NFL Playoff Scenarios 2024: Week 18 AFC, NFC Postseason Picture

Week 18 in the NFL brings with it several scenarios in which fans and teams alike will be closely monitoring scoreboards, their playoff fates hanging in the balance.

Dallas and Philadelphia have both clinched playoff spots but are alive in the battle for the NFC East title. Ditto Buffalo and Miami over the AFC, with a primetime showdown on the horizon.

Seattle, Green Bay, and Minnesota continue to fight for the final Wild Card spot in the NFC while Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Houston, and the aforementioned Buffalo battle to round out the AFC.

With so many moving pieces, what can fans expect from the final week of the regular season and what do the standings look like ahead of the high-profile games?

Find out with this preview.

Week 18 Schedule

Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 1: Dion Dawkins #73 of the Buffalo Bills looks to make a block against the Miami Dolphins at Highmark Stadium on October 1, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

Saturday, January 6

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (4:30 p.m., ABC and ESPN)

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts (8:30 p.m., ABC and ESPN)

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Sunday, January 7

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (1:00 p.m., Fox)

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (1:00 p.m., CBS)

Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (1:00 p.m., Fox)

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans (1:00 p.m., CBS)

New York Jets at New England Patriots (1:00 p.m., Fox)

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (1:00 p.m., CBS)

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (4:25 p.m., CBS)

Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders (4:25 p.m., Fox)

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (4:25 p.m., CBS)

Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (4:25 p.m., Fox)

Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers (4:25, CBS)

Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers (4:25, Fox)

Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders (4:25, Fox)

Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins (8:30, NBC)

AFC Playoff Picture

Michael Owens/Getty Images

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 31: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after a touchdown during an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Current AFC standings are:

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-3, AFC North) (X, Y, Z)
2. Miami Dolphins (11-5, AFC East) (X)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6, AFC West) (X, Y)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7, AFC South)
5. Cleveland Browns (11-5, Wild Card) (X)
6. Buffalo Bills (10-6, Wild Card)
7. Indianapolis Colts (9-7, Wild Card)

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On the Bubble

Houston Texans (9-7)

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

(X): clinched playoffs, (Y): clinched division, (Z): clinched No. 1 seed

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No team faces a more unique scenario in Week 18 than the Buffalo Bills.

A win in Miami Sunday night and they are the NFC East champs. A loss, and they have to hope that Pittsburgh or Jacksonville loses or ties in their games, or that Indianapolis and Houston unlikely tie.

It is the result of a pedestrian start to the season that saw quarterback Josh Allen and his team seeded 11th in the AFC at one point.

Red hot now, though, head to Miami to battle a Dolphins team they shellacked by 28 the last time they played. It would be another statement victory in a high-stakes divisional game that could propel the Bills into the postseason on the right foot.

A loss, however, will create questions about the team and whether it can win with Allen and head coach Sean McDermott leading the way.

The Indianapolis Colts can win the AFC South with a win and a Jacksonville loss or tie. They make the playoffs with a win in Houston or a loss and Pittsburgh loss. For the Jaguars, a win over the 5-11 Titans wins them the division.

For the Steelers, they must win and hope another team, like Buffalo or Jacksonville loses. There are more convoluted scenarios that get them to the dance with a loss or tie, but both are highly unlikely.

NFC Playoff Picture

Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 31: Christian McCaffrey #23 and Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers in the locker room after the game against the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field on December 31, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. The 49ers defeated the Commanders 27-10. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

Current NFC playoff standings are:

1. San Francisco 49ers (12-4, NFC West) (X, Y, Z)
2. Dallas Cowboys (11-5, NFC East) (X)
3. Detroit Lions (11-5, NFC North) (X, Y)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8, NFC South)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, Wild Card) (X)
6. Los Angeles Rams (9-7, Wild Card) (X)
   
7. Green Bay Packers (8-8, Wild Card)

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On the Bubble

New Orleans Saints (8-8)

Seattle Seahawks (8-8)

Minnesota Vikings (7-9)

Atlanta Falcons (7-9)

(X): clinched playoffs; (Y): clinched division, (Z) clinched No. 1 seed

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The AFC South is still up for grabs in Week 18, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons vying for the title. Both the Saints and Falcons need the Buccaneers to lose to keep their chances alive.

The Saints win the division with a victory over the Falcons and a Tampa loss. Vice versa for Atlanta. The Bucs wrap things up with a victory.

In the NFC East, the Cowboys must defeat Washington to secure the division. A loss, and win by Philadelphia, hands the Eagles the division.

A win for Green Bay cashes their ticket to the final Wildcard spot. Minnesota takes that spot with a win over Jordan Love and Co. Seattle needs a win and a Green Bay loss to return to the postseason.