The ultimate week of the NFL season is right here, and also you higher buckle up, as a result of there’s lots on the road. Heading into Sunday, there are nonetheless three division titles up for grabs and two playoff spots that have not been clinched.
One factor that is not up for grabs is the No. 1 seed within the NFC and that is as a result of the Seahawks clinched it on Saturday night time with a dominant 13-3 win over the 49ers. Which means the Seahawks will get a bye within the opening spherical of the playoffs whereas the 49ers can be pressured to hit the highway for the wild card spherical.
The Seahawks’ win was a part of a Saturday doubleheader that kicked off Week 18. Within the early recreation, the Buccaneers beat the Panthers, 16-14, in an NFC South showdown that did not find yourself deciding something. Because of Tampa Bay’s win, the battle for the division title will now be determined by Sunday’s recreation between the Saints and Falcons. That is proper, two groups which have already been eradicated from the playoffs will decide the winner of the NFC South.
If the Falcons beat the Saints on Sunday, they’re going to enhance to 8-9, which might create a three-way tie atop the NFC South. In that state of affairs, the Panthers would win the three-way tiebreaker. However, if the Falcons lose to New Orleans, then the Bucs will clinch the division title.
The group that finally ends up successful the NFC South will get to host a playoff recreation subsequent week.
So who will they face within the opening spherical? Glad you requested. We’ll break down the complete playoff discipline right here by having a look on the attainable seeds for every group together with every playoff group’s attainable opponent within the wild-card spherical.
With that in thoughts, let’s try the present playoff standings together with clinching situations.
AFC playoff standings
1. Denver Broncos (13-3)
Clinched AFC West
Potential playoff seed: 1, 2, or 3
Potential wild-card opponents: Texans, Jaguars, Chargers, Payments or first-round bye
The Broncos are within the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed within the AFC. To clinch the highest spot, all they need to do is beat a Chargers group that will not be at full energy (the Chargers can be resting a number of starters, together with Justin Herbert). If the Broncos slip up in opposition to Los Angeles, they might probably drop all the best way right down to the three seed.
2. New England Patriots (13-3)
Clinched AFC East
Potential playoff seed: 1, 2, or 3
Potential wild-card opponents: Texans, Jaguars, Chargers, Payments or first-round bye
If the Patriots beat the Dolphins on Sunday, that may clinch them at the very least the No. 2 seed. In the event that they win and the Broncos additionally lose, then New England would get the No. 1 total seed.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)
Clinched playoff spot
Potential playoff seed: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
Potential wild-card opponents: Chargers, Texans, Payments, Steelers, Ravens, Broncos, Patriots or first-round bye
It would not appear attainable, however with only one week left to play within the season, the Jaguars (12-4) might nonetheless find yourself with one among six completely different AFC playoff seeds (the one one they cannot clinch is the fourth seed). If the Jags beat the Titans on Sunday, they’re going to clinch the AFC South. The Jags can nonetheless get the No. 1 seed with a win, however they’d additionally want each the Broncos and Patriots to lose.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
Potential seed: 4 or out of playoffs
Potential wild-card opponents: Texans, Jaguars, Chargers or Payments
The Steelers’ path to the playoffs is fairly easy: They need to beat (or tie) the Ravens on Sunday night time. If the Steelers lose, their season can be over. By the point the Steelers take the sector Sunday night time, they’re going to know who their potential playoff opponent can be within the wild-card spherical if they’ll get previous the Ravens.
5. Houston Texans (11-5)
Clinched playoff spot
Potential playoff seed: 3, 5, 6, 7
Potential wild-card opponents: Chargers, Jaguars, Payments, Steelers, Ravens, Broncos or Patriots
The Texans can nonetheless win the AFC South, however for that to occur, they’re going to need to beat the Colts and the Jaguars should lose to the Titans. Though the Texans do not management their destiny, they do management one factor: They will be assured no worse than the fifth seed in the event that they win Sunday.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
Clinched playoff spot
Potential playoff seed: 5, 6, 7
Potential wild-card opponents: Jaguars, Texans, Steelers, Ravens, Broncos, Patriots
Though the Chargers are nonetheless alive to earn the fifth seed, that is seemingly not going to occur. The Chargers can be resting their starters in opposition to the Broncos on Sunday, and in the event that they find yourself shedding to Denver, then L.A. will both get a sixth or seventh seed, relying on what Buffalo does.
7. Buffalo Payments (11-5)
Clinched playoff spot
Potential playoff seed: 5, 6, 7
Potential wild-card opponents: Jaguars, Texans, Steelers, Ravens, Broncos, Patriots
If the Payments lose to the Jets on Sunday, they’re going to clinch the seventh seed. Nonetheless, in the event that they beat the Jets, they might transfer as much as as excessive because the fifth seed if the Texans and Chargers each lose. With the Chargers resting their starters, there is a very actual state of affairs the place the Payments might get the sixth seed. For that to occur, the Chargers must lose, whereas the Texans and Payments would each need to win.
STILL ALIVE: Ravens (8-8)
Potential seed: 4 or out of playoffs
Potential wild-card opponents: Texans, Jaguars, Chargers or Payments
The Ravens will face the Steelers on Sunday night time with the AFC North on the road. That is primarily a playoff recreation as a result of the loser will see their season finish. If the Ravens win, they’re going to be internet hosting a playoff recreation in Baltimore subsequent week.
AFC wild card video games based mostly on present standings
(7) Payments at (2) Patriots
(6) Chargers at (3) Jaguars
(5) Texans at (4) Steelers
Bye: Broncos
NFC playoff standings
1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3)
Clinched NFC West
Playoff seed: Clinched No. 1
Wild-card opponent: Clinched first-round bye
The Seahawks formally clinched the NFC West and the highest seed within the NFC with their 13-3 win over the 49ers on Saturday night time. That is the fourth time in franchise historical past that the Seahawks have earned the No. 1 total seed. In every of the three earlier cases (2005, 2013, 2014), Seattle made it to the Tremendous Bowl. Because of the bye, the Seahawks will not be again on the sector till the divisional spherical (Jan. 10 or 11).
2. Chicago Bears (11-5)
Clinched NFC North
Potential playoff seed: 2 or 3
Potential wild-card opponents: Packers, Rams or 49ers
The Bears can clinch the No. 2 seed with a win over the Lions on Sunday, and if that occurs, Chicago will host the Packers within the wild-card spherical. The one approach the Bears can drop to the three seed is that if they lose and the Eagles beat the Commanders.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
Clinched NFC East
Potential playoff seed: 2 or 3
Potential wild-card opponents: Packers, Rams or 49ers
The Eagles can be resting their starters, together with Jalen Hurts, in opposition to the Commanders on Sunday. If the Eagles lose, they’re going to be locked into the three seed and an opening-round playoff recreation in opposition to both the 49ers or Rams.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
Potential playoff seed: 4 or out of playoffs
Potential wild-card opponents: Rams or 49ers
The Buccaneers pulled off an enormous win over the Panthers on Saturday, however they have not fairly clinched the NFC South but. To win the division, the Bucs want the Falcons to lose (or tie) the Saints on Sunday, which implies everybody on Tampa Bay’s roster can be pulling onerous for New Orleans to drag out the win. The Bucs would win the common-games tiebreaker over the Panthers if each groups end 8-9, however Carolina would win a three-way tiebreaker with the Falcons, Bucs and Panthers all tied at 8-9.
5. San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
Clinched playoff spot
Potential playoff seed: 5 or 6
Potential wild-card opponents: Buccaneers, Panthers, Eagles, Bears
The 49ers had an opportunity to clinch the NFC’s No. 1 total seed on Saturday, however they got here up brief. With the loss, which means they’re going to both be the fifth-seed or the sixth-seed within the NFC. If the Rams beat the Cardinals on Sunday, then San Francisco will drop to the sixth-seed. If the Rams lose, then the 49ers would be the fifth-seed. The massive distinction is that the fifth-seed will get to play the winner of the NFC South whereas the sixth-seed should play the Bears or Eagles.
6. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
Clinched playoff spot
Potential playoff seed: 5 or 6
Potential wild-card opponents: Buccaneers, Panthers, Bears or Eagles
The Rams will clinch the fifth seed with a win over Arizona on Sunday. If the Rams lose, they’re going to find yourself because the sixth-seed. The Rams confronted three of their 4 attainable playoff opponents through the common season, going 1-2. They misplaced to the Eagles and Panthers whereas beating the Buccaneers.
7. Inexperienced Bay Packers (9-6-1)
Clinched playoff spot
Potential playoff seed: Clinched No. 7
Potential wild-card opponents: Bears or Eagles
Heading into Week 18, the Packers are the one playoff group that has clinched its seed for the postseason, which explains why Matt LaFleur can be resting a number of starters in opposition to the Vikings on Sunday, together with Jordan Love.
STILL ALIVE: Carolina Panthers (8-9)
Potential playoff seed: 4 or out of playoffs
Potential wild-card opponents: Rams or 49ers
The Panthers had an opportunity to clinch the NFC South on Saturday, however they got here up brief. Now, Carolina’s playoff hopes are within the palms of the Falcons. If Atlanta beats the Saints on Sunday, then the Panthers will clinch the division title. A win by the Falcons would create a three-way tie atop the NFC South at 8-9, and the Panthers would win that as a result of they’ve one of the best head-to-head report among the many three tied groups (the Panthers went 3-1 in opposition to the Bucs and Falcons. The Bucs went 2-2 in opposition to Carolina and Atlanta. The Falcons went 1-3 in opposition to the opposite two).
NFC wild card video games based mostly on present standings
(7) Packers at (2) Bears
(6) Rams at (3) Eagles
(5) 49ers at (4) Buccaneers
Bye: Seahawks
