Week 17 NFL Playoff Picture: AFC, NFC Bracket Scenarios Ahead of Sunday's Games

Drama abounds in the final two weeks of the 2024 NFL season, thanks to three unsettled playoff positions and several teams vying for them.

Add to that the three division titles still up for grabs, and you have an unpredictable finish to the regular season just in time for the most wonderful time of the football year.

Where do top teams sit and what scenarios are worth keeping an eye on Sunday afternoon?

Find out in this preview.

AFC Playoff Picture

Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 25: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks on before the regular season NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers on December 25, 2024 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The current AFC playoff picture is as follows:

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Division Leaders

1. xz-Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West)

2. xz-Buffalo Bills (12-3, AFC East)

3. x-Baltimore Ravens (11-5, AFC North)

4. xz-Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South)

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Wild Card

5. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

6. x-Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)

7. Denver Broncos (9-7)

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On the Bubble

8. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)

9. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

10. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

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(x)-clinched playoff spot

(z)-clinched division

NFC Playoff Picture

Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 22: Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) points down field in action during a game between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears on December 22, 2024 at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The current NFC playoff picture is as follows:

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Division Leaders

1. x-Detroit Lions (13-2, NFC North)

2. x-Philadelphia Eagles (12-3, NFC East)

3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6, NFC West)

4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7, NFC South)

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Wild Card

5. x-Minnesota Vikings (13-2)

6. x-Green Bay Packers (10-4)

7. Washington Commanders (10-5)

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On the Bubble

8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

(x)-clinched playoff spot

NFC Clinching Scenarios

Harry How/Getty Images

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 28: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams speaks with head coach Sean McVay prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Rams took care of business Saturday night, defeating the Arizona Cardinals on the late-game heroics of cornerback Akhello Witherspoon, who intercepted a tipped pass from Kylar Murray to seal the win for his team and take them one step closer to locking up the NFC West.

The Rams have the strength of victory advantage over the Seattle Seahawks. And depending on the outcomes of several key Week 17 games, they could win their division as soon as Sunday night.

They need just four wins between Cincinnati, Buffalo, Cleveland, Minnesota, Washington, and San Francisco to secure the NFC West title.

The Bengals beat Denver 30-24 Saturday afternoon, leaving L.A. three victories from that collection of teams away from wrapping things up and having the opportunity to rest players in Week 18.

It's a remarkable turnaround for a team that started the season 1-4 and looked to be among the worst squads in the NFL.

The NFC South is also up for grabs as the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain firmly in the hunt for the crown.

Atlanta can wrap things up Sunday with a win and a loss by its rivals.

A loss and the Falcons need a Week 18 win and some help in the form of a Bucs defeat. They cannot make the playoffs as a wild-card team based on their win-loss record.

The Seahawks are still mathematically alive but need 14 strength-of-victory wins to go their way to even have a chance at their season-ending matchup in L.A. meaning anything.

AFC Clinching Scenarios

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 28: Bo Nix (10) of the Denver Broncos takes the field before the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday, December 28, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

And then there was one.

The Los Angeles Chargers cashed their ticket to the playoffs Saturday with a 40-7 dismantling of the New England Patriots in which Justin Herbert completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns.

Their rivals, the Denver Broncos, could have earned their way into the dance with a win against the Cincinnati Bengals but were unable to get the job done, succumbing to Joe Burrow and Co. in overtime, 30-24.

Luckily for the Broncos, they still control their playoff chances.

A win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18 and Sean Payton's squad is in. Considering the Chiefs wrapped up the No. 1 seed and have nothing to play for, it's likely the Broncos find a crop of backups and role players across the field from them in the final game of the season.

With that said, Chiefs backup Carson Wentz is still a formidable quarterback in the league and can beat the Broncos if Denver takes its division foes lightly.

The Bengals are still in the hunt but need considerable help.

They need to beat Pittsburgh in Week 18, which is no easy task considering Russell Wilson and Co. will be playing for the AFC North crown. They need the Broncos to lose to Kansas City and Indianapolis and Miami to lose one of their final two games.

It is not an easy ask, but nothing the Bengals have accomplished this season has been.

The Colts can get in if they win out, Miami wins out and Denver loses to KC.

The Dolphins need to win out, the Broncos to lose out, and Indianapolis to lose at least one more game.

Everything revolves around the Broncos and their matchup with Kansas City, which may be the highest-stakes game of the week depending on what happens in the NFC West.