NFL Playoff Bracket Scenarios 2025-26 Week 18, Latest Standings After Rams vs. Falcons

The Los Angeles Rams were unable to keep pace with the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC's No. 5 seed on Monday night.

The Rams fell to the Atlanta Falcons, who although are eliminated from playoff contention can still play a role in the NFC South title race.

Twelve of the 14 playoff spots are clinched ahead of Week 18. The AFC North and NFC South titles will confirm the other two positions.

The No. 1 seeds in both conferences are still up for grabs as well. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks just need one win each to secure home-field advantage.

AFC Standings

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Division Leaders

1 Denver Broncos (13-3; clinched AFC West)

2. New England Patriots (13-3; clinched AFC East)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4; clinched playoff berth)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

The math is simple for the Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18.

Denver needs to beat a Los Angeles Chargers team resting its starters to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Jacksonville must beat the Tennessee Titans to claim the AFC South crown.

Pittsburgh needs a head-to-head win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night to become the AFC North champion.

Wild-Card Race

5. Houston Texans (11-5; clinched playoff berth)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5; clinched playoff berth)

7. Buffalo Bills (11-5; clinched playoff berth)

Houston is the only one of the three wild-card teams still alive in its divisional title race.

The Texans need a win over the Indianapolis Colts combined with a Jacksonville loss to Tennessee to win the AFC South.

Los Angeles already confirmed it won't play its starters in Week 18. Buffalo can only move up in seeding if it beats the New York Jets and either Houston or Jacksonville loses in Week 18.

In the Hunt

9. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

The Ravens need to beat the Steelers on Sunday night to win the AFC North. A loss to Pittsburgh eliminates Baltimore.

Eliminated

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-8)

10. Miami Dolphins (7-9)

11. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

12. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

13. Cleveland Browns (4-12)

14. Tennessee Titans (3-13)

15. New York Jets (3-13)

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)

NFC Standings

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Division Leaders

1 Seattle Seahawks (13-3; clinched playoff berth)

2. Chicago Bears (11-5; clinched NFC North)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5; clinched NFC East)

4. Carolina Panthers (8-8)

The Seattle Seahawks must beat the San Francisco 49ers to confirm themselves as the NFC West champion and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Seattle and San Francisco are the only teams who can secure home-field advantage in the NFC.

The Chicago Bears need to beat the Detroit Lions to secure the No. 2 seed. A Chicago loss combined with a Philadelphia Eagles win puts the Eagles at the No. 2 seed.

Carolina needs to win to get in against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday.

Wild-Card Race

5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)

6. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)

San Francisco is still alive for the NFC West title. It needs to beat Seattle at home on Saturday night to be the top seed and earn home-field advantage.

The Los Angeles Rams is currently the NFC's No. 6 seed. They play the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18. The Rams need a Week 18 win and a Seattle victory over San Francisco to move up to the No. 5 seed.

The Green Bay Packers are locked into the No. 7 seed.

In The Hunt

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

Tampa Bay must beat the Panthers and also have the New Orleans Saints beat the Atlanta Falcons in Week 18.

There's a scenario in which the Panthers, Bucs and Falcons all finish at 8-9, which would then give the Panthers the NFC South crown on a tiebreaker.

Eliminated

8. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

9. Detroit Lions (8-8)

10. Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)

12. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (6-10)

14. Washington Commanders (4-12)

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-13)

16. New York Giants (3-13)