion, ending a run by one of the league's hottest teams. 

This leaves the Chargers well on the outside looking in, though the Tennessee Titans helped keep things wide-open by taking an unexpected loss to the San Francisco 49ers, 25-23. 

For now, the Titans are only in the playoffs thanks to a tiebreak over both the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens due to win percentage in conference games. But with games left against the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars, it's easy to see them stumbling down the stretch against two arguably better teams still elbowing for seeding with the best teams in both conferences. 

The real team to watch here is the Baltimore Ravens. They're heating up at the right time, and they have an easy path to the playoffs, as Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun pointed out: 

Considering the Ravens finish the year against the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens look playoff-bound and a team capable of playing the spoiler. Joe Flacco has five touchdowns against one pick over his past three games, and the defense continues to play at a high level, making the Ravens a tough out. 

Given the strength of schedule left, Tennessee might have choked away a playoff bid in Week 15. 

AFC Wild-Card Prediction: Buffalo (5), Baltimore (6)

NFC

Division Leaders 

1. Philadelphia (12-2)

2. Minnesota (11-3) 

3. Los Angeles Rams (10-4)

4. New Orleans (10-4) 

Wild-Card Race

5. Carolina (10-4) 

6. Atlanta (8-5) 

7. Detroit (8-6) 

8. Seattle (8-6) 

9. Dallas (8-6)

10. Green Bay (7-7) 

Believe it or not, the NFC outlook isn't as wild as it seems. 

The Carolina Panthers have to win out if they want to keep hold of a playoff spot. Winning two in a row and getting Tampa Bay and Atlanta teams they've already beat to close the season seems to have the Panthers on the right track. 

The logjam of six-loss teams on the outside looking in is where things are most interesting. Two of the three won in Week 15 to keep hopes alive, whereas the Seattle Seahawks laid yet another egg, getting whipped 42-7 by the Rams. 

NFL Research pointed out how rough the second of two consecutive losses was for the Seahawks: 

"This is the only game you've ever seen us play like this," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said, according to ESPN.com's Brady Henderson.

Like the other six-loss teams, it all comes down to the Atlanta Falcons. Matt Ryan and Co. have three games left on the schedule thanks to a Monday Night Football game against Tampa Bay, a team they already beat 34-20 earlier this year. 

If the Falcons win out, they will move the New Orleans Saints down into a lesser playoff seed, where Drew Brees' side will still hold a tiebreak over teams like Carolina. 

As a whole, the NFC South isn't letting go of these playoffs seeds. The debate comes down to order—and whether they can avoid beating each other up to the point of falling flat in the playoffs against non-divisional opponents. Look for the Saints to keep rolling as the season unwinds, settling the rest of the order. 

NFC Wild-Card Prediction: Carolina (5), Atlanta (6)

Stats courtesy of NFL.com.