NFL Playoff Picture 2024: Scenarios, Standings and Predictions Before Week 18
The final week of the 2023 NFL regular season is here, and we're only 16 games away from the playoffs. But there's still much to be decided regarding the 14-team postseason field.
Only nine teams have clinched playoff berths so far, leaving five spots up for grabs. Also, there are four divisions that have not yet crowned champions: the AFC East, AFC South, NFC East and NFC South.
Before Week 18 play begins with a pair of AFC matchups on Saturday, here's everything you need to know about the NFL playoff picture, including clinching scenarios and predictions for how things will unfold.
NFL Playoff Picture
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AFC
Bye: No. 1 Baltimore Ravens (13-3, clinched No. 1 seed and AFC North)
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)
NFC
Bye: No. 1 San Francisco 49ers (12-4, clinched No. 1 seed and NFC West)
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 Clinching Scenarios, Predictions
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The Steelers are the only team in the AFC playoff picture that doesn't control their own destiny in Week 18, as they'll need help to get into the postseason. If they win at Baltimore on Saturday, then they can clinch a spot with a loss by either the Bills (at Miami) or the Jaguars (at Tennessee) on Sunday.
Pittsburgh can also get into the playoffs if Jacksonville loses and Denver wins at Las Vegas on Sunday.
A Steelers loss would clinch a playoff berth for the Bills, who would still need to beat the Dolphins to capture the AFC East title. The winner of the Buffalo-Miami matchup will seize that division crown. If the Bills lose, they'd be a wild card only if either the Steelers or the Jaguars previously lost.
Jacksonville, Indianapolis or Houston could win the AFC South title. The Jags are in control of the race, as they can clinch the division title with a win. If they lose, they'd still make the playoffs as a wild card if both the Steelers and the Broncos lose.
A Jaguars loss would also make the winner of Saturday's Texans-Colts matchup the champion of the AFC South. Indianapolis and Houston each needs to win to clinch a playoff berth, too. The loser will be eliminated from postseason contention. The only way both teams could get in is with a tie.
Predictions
1. Baltimore
2. Buffalo
3. Kansas City
4. Jacksonville
5. Cleveland
6. Miami
7. Houston
The red-hot Bills have won four straight games since their Week 13 bye, so they'll carry a ton of momentum into their Sunday night matchup in Miami. Because of that, they'll take down the Dolphins (2-2 over the past four weeks) to capture their fourth consecutive AFC East title.
The AFC South title will go to the Jaguars, who will travel to Tennessee and defeat the Titans. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence (right shoulder injury) should return to action and lead Jacksonville to its second straight division crown.
Before that, the Texans will secure the final AFC playoff berth up for grabs by notching a road victory over the Colts. Houston will avenge its Week 2 loss to Indianapolis behind a stellar showing from rookie QB C.J. Stroud.
NFC Clinching Scenarios, Predictions
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The Cowboys are now in control of the NFC East title race, as they can clinch the division crown with either a road win at Washington or an Eagles loss at New York. Philadelphia needs to win and have Dallas lose to finish atop the division.
In the NFC South, any of the Buccaneers, Saints or Falcons could win the division title. Tampa Bay can clinch the crown with a win at Carolina. The only other way the Bucs can get into the postseason is if they tie the Panthers.
If the Buccaneers lose, the winner of the Falcons-Saints matchup will be the NFC South champion. That's Atlanta's only path to the playoffs. Meanwhile, New Orleans can clinch a postseason berth with a win and losses by both Seattle (at Arizona) and Green Bay (vs. Chicago).
The Packers can clinch a wild-card berth with a win. They'd also make the playoffs with losses by the Vikings (at Detroit), the Seahawks and either the Buccaneers or Saints.
Seattle needs a win and a Green Bay loss to get into the playoffs, while Minnesota needs a victory and losses by Seattle, Green Bay and either Tampa Bay or New Orleans.
Predictions
1. San Francisco
2. Dallas
3. Detroit
4. Tampa Bay
5. Philadelphia
6. Green Bay
7. Los Angeles
The Cowboys will win the NFC East with a resounding victory over the lowly Commanders. In Week 12, Dallas defeated Washington 45-10, and this week's matchup will yield a similarly lopsided result.
The Buccaneers will also win a division crown with a convincing win, as they should have no trouble beating the Panthers. Tampa Bay will capture the NFC South title and prevent both New Orleans and Atlanta from getting into the playoffs.
The final NFC postseason berth will go to the Packers, who will beat the Bears to secure a spot. Green Bay has won five of its past seven games (including each of its past two) and should keep that momentum going against Chicago.
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