As the 2024 NFL regular season nears its conclusion, the playoff picture continues to evolve with each game. USA TODAY Sports provides an updated breakdown of the playoff scenarios, key outcomes, and remaining possibilities as Week 17 winds down. The postseason field will be finalized on Sunday, January 5, marking the start of the quest for Super Bowl 59.
NFC Playoff Picture
1. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
- Status: NFC North leaders
- Week 17 Outcome: The Vikings secured a crucial win over Green Bay, overcoming a late surge from the Packers. This victory places Minnesota atop the NFC standings. With one more win in Week 18, they can clinch the division title, home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and a first-round bye.
- Key Context: Detroit can reclaim this position with a victory on Monday night against the 49ers, setting up a decisive regular-season finale.
- Remaining Schedule: at Lions
2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
- Status: NFC East champions
- Week 17 Outcome: Despite relying on their third-string quarterback, the Eagles clinched the division title and locked in the No. 2 seed. Their Week 18 game holds limited stakes, although running back Saquon Barkley could pursue a single-season rushing record.
- Remaining Schedule: vs. Giants
3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
- Status: NFC West champions
- Week 17 Outcome: The Rams secured their division title after defeating Arizona on Saturday. A Commanders victory on Sunday further solidified Los Angeles’s position by clinching the strength-of-victory tiebreaker.
- Remaining Schedule: vs. Seahawks
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
- Status: NFC South leaders
- Week 17 Outcome: The Buccaneers returned to the top of their division after a decisive win over the Panthers, aided by Atlanta’s overtime loss. A win in Week 18 guarantees Tampa Bay its fourth consecutive NFC South crown.
- Remaining Schedule: vs. Saints
5. Detroit Lions (13-2)
- Status: Wild Card No. 1*
- Week 17 Context: The Lions’ Monday night matchup against the 49ers temporarily places them out of the NFC North lead. However, they remain in control of their destiny. A Week 18 victory against the Vikings would secure home-field advantage and the division title.
- Remaining Schedule: at 49ers, vs. Vikings
6. Washington Commanders (11-5)
- Status: Wild Card No. 2
- Week 17 Outcome: A thrilling overtime victory solidified their playoff berth and bolstered rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels’s case for Offensive Rookie of the Year. This result also clinched the NFC West for the Rams.
- Remaining Schedule: at Cowboys
7. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
- Status: Wild Card No. 3
- Week 17 Context: Consecutive losses to division rivals Detroit and Minnesota relegated Green Bay to a wild-card spot. Their Week 18 game will likely influence their playoff matchup.
- Remaining Schedule: vs. Bears
8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
- Status: Eliminated
- Week 17 Context: Despite having a winning record, Seattle lacks a path to the postseason.
- Remaining Schedule: at Rams
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
- Status: In the hunt
- Week 17 Outcome: A heartbreaking loss to the Commanders means Atlanta needs to beat Carolina in Week 18 and hope Tampa Bay loses to claim the NFC South.
- Remaining Schedule: vs. Panthers
AFC Playoff Picture
1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
- Status: AFC West champions
- Week 17 Outcome: By dominating Pittsburgh on Christmas, the Chiefs secured home-field advantage and a first-round bye. Their Week 18 game against the Broncos holds no playoff implications.
- Remaining Schedule: at Broncos, BYE
2. Buffalo Bills (13-3)
- Status: AFC East champions
- Week 17 Outcome: A commanding win over the Jets cemented Buffalo’s position as the No. 2 seed. The Bills can only play on the road in the playoffs if they face Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game.
- Remaining Schedule: at Patriots
3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
- Status: AFC North leaders
- Week 17 Outcome: With a dominant performance against Houston and Pittsburgh’s loss to Kansas City, Baltimore took over the division lead. A win or tie in Week 18 secures the division title.
- Remaining Schedule: vs. Browns
4. Houston Texans (9-7)
- Status: AFC South champions
- Week 17 Outcome: Despite a loss earlier in the week, the Texans remain locked into the fourth seed. This likely sets up a challenging wild-card matchup against an AFC North opponent.
- Remaining Schedule: at Titans
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
- Status: Wild Card No. 1
- Week 17 Context: Three consecutive losses, including a flat performance against Kansas City, dropped Pittsburgh from first place in the AFC North. They can reclaim the division with a win in Week 18 and a Ravens loss.
- Remaining Schedule: vs. Bengals
6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
- Status: Wild Card No. 2
- Week 17 Outcome: A decisive victory over New England secured the Chargers’ playoff spot. However, losses earlier in the season to Baltimore and Pittsburgh suggest they will remain the sixth seed.
- Remaining Schedule: at Raiders
7. Denver Broncos (9-7)
- Status: Wild Card No. 3
- Week 17 Context: Denver has squandered two consecutive win-and-in opportunities but can still clinch a playoff spot with a Week 18 win or tie. They could also qualify with losses by both Miami and Cincinnati.
- Remaining Schedule: vs. Chiefs
8. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
- Status: In the hunt
- Week 17 Outcome: A gritty victory over Cleveland keeps Miami’s playoff hopes alive. They can secure a wild-card spot with a Week 18 win and a Denver loss.
- Remaining Schedule: at Jets
9. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
- Status: In the hunt
- Week 17 Outcome: The Bengals’ four-game winning streak, including a thrilling overtime win over Denver, has kept their slim playoff hopes alive. They need to win in Week 18 and receive losses from both Miami and Denver to advance.
- Remaining Schedule: at Steelers
NFL Playoff-Clinch Scenarios for Week 18
Detroit Lions:
- Clinch NFC North and NFC No. 1 seed with:
- Win
Minnesota Vikings:
- Clinch NFC North and NFC No. 1 seed with:
- Win
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
- Clinch NFC South with:
- Win or tie
Atlanta Falcons:
- Clinch NFC South with:
- Win + Tampa Bay loss
Baltimore Ravens:
- Clinch AFC North with:
- Win or tie
- Pittsburgh loss
Pittsburgh Steelers:
- Clinch AFC North with:
- Win + Baltimore loss
Denver Broncos:
- Clinch playoff berth with:
- Win or tie
- Cincinnati loss + Miami loss
Miami Dolphins:
- Clinch playoff berth with:
- Win + Denver loss
Cincinnati Bengals:
- Clinch playoff berth with:
- Win + Denver loss + Miami loss
Teams Eliminated from Playoff Contention
- New York Giants
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New England Patriots
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
- Cleveland Browns
- New York Jets
- Chicago Bears
- Carolina Panthers
- New Orleans Saints
- Dallas Cowboys
- San Francisco 49ers
- Arizona Cardinals
- Indianapolis Colts
- Seattle Seahawks
(x = clinched playoff berth, y = clinched division, z = clinched home-field advantage, first-round bye)
