Sports
Playoff-clinching scenarios: Which teams can lock in postseason spots
Here are the NFL playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 18. Nine of 14 teams have secured their spots in the postseason, which begins Jan. 13.
There is just one week remaining in the NFL regular season, and the playoff picture is taking shape.
Nine teams have clinched postseason berths, including five in the NFC: the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams. In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs have clinched. That means five more spots are on the line in Week 18. The playoffs begin Jan. 13.
There are four AFC teams at 9-7, including a three-way tie atop the South. In the NFC, there are four teams in the playoff hunt at 8-8 -- but there are two more teams on the outside looking in at 7-9.
Here is the playoff picture for Week 18, along with the clinching scenarios for the weekend:
More coverage:
Projecting the final seeding
FPI ratings for every team
Projected 2024 draft order
The matchup: at Indianapolis on Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
What's at stake: Houston clinches the AFC South title with:
How the Texans can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: vs. Houston on Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
What's at stake: Indianapolis clinches the AFC South title with:
How the Colts can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: at Baltimore on Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
How the Steelers can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: vs. Buffalo on Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
What's at stake: Miami will clinch the AFC East title with a win or tie.
The matchup: at Miami on Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
What's at stake: Buffalo will clinch the AFC East title with a win.
How the Bills can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: at Tennessee on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
What's at stake: Jacksonville will clinch the AFC South title with:
How the Jags can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: at Washington on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
What's at stake: Dallas clinches the NFC East title with:
The matchup: at Carolina on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
What's at stake: Tampa Bay clinches the NFC South title with:
How the Bucs can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: at New Orleans on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
What's at stake: Atlanta will clinch the NFC South title with a win plus a Tampa Bay loss.
The matchup: vs. Atlanta on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
What's at stake: New Orleans clinches the NFC South title with:
How the Saints can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: at Giants on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
What's at stake: Philadelphia clinches the NFC East title with:
The matchup: at Arizona on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
How the Seahawks can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: vs. Chicago on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
How the Packers can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: at Detroit on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
How the Vikings can clinch a playoff berth:
Nine teams have clinched postseason berths, including five in the NFC: the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams. In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs have clinched. That means five more spots are on the line in Week 18. The playoffs begin Jan. 13.
There are four AFC teams at 9-7, including a three-way tie atop the South. In the NFC, there are four teams in the playoff hunt at 8-8 -- but there are two more teams on the outside looking in at 7-9.
Here is the playoff picture for Week 18, along with the clinching scenarios for the weekend:
More coverage:
Projecting the final seeding
FPI ratings for every team
Projected 2024 draft order
The matchup: at Indianapolis on Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
What's at stake: Houston clinches the AFC South title with:
How the Texans can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: vs. Houston on Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
What's at stake: Indianapolis clinches the AFC South title with:
How the Colts can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: at Baltimore on Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
How the Steelers can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: vs. Buffalo on Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
What's at stake: Miami will clinch the AFC East title with a win or tie.
The matchup: at Miami on Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
What's at stake: Buffalo will clinch the AFC East title with a win.
How the Bills can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: at Tennessee on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
What's at stake: Jacksonville will clinch the AFC South title with:
How the Jags can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: at Washington on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
What's at stake: Dallas clinches the NFC East title with:
The matchup: at Carolina on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
What's at stake: Tampa Bay clinches the NFC South title with:
How the Bucs can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: at New Orleans on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
What's at stake: Atlanta will clinch the NFC South title with a win plus a Tampa Bay loss.
The matchup: vs. Atlanta on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
What's at stake: New Orleans clinches the NFC South title with:
How the Saints can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: at Giants on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
What's at stake: Philadelphia clinches the NFC East title with:
The matchup: at Arizona on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
How the Seahawks can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: vs. Chicago on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
How the Packers can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: at Detroit on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
How the Vikings can clinch a playoff berth: