NFL Playoff Picture 2022: Scenarios, Standings and Predictions Before Week 17
The calendar will turn to 2023 this weekend, and yet there is still plenty to be decided in the 2022 NFL season. The league's move to 17 games and 14 playoff teams has had its desired effect. Multiple teams are still alive in the wild-card race, and there will be plenty of excitement over the final two weeks.
Heading into Week 17, five playoff spots remain open, two in the AFC and three in the NFC. Neither conference has determined its No. 1 seed, meaning the two first-round byes (one in each conference) are still up for grabs.
Below, you'll find a look at the current standings, each conference's playoff picture and some predictions for how the postseason field will shape up.
NFL Conference Standings
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AFC
1. Buffalo Bills 12-3 (Z)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (Z)
3. Cincinnati Bengals 11-4 (X)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars 7-8
5. Baltimore Ravens 10-5 (X)
6. Los Angeles Chargers 9-6 (X)
7. Miami Dolphins 8-7
8. New England Patriots 7-8
9. New York Jets 7-8
10. Tennessee Titans 7-8
11. Pittsburgh Steelers 7-8
12. Las Vegas Raiders 6-9
13. Cleveland Browns 6-9
14. Indianapolis Colts 4-10-1
15. Denver Broncos 4-11
16. Houston Texans 2-12-1
NFC
1. Philadelphia Eagles 13-2 (X)
2. Minnesota Vikings 12-3 (Z)
3. San Francisco 49ers 11-4 (Z)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-8
5. Dallas Cowboys 11-4 (X)
6. New York Giants 8-6-1
7. Washington Commanders 7-7-1
8. Seattle Seahawks 7-8
9. Detroit Lions 7-8
10. Green Bay Packers 7-8
11. Carolina Panthers 6-9
12. New Orleans Saints 6-9
13. Los Angeles Rams 5-10
14. Atlanta Falcons 5-10
15. Arizona Cardinals 4-11
16. Chicago Bears 3-12
*(X) = clinched playoff berth, (Z) = clinched division title
AFC Playoff Picture
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The Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals remain alive for the AFC's No. 1 seed, and Joe Burrow and the Bengals will host Josh Allen and the Bills on Monday night.
If the Bills win and the Chiefs lose this week, Buffalo will secure the No. 1 seed and the coveted first-round bye.
The Bengals can clinch the AFC North with a win and a loss or tie by the Baltimore Ravens. A tie and a Baltimore loss would also secure the division for Cincinnati.
The Miami Dolphins can clinch a wild-card spot this week with a win and a loss or tie by the New York Jets. A tie and losses by the Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers (or a Pittsburgh tie) would also give Miami a playoff berth.
The Jets, Patriots, Steelers, Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders are all technically alive for the playoffs, though each of them needs help over the final two weeks.
Things get interesting in the AFC South, where the surging Jacksonville Jaguars have taken over the division lead. The Titans—who recently lost starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill to an ankle injury—are fading fast.
"Tannehill underwent ankle surgery this week, leaving him as a 'long shot' to play again this season, league sources told ESPN," per Adam Schefter last week.
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars, who have won five of their last seven, now control their own destiny. Regardless of what happens against the Houston Texans this week, they'll host a playoff game with a win against Tennessee in Week 18.
NFC Playoff Picture
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Technically, the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys are alive for the NFC's No. 1 seed. However, Philadelphia can secure both the top seed and the NFC East this week.
A win will accomplish both goals for the Eagles. Philly can also claim the division with a loss or tie by Dallas. It'll also take the top seed with a tie and a Minnesota loss or tie—or with losses by Dallas, Minnesota and San Francisco.
The New York Giants only need one win over the final two weeks to secure a wild-card spot. A tie and losses or ties by the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks would also allow New York to clinch this week.
Washington can clinch this week with a win and losses by Seattle, the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
The Seahawks, Lions and Packers are all alive for a wild-card spot but need help to reach the postseason.
The NFC South is trending as the league's worst division, but Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can secure a home playoff game by winning it this week. If Tampa beats the Carolina Panthers, it will reign in the division for a second consecutive year.
The Panthers and New Orleans Saints are still alive in the NFC South, though, and the surging Panthers—who have won four of their last six—can take the division lead with a win on Sunday.
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Predictions
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Even with Gardner Minshew II likely to replace quarterback Jalen Hurts (shoulder injury) once again, the prediction here is that Philadelphia takes care of business against New Orleans to lock up both the NFC East and the first-round bye this week.
The Ravens take care of the Steelers, but Buffalo squeaks past Cincinnati, setting up a Week 18 showdown between Baltimore and the Bengals for the AFC North title.
While Carolina has looked like the better team, the Buccaneers defense can shut down the Panthers' run-first offense. Brady will then find another dose of late-game magic, and the Buccaneers clinch the division this week.
The Jags are white-hot and will roll to a division title with wins over Houston and Tennessee. The Packers get a little revenge on Minnesota, while the Commanders inexplicably fall flat against the lowly Cleveland Browns.
Against all odds, Green Bay sneaks into the playoffs with a five-game winning streak.
First-Round Projection
AFC
1. Buffalo Bills - BYE
7. Miami Dolphins at 2. Kansas City Chiefs
6. Los Angeles Chargers at 3. Cincinnati Bengals
5. Baltimore Ravens at. 4. Jacksonville Jaguars
NFC
1. Philadelphia Eagles - BYE
7. Green Bay Packers at 2. San Francisco 49ers
6. New York Giants at 3. Minnesota Vikings
5. Dallas Cowboys at 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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