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It's been an incredible 2023 NFL season, but there are still plenty of highly-important games in Week 18. Heading into the final week of the regular season, nine teams have clinched playoff spots, meaning five slots are still up for grabs.
Let's take a look at the NFL playoff picture after Week 17 action and see which teams are locked in, which teams are close to clinching, and which teams need a win and a ton of help to qualify for the postseason.
As a reminder, seven teams from each conference will qualify for 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. Despite the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sitting at 8-8, they are currently ahead of the 11-5 Eagles due to the NFL's playoff format. Without further ado, let's dive into the standings.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- 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. Baltimore Ravens: 13-3 (1st in AFC North) - Clinched First-Round Bye
Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: vs. PIT
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%
LAMAR TO Zay Flowers FOR THE 75-YARD TD 🚀
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/1OXcCIlN4T— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 31, 2023
2. Miami Dolphins: 11-5 (1st in AFC East) - Clinched Playoff Berth
Week 17 Result: L
Week 18 Opponent: vs. BUF
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%
3. Kansas City Chiefs: 10-6 (1st in AFC West) - Clinched Playoff Berth
Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at LAC
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-7 (1st in AFC South)
Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at TEN
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 77%
5. Cleveland Browns: 11-5 (2nd in AFC North) - Clinched Playoff Berth
Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at CIN
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%
6. Buffalo Bills: 10-6 (2nd in AFC East)
Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at MIA
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 94%
7. Indianapolis Colts: 9-7 (2nd in AFC South)
Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: vs. HOU
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 54%
Jonathan Taylor scores the first TD of the game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OvrBoSS3FX
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) December 31, 2023
AFC Teams In The Hunt for NFL Playoffs
8. Houston Texans: 9-7 (3rd in AFC South)
Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at IND
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 46%
9. Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7 (3rd in AFC North)
Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at BAL
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 29%
Pickens with his fingertips 😱
📺: #PITvsSEA on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/sFjqko01pD pic.twitter.com/p9E5mK1e4r— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2023
Week 18 NFC - NFL Playoff Picture
1. San Francisco 49ers: 12-4 (1st in NFC West) - Clinched First-Round Bye
Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: vs. LAR
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%
2. Dallas Cowboys: 11-5 (1st in NFC East) - Clinched Playoff Berth
Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at WAS
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%
CeeDee Lamb with the longest touchdown catch of the season. 92 yards! pic.twitter.com/77xTAh4HIP
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 31, 2023
3. Detroit Lions: 11-5 (1st in NFC North) - Clinched Playoff Berth
Week 17 Result: L
Week 18 Opponent: vs. MIN
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-8 (1st in NFC South)
Week 17 Result: L
Week 18 Opponent: at CAR
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 69%
5. Philadelphia Eagles: 11-5 (2nd in NFC East) - Clinched Playoff Berth
Week 17 Result: L
Week 18 Opponent: at NYG
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%
6. Los Angeles Rams: 9-7 (2nd in NFC West) - Clinched Playoff Berth
Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: at SF
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 100%
7. Green Bay Packers: 8-8 (2nd in NFC North)
Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: vs. CHI
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 60%
Jayden Reed is a baller pic.twitter.com/FJNKLZPcEC
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) January 1, 2024
NFC Teams In The Hunt for NFL Playoffs
8. Seattle Seahawks: 8-8 (3rd in NFC West)
Week 17 Result: L
Week 18 Opponent: at ARI
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 26%
9. New Orleans Saints: 8-8 (2nd in NFC South)
Week 17 Result: W
Week 18 Opponent: vs. ATL
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 31%
How on EARTH did Juwan Johnson catch this!?pic.twitter.com/lvkjmZPXWD
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) December 31, 2023
10. Minnesota Vikings: 7-9 (3rd in NFC North)
Week 17 Result: L
Week 18 Opponent: at DET
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 3%
12. Atlanta Falcons: 7-9 (3rd in NFC South)
Week 17 Result: L
Week 18 Opponent: at NO
NFL.com Chance To Make Playoffs: 10%
Note: The Chicago Bears are ahead of the Falcons, but they have been eliminated from playoff contention. Atlanta can still clinch the NFC South, so they are not eliminated like Chicago.
Eliminated Teams from NFL Playoffs
- Arizona Cardinals
- Carolina Panthers
- Chicago Bears
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- New York Giants
- New York Jets
- New England Patriots
- Tennessee Titans
- Washington Commanders
NFL Playoffs Tiebreaking Procedures
- Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
- Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
- Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
- Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
- Strength of victory in all games.
- Strength of schedule in all games
- Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
- Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
- Best net points in common games.
- Best net points in all games.
- Best net touchdowns in all games.
- Coin toss
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