Jan 04, 2024

NFL Week 18 playoff picture: Clinching scenarios, standings

Posted Jan 04, 2024 3:16 PM

From ESPN Radio

NFL playoff matchups as things stand

AFC

(7) Indianapolis Colts at (2) Miami Dolphins

(6) Buffalo Bills at (3) Kansas City Chiefs

(5) Cleveland Browns at (4) Jacksonville Jaguars

Wild-card round bye: (1) Baltimore Ravens

NFC

(7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Dallas Cowboys

(6) Los Angeles Rams at (3) Detroit Lions

(5) Philadelphia Eagles at (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Wild-card round bye: (1) San Francisco 49ers

Week 18 playoff-clinching scenarios in the AFC

Houston Texans (9-7)

The matchup: at Indianapolis on Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

What's at stake: Houston clinches the AFC South title with:

Houston win OR

Jacksonville loss or tie

How the Texans can clinch a playoff berth:

Houston win OR

Houston tie plus Jacksonville loss plus Pittsburgh loss or tie

Indianapolis Colts (9-7)

The matchup: vs. Houston on Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

What's at stake: Indianapolis clinches the AFC South title with:

Indianapolis win plus Jacksonville loss or tie OR

Indianapolis tie plus Jacksonville loss

How the Colts can clinch a playoff berth:

Indianapolis win OR

Indianapolis tie plus Pittsburgh loss or tie

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

The matchup: at Baltimore on Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

How the Steelers can clinch a playoff berth:

Pittsburgh win plus Buffalo loss OR

Pittsburgh win plus Jacksonville loss or tie OR

Pittsburgh win plus Houston-Indianapolis tie OR

Pittsburgh tie plus Jacksonville loss plus Houston-Indianapolis doesn't end in tie OR

Jacksonville loss plus Denver win plus Houston-Indianapolis doesn't end in tie

Miami Dolphins (11-5)

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.

Buffalo Bills (10-6)

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:

Buffalo tie OR

Pittsburgh loss or tie OR

Jacksonville loss or tie OR

Houston-Indianapolis tie

Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)

The matchup: at Tennessee on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

What's at stake: Jacksonville will clinch the AFC South title with:

Jacksonville win

Jacksonville tie plus Indianapolis-Houston tie

How the Jags can clinch a playoff berth:

Jacksonville tie plus Pittsburgh loss or tie OR

Pittsburgh loss plus Denver loss or tie plus Indianapolis-Houston does not end in a tie

Week 18 playoff-clinching scenarios in the NFC

Dallas Cowboys (11-5)

The matchup: at Washington on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

What's at stake: Dallas clinches the NFC East title with:

Dallas win OR

Dallas tie plus Philadelphia tie OR

Philadelphia loss

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)

The matchup: at Carolina on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

What's at stake: Tampa Bay clinches the NFC South title with:

Tampa Bay win OR

Tampa Bay tie plus New Orleans loss or tie

How the Bucs can clinch a playoff berth:

Tampa Bay tie plus Seattle loss plus Green Bay loss or tie

Atlanta Falcons (7-9)

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.

New Orleans Saints (8-8)

The matchup: vs. Atlanta on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

What's at stake: New Orleans clinches the NFC South title with:

New Orleans win plus Tampa Bay loss or tie OR

New Orleans tie plus Tampa Bay loss

How the Saints can clinch a playoff berth:

New Orleans win plus Seattle loss or tie plus Green Bay loss or tie OR

New Orleans tie plus Seattle loss plus Green Bay loss

Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

The matchup: at Giants on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

What's at stake: Philadelphia clinches the NFC East title with:

Philadelphia win plus Dallas loss or tie OR

Philadelphia tie plus Dallas loss

Seattle Seahawks (8-8)

The matchup: at Arizona on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

How the Seahawks can clinch a playoff berth:

Seattle win plus Green Bay loss or tie OR

Seattle tie plus Green Bay loss plus Tampa Bay loss or tie OR

Seattle tie plus Green Bay loss plus New Orleans loss or tie

Green Bay Packers (8-8)

The matchup: vs. Chicago on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

How the Packers can clinch a playoff berth:

Green Bay win OR

Green Bay tie plus Seattle loss or tie plus New Orleans loss or tie OR

Green Bay tie plus Seattle loss plus Tampa Bay loss OR

Green Bay tie plus Seattle tie plus Tampa Bay loss or tie OR

Minnesota loss or tie plus Seattle loss plus Tampa Bay loss OR

Minnesota loss or tie plus Seattle loss plus New Orleans loss

Minnesota Vikings (7-9)

The matchup: at Detroit on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

How the Vikings can clinch a playoff berth:

Minnesota win plus Green Bay loss plus Seattle loss plus Tampa Bay loss OR