NFL playoff scenarios for Week 18: How AFC North, NFC South can be decided; Bengals alive, need lots of help

The NFL released the playoff scenarios for Week 18, determining which teams can secure a No. 1 seed — which comes with a first-round bye and home-field advantage — a division title or a playoff berth this week. 

In the AFC, the Buffalo Bills (13-3) have clinched the AFC East and the conference’s No. 2 seed, the Houston Texans (9-7) have clinched the AFC South and the conference’s No. 4 seed and the Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) have clinched the AFC West as well as the conference’s No. 1 seed. The Baltimore Ravens (11-5) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6), who are fighting for the AFC North crown, have both earned playoff berths. The Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) clinched a playoff berth in Week 17 with their 40-7 road win at the New England Patriots. 

AFC

Here are the playoff scenarios for each team in the AFC whose final status is up in the air entering Week 18:  

Opponent: vs. Cleveland Browns (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET)

Baltimore clinches AFC North division title and AFC’s No. 3 seed with:

1. Ravens win or tie
2. Steelers loss or tie

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) 

Opponent: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET)

Pittsburgh clinches AFC North division title and AFC’s No. 3 seed with:

1. Steelers win AND Ravens loss

Opponent: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Denver clinches a playoff berth with:

1. Broncos win or tie
2. Dolphins loss or tie AND Bengals loss or tie

Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)  

Opponent: at Pittsburgh Steelers (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET)

Cincinnati clinches a playoff berth with:

1. Bengals win AND Broncos loss AND Dolphins loss or tie

Miami Dolphins (8-8)  

Opponent: at New York Jets (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Miami clinches a playoff berth with:

1. Dolphins win AND Broncos loss 

NFC

In the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings (14-2), the Detroit Lions (13-2)  Green Bay Packers (11-5) and Washington Commanders (11-5) have each clinched a playoff berth. Both the Philadelphia Eagles (13-3, NFC East champion) and the Los Angeles Rams (10-6, NFC West champion) have clinched division titles while the Eagles have also locked up the conference’s No. 2 seed.

Here are the playoff scenarios for each team in the NFC:   

Opponents: vs. Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Detroit clinches the NFC No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:

(If Detroit beats the San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night Football” in Week 17)

1. Lions win or tie

(If Detroit loses to the San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night Football” in Week 17)

2. Lions win 

Minnesota Vikings (14-2) 

Opponents: at Detroit Lions (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Minnesota clinches the NFC No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:

(If Detroit beats the San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night Football” in Week 17)

1. Vikings win 

(If Detroit loses to the San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night Football” in Week 17)

2. Vikings win or tie

Opponent: vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Tampa Bay clinches NFC South division title with:

1. Buccaneers win or tie
2. Falcons loss or tie

Atlanta Falcons (8-8) 

Opponent: vs. Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Atlanta clinches NFC South division title with:

1. Falcons win AND Buccaneers loss