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NFL Playoff Picture 2023: Updated AFC and NFC Standings, Clinching Scenarios for Week 18

ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports
·3 min read
14

The playoff schedule is close to being settled. Here's how the NFL playoff picture looks after the Sunday afternoon games in Week 18:

NFC Playoff Picture

DIVISION LEADERS

1. 49ers (12-5): Clinched NFC West and No. 1 seed.

2. Cowboys (12-5): Clinched NFC East and No. 2 seed.

3. Lions (12-5): Clinched NFC North and No. 3 seed.

4. Buccaneers (9-8): Clinched NFC South and No. 4 seed.

WILD CARDS
5. Eagles (11-6): Clinched a playoff berth and No. 5 seed.

6. Rams (10-7): Clinched a playoff berth and No. 6 seed.

7. Packers (9-8): Clinched a playoff berth and No. 7 seed.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Seahawks (9-8): Mathematically eliminated.

9. Saints (9-8): Mathematically eliminated.

10. Vikings (7-10): Mathematically eliminated.

11. Bears (7-10): Mathematically eliminated.

12. Falcons (7-10): Mathematically eliminated.

13. Giants (6-11): Mathematically eliminated.

14. Commanders (4-13): Mathematically eliminated.

15. Cardinals (4-13): Mathematically eliminated.

16. Panthers (2-15): Mathematically eliminated, clinched the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, which the Panthers traded to the Bears.

AFC Playoff Picture

DIVISION LEADERS

1. Ravens (13-4): Clinched AFC North and No. 1 seed.

2. Dolphins (11-5): Clinched a playoff berth, will win the AFC East if they beat the Bills.

3. Chiefs (11-6): Clinched AFC West and No. 3 seed.

4. Texans (10-7): Clinched AFC South and No. 4 seed

WILD CARDS
5. Browns (11-6): Clinched wild card and No. 5 seed.

6. Bills (10-6): Clinched playoff berth, will win the AFC East if they beat the Dolphins Sunday night.

7. Steelers (10-7): Clinched wild card.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Bengals (9-8): Mathematically eliminated.

9. Jaguars (9-8): Mathematically eliminated.

10. Colts (9-8): Mathematically eliminated.

11. Raiders (8-9): Mathematically eliminated.

12. Broncos (8-9): Mathematically eliminated.

13. Jets (7-10): Mathematically eliminated.

14. Titans (6-11): Mathematically eliminated.

15. Chargers (5-12): Mathematically eliminated.

16. Patriots (4-13): Mathematically eliminated.

Week 18 Clinching Scenarios

Here are the official NFL playoff scenarios distributed by the league office:

AFC

CLINCHED:

Baltimore Ravens (13-3) – AFC North, No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and homefield advantage

Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) – AFC West

Houston Texans (10-7) - AFC South

Cleveland Browns (11-5) – wild card

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) - wild card

Miami Dolphins (11-5) – playoff berth

Buffalo Bills (10-6) - playoff berth

BUFFALO BILLS (10-6) at Miami (11-5); Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Buffalo clinches AFC East division title with:

  1. BUF win

MIAMI DOLPHINS (11-5) vs. Buffalo (10-6); Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Miami clinches AFC East division title with:

  1. MIA win or tie

NFC

CLINCHED:

San Francisco 49ers (12-4) – NFC West division title, No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and homefield advantage

Detroit Lions (11-5) – NFC North

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) NFC South

Dallas Cowboys (11-5) – NFC East

Los Angeles Rams (9-7) – wild card

Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) – wild card

Green Bay Packers (9-8) - wild card