NFL Playoff Picture: Week 18 Standings and AFC, NFC Wild Card

After a wild 17 weeks of action, the 2024-25 NFL season still has a playoff spot to be claimed in each conference. Sometimes, the final week of the regular season can feel lackluster as teams whose fates are sealed rest big names, but several teams remain in the hunt this year. Not only that, but jockeying for a better seed could prove critical, depending on the projected opponent.

Let's review the NFL playoff picture after Week 17's games and see which teams are locked in with a berth or a specific seed, which teams are close to clinching, and which teams need a win plus a little help to make it in.

Remember that each conference sends seven teams to the postseason. The top seeds in each conference will earn a first-round bye, while the three other division winners in each conference will host a playoff game in the Wild Card Round. The "worst" divisional winner will hold a higher seed than the best Wild Card team, which is why the Rams or Bucs could host a 14-3 Lions or Vikings team. Let's jump into things and see what Week 18 has in store for us!

• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings
• Kicker fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• IDP fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Week 18 AFC - NFL Playoff Picture

1. Kansas City Chiefs: 15-1 (1st in AFC West) - Clinched First-Round Bye, Locked in No. 1 seed

Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at DEN
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%

With the potential of having 24 DAYS of rest for #Chiefs starters leading into the Divisional Round, @LukeKuechly doesn't think the lengthy time off will be a huge issue for them. 👀👇@heykayadams @Chiefs pic.twitter.com/fEWfQmjxhR

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 30, 2024

2. Buffalo Bills: 13-3 (1st in AFC East) - Clinched Division, Locked in No. 2 seed

Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at NE
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%

3. Baltimore Ravens: 11-5 (1st in AFC North) - Clinched Playoff Berth

Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: vs. CLE
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%

4. Houston Texans: 9-7 (1st in AFC South) - Clinched Division, Locked in No. 4 seed

Week 17 Result: L
Week 18 Opponent: at TEN
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%

5. Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6 (2nd in AFC North) - Clinched Playoff Berth

Week 17 Result: L
Week 18 Opponent: vs. CIN
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%

6. Los Angeles Chargers: 10-6 (2nd in AFC West) - Clinched Playoff Berth

Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at LV
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%

7. Denver Broncos: 9-7 (3rd in AFC West)

Week 17 Result: L
Week 18 Opponent: vs. KC
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 83%

AFC Teams In The Hunt for NFL Playoffs

8. Miami Dolphins: 8-8 (2nd in AFC East)

Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at NYJ
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 11%

9. Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8 (3rd in AFC North)

Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at PIT
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 6%

Scenarios for the final AFC Playoff spot:

🐎Broncos (vs. KC): Win or DEN + CIN loss
🐬Dolphins (vs. NYJ): Win + DEN loss
🐅Bengals (vs. PIT): Win + DEN loss + MIA loss pic.twitter.com/9tPJ9znuDu

— NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2024

Week 18 NFC - NFL Playoff Picture

1. Detroit Lions: 14-2 (1st in NFC North) - Clinched Playoff Berth

Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: vs. MIN
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%

2. Philadelphia Eagles: 13-3 (1st in NFC East) - Clinched Division, Locked in No. 2 seed

Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: vs. NYG
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%

3. Los Angeles Rams: 11-5 (1st in NFC West) - Clinched Division

Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: vs. SEA
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-7 (1st in NFC South)

Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: vs. NO
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 89%

5. Minnesota Vikings: 14-2 (2nd in NFC North) - Clinched Playoff Berth

Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at DET
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%

Vikings vs. Lions, 8:20 pm Sunday night.

It marks the most combined wins on the same field in the regular season in NFL History.

Oh yeah, its for the NFC North title and No. 1 seed too.

Wowza.

— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldABC) December 30, 2024

6. Washington Commanders: 11-5 (2nd in NFC East) - Clinched Playoff Berth

Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at DAL
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%

7. Green Bay Packers: 11-5 (3rd in NFC North) - Clinched Playoff Berth

Week 17 Result: L
Week 18 Opponent: vs. CHI
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%

NFC Teams In The Hunt for NFL Playoffs

8. Atlanta Falcons: 8-8 (2nd in NFC South)

Week 17 Result: L
Week 18 Opponent: vs. CAR
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 11%

Eliminated Teams from NFL Playoffs

• Arizona Cardinals
• Carolina Panthers
• Chicago Bears
• Cleveland Browns
• Dallas Cowboys
• Indianapolis Colts
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Las Vegas Raiders
• New England Patriots
• New Orleans Saints
• New York Giants
• New York Jets
• San Francisco 49ers
• Seattle Seahawks
• Tennessee Titans

NFL Playoffs Tiebreaking Procedures Within Division

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory in all games.
6. Strength of schedule in all games
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss

NFL Players Tiebreaking Procedures Outside Of Division

Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis