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:

Ravens win or tieSteelers 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:

Steelers win AND Ravens loss

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

Denver clinches a playoff berth with:

Broncos win or tieDolphins 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:

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:

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…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-playoff-scenarios-for-week-18-how-afc-north-nfc-south-can-be-decided-bengals-alive-need-lots-of-help/

Author : Garrett Podell

Publish date : 2024-12-30 21:56:00

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