Here’s the NFL playoff picture after Sunday’s Week 17 games.
AFC
y – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-3), AFC West champions: Buffalo’s loss at Cincinnati opens the door for KC to grab the No. 1 seed, hampering the Chiefs’ goal with a Week 6 loss to the Bills. Remaining schedule: On the Raiders
y – 2. Buffalo Bills (12-3), AFC East champion: A must-win at Cincinnati on Monday will keep the AFC on course to maintain its first-round bye and home-court advantage. Fall to the Bengals and Buffalo could slip into third place in the conference. Remaining schedule: Bengals vs. Patriots
x – 3. Cincinnati Bengals (11-4), AFC North leaders: If they can beat Buffalo and tie the Bills and Chiefs at three, the top conference champs will get a first-round bye at home. A win on Monday will send Cincinnati into the North Asian Football Championship. Remaining schedule: Against the Bills, against the Ravens
Follow each game: Latest NFL scores and schedules
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8), AFC South leaders: They got a win against the Houston Texans on Sunday that ended a five-year drought…but it didn’t do much for the Jags’ playoff chances. The division champion will be decided in Week 18 against Tennessee. Remaining schedule: Against the Titans
x – 5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6), wild card #1: For the first time in four years, all that’s left to decide is which division champion Bolts will visit in the opening round. Now fifth in the AFC because their record in AFC games is better than Baltimore’s, LA is no worse than sixth. Remaining schedule: On the Broncos
x – 6. Baltimore Ravens (10-6), wild card #2: With a Cincinnati loss on Monday, the Ravens and Bengals will play for the AFC North title in Week 18. Remaining schedule: In Bengal
7. New England Patriots (8-8), wild card #3: Not only would a win over Miami on Sunday avoid elimination, but the Pats would also clinch a playoff spot with a win next Sunday. Remaining schedule: On Bill
8. Miami Dolphins (8-8), out of playoff field: A five-game skid and QB Tua Tagovailoa’s latest hit put their postseason hopes in jeopardy, and Sunday’s loss at Foxborough knocked the Fins out of the postseason bracket. However, a win the following week and a loss to New England would put Miami ahead. Remaining schedule: against the jets
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8), out of the playoffs: Big win in Baltimore on Sunday night. If the Steelers beat Cleveland in Week 18, and both the Bills and Jets win, Pittsburgh will clinch the AFC’s final wild card spot. Remaining schedule: Against the Browns
Note: The New York Jets (7-9) are currently 10th overall in the AFC, but have been eliminated from playoff contention.
11. Tennessee Titans (7-9), out of playoff spot: They treated Thursday night’s loss to Dallas as a preseason game as they set up a Week 18 showdown with Jacksonville for the AFC South crown. Remaining schedule: On the Jaguars
NFC
x – 1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3), NFC East leaders: They’re 0-2 without QB Jalen Hurts, who hasn’t tied the NFC’s No. 1 seed twice. But Philly can do that in Week 18 against the sixth-seeded Giants, who have little chance to play before the wild-card round. Remaining schedule: against the giants
y – 2. San Francisco 49ers (12-4), NFC West champion: An overtime win over Las Vegas that eliminated the Raiders leaves them with a chance to become the top seed in the NFC thanks to their 9-2 record in conference play. Coming off a loss at Philadelphia next week, the Niners still need a win. Remaining schedule: Against the Cardinals
y – 3. Minnesota Vikings (12-4), NFC North champion: A loss to Green Bay on Sunday means they won’t get the No. 1 seed. Remaining schedule: On the bear
y – 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8), NFC South champion: It hasn’t been a great year, but Sunday’s win against Carolina eliminated the Panthers and the Bucs won back-to-back division crowns for the first time in franchise history. Remaining schedule: on the Falcons
x – 5. Dallas Cowboys (12-4), wild card #1: If they win in Week 18 and the Eagles don’t win, America’s team will take the NFC East throne. The Cowboys have a path to the No. 1 seed if they beat Washington — Philly has lost its last two games and is sure to finish tied for the top of the conference with Minnesota. Remaining schedule: on commanders
x – 6. New York Giants (9-6-1), wild card #2: Big Blue returned to the postseason for the first time since 2016 thanks to Sunday’s win. Remaining schedule: on the Eagles
7. Seattle Seahawks (8-8), wild card #3: They survived a sweep of the New York Jets on Sunday, but currently sit in seventh place, but they don’t control their postseason destiny. The Seahawks must win in Week 18 and expect the Packers to lose. Remaining schedule: against the Rams
8. Detroit Lions (8-8), out of the playoffs: They need a win at Green Bay and a loss to the Seahawks in Week 18 to reach the postseason. A Week 4 loss to Seattle could eventually come back to haunt them. Remaining schedule: On the Packers
9. Green Bay Packers (8-8), out of the playoffs: They’ve had plenty of help from the outside in recent weeks, but the Pack’s four-game winning streak against Minnesota on Sunday was the most inside. If they can beat Detroit in Week 18, the Pack will make the playoffs for the fourth time in four years under coach Matt LaFleur, as their record in NFC play is 7-5, one better than Seattle even if the Seahawks beat the Rams. will be regular season finale. Remaining schedule: against the lions
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.
