NFL Playoffs 2024: Known AFC, NFC Schedule and Updated Bracket Scenarios

Seventeen weeks of the NFL regular season down, one to go. And there's still plenty to decide before the playoffs get underway.

There are still five spots up for grabs in the 14-team postseason field. Four divisions don't yet have champions. But everything will be decided by the time the weekend is over, as this week's NFL action will feature two games on Saturday and 14 more on Sunday.

The final game of the regular season will be a battle for the AFC East championship, as the Miami Dolphins will host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night with the division title on the line. The NFC East, NFC South and AFC South will crown champions earlier in the day.

Heading into Week 18, here's a look at the complete playoff picture, the upcoming schedule and clinching scenarios.

NFL Playoff Picture

Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 31: A view of the NFL logo during an NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs on Dec 31, 2023 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

AFC

Bye: No. 1 Baltimore Ravens (13-3, clinched No. 1 seed)

No. 2 Miami Dolphins (11-5, clinched playoff berth) vs. No. 7 Indianapolis Colts (9-7)

No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs (10-6, clinched AFC West) vs. No. 6 Buffalo Bills (10-6)

No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) vs. No. 5 Cleveland Browns (11-5, clinched wild card)

In the hunt: Houston Texans (9-7), Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

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NFC

Bye: No. 1 San Francisco 49ers (12-4, clinched No. 1 seed)

No. 2 Dallas Cowboys (11-5, clinched playoff berth) vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers (8-8)

No. 3 Detroit Lions (11-5, clinched NFC North) vs. No. 6 Los Angeles Rams (9-7, clinched wild card)

No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) vs. No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, clinched playoff berth)

In the hunt: Seattle Seahawks (8-8), New Orleans Saints (8-8), Minnesota Vikings (7-9), Atlanta Falcons (7-9)

AFC Schedule, Bracket Scenarios

Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 01: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins passes the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

Week 18 AFC Schedule

Saturday, Jan. 6

Steelers at Ravens, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

Texans at Colts, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

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Sunday, Jan. 7

Browns at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Jaguars at Titans, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Jets at Patriots, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Broncos at Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

Chiefs at Chargers, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

Bills at Dolphins, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

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Bracket Scenarios

The Sunday night matchup will be a battle for the AFC East title, with the winner of Bills-Dolphins being crowned the division champion. However, the stakes could be higher for Buffalo, which may still need a victory to get into the playoffs at that point. If Miami loses, it will reach the postseason as a wild card.

The AFC South mix is more crowded, as the Jaguars, Colts and Texans each has a chance to win the division title in Week 18. Jacksonville is in control of the race, though, as it will capture the AFC South crown with a win at Tennessee.

But if the Jags lose, then the winner of Saturday night's contest between Indianapolis and Houston will end up claiming the division title. Regardless, the victor of the Colts-Texans matchup will clinch a playoff berth, which would be a wild-card spot if the Jaguars win.

So the four teams that haven't yet clinched that control their own postseason destiny are Buffalo, Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Houston. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh needs help to sneak into the playoffs.

The only way the Steelers will seize a wild-card spot is if they win in Baltimore and the Bills lose in Miami. Buffalo can only miss the playoffs if it loses and both Pittsburgh and Jacksonville are victorious.

NFC Schedule, Bracket Scenarios

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 30: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after a play against the Detroit Lions during the second half at AT&T Stadium on December 30, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Week 18 NFC Schedule

Sunday, Jan. 7

Vikings at Lions, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

Falcons at Saints, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Buccaneers at Panthers, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

Bears at Packers, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

Eagles at Giants, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

Seahawks at Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

Rams at 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

Cowboys at Commanders, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

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Bracket Scenarios

The Cowboys snapped a two-game losing streak with a win over the Lions in Week 17. And now, Dallas controls the race for the NFC East title.

In Week 18, the Cowboys can clinch the division crown with either a win at Washington or an Eagles loss at New York. The only way Philadelphia can take the NFC East title is with a victory and a Dallas loss. Whichever of the two division rivals doesn't take the crown will be the top NFC wild card as the No. 5 seed.

Three teams remain alive in the battle for the NFC South title: Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Atlanta. The Buccaneers control the race, though, as they can capture the crown with a win at Carolina.

If the Bucs lose, then the winner of the Falcons-Saints contest will be the NFC South champion. That is Atlanta's only path to the postseason. However, a Tampa Bay win doesn't eliminate New Orleans, which could still make it as a wild card with a victory and losses by both Green Bay and Seattle.

The Packers control their own playoff destiny, as they can clinch a wild-card berth with a home win over the Bears. Meanwhile, the Seahawks and Vikings both need assistance.

Seattle will reach the postseason if it beats Arizona and Green Bay loses to Chicago. Minnesota needs even more help, as the only way it can get into the playoffs is with a win at Detroit and losses by Green Bay, Seattle and New Orleans.