NFL playoff picture – Scenarios entering Week 18

Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab breaks down the key teams who could still claim a postseason berth based on what happens this weekend.

Video Transcript

[CROWD CHEERING]

FRANK SCHWAB: We all know the regular season finale between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins is going to determine who wins the AFC East championship. But that game could mean a lot more for the Bills than just a division championship. The Bills face a scenario in which, maybe, they’re playing for either the two-seed in the AFC or they’re out of the playoffs completely. Let’s go through that scenario, which is actually pretty realistic, heading into Week 18.

If the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens, and the Ravens have the number-one seed clinched, could be resting some starters, and the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Tennessee Titans, and also the Texans-Colts game on Saturday night does not end in a tie, then the Bills will be in the extreme position of either they win the AFC East to get the number-two seed with a win or they’re out of the playoffs completely with a loss to the Dolphins.

The Bills have been surging. They have a chance to win a division championship, get as high as the two seed, but they could be out of the playoffs completely by Sunday night. And now, over in the NFC, we know the number-one seed there, that’s the San Francisco 49ers. None of the other six seeds have been settled going into the final week of the season.

11 of the 16 NFC teams have either clinched a playoff spot or are alive for one going into the final game. The questions start with the NFC East. The Dallas Cowboys win the division with a victory over the Washington Commanders. The Commanders’ win or loss also has a big say in the draft order, so people in Washington will be watching that. The Philadelphia Eagles need a Cowboys loss to take the division, although they’ll be a wild card team if the Cowboys do win the NFC East.

The NFC South is still unsettled, too. The Buccaneers get that with a win over…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-playoff-picture-scenarios-entering-231127414.html

Author : Yahoo Sports Videos

Publish date : 2024-01-02 23:11:27

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