The final week of the regular season is sadly upon us.
With so much on the line and several playoff spots still up for grabs, this weekend is sure to be absolutely crazy.
The San Francisco 49ers have already locked up the #1 seed in the NFC – Just as the Baltimore Ravens have in the AFC.
Other than that, there’s a whole lot of possibilities that can happen…
These NFL playoff scenarios. pic.twitter.com/ws7JE8azPA
— Heather Lloyd (@ByHeatherLloyd) January 1, 2024
In the simplest of terms, here is the complete playoff scenario breakdown as we enter Week 18…
*** AFC ***
CLINCHED:
– Baltimore Ravens (13-3) – AFC North division title, #1 seed, lone first-round bye and homefield advantage
– Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) – AFC West division title
– Cleveland Browns (11-5) – playoff berth
– Miami Dolphins (11-5) – playoff berth
(SCENARIOS)
– BUFFALO BILLS (10-6) at Miami (11-5); Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Buffalo clinches AFC East division title with: BUF win
Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:
BUF tie OR
PIT loss or tie OR
JAX loss or tie OR
HOU-IND tie
– HOUSTON TEXANS (9-7) at Indianapolis (9-7); Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
Houston clinches AFC South division title with: HOU win + JAX loss or tie
Houston clinches playoff berth with:
HOU win OR
HOU tie + JAX loss + PIT loss or tie
– INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-7) vs. Houston (9-7); Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
Indianapolis clinches AFC South division title with: IND win + JAX loss or tie OR
IND tie + JAX loss
Indianapolis clinches playoff berth with:
IND win OR
IND tie + PIT loss or tie
– JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (9-7) at Tennessee (5-11); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Jacksonville clinches AFC South division title with: JAX win OR JAX tie + IND-HOU tie
Jacksonville clinches playoff berth with:
JAX tie + PIT loss or tie OR
PIT loss + DEN loss or tie + HOU-IND doesn’t end in tie
– MIAMI DOLPHINS (11-5) vs. Buffalo (10-6); Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Miami clinches AFC East division title with: MIA win or tie
– PITTSBURGH STEELERS (9-7) at Baltimore (13-3); Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
Pittsburgh clinches playoff berth with:
PIT win + BUF loss OR
PIT win + JAX loss or tie OR
PIT win + HOU-IND tie OR
PIT tie + JAX loss + HOU-IND doesn’t end in tie OR
JAX loss + DEN win + HOU-IND doesn’t end in tie
Studying the same AFC playoff scenarios all week pic.twitter.com/qy8vDcy35k
— Sports in Five (@sportsinfive) January 1, 2024
*** NFC ***
CLINCHED:
– San Francisco 49ers (12-4) – NFC West division title, #1 seed, lone first-round bye and homefield advantage
– Detroit Lions (11-5) – NFC North division title
– Dallas Cowboys (11-5) – playoff berth
– Los Angeles Rams (9-7) – playoff berth
– Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) – playoff berth
(SCENARIOS)
– ATLANTA FALCONS (7-9) at New Orleans (8-8); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Atlanta clinches NFC South division title with: ATL win + TB loss
– DALLAS COWBOYS (11-5) at Washington (4-12); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
Dallas clinches NFC East division title with: DAL win OR DAL tie + PHI tie OR PHI loss
– GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-8) vs. Chicago (7-9); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
Green Bay clinches playoff berth with:
GB win OR
GB tie + SEA loss or tie + NO loss or tie OR
GB tie + SEA loss + TB loss OR
GB tie + SEA tie + TB loss or tie OR
MIN loss or tie + SEA loss + TB loss OR
MIN loss or tie + SEA loss + NO loss
– MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-9) at Detroit (11-5); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Minnesota clinches playoff berth with:
MIN win + GB loss + SEA loss + TB loss OR
MIN win + GB loss + SEA loss + NO loss
– NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (8-8) vs. Atlanta (7-9); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
New Orleans clinches NFC South division title with: NO win + TB loss or tie OR NO tie + TB loss
New Orleans clinches playoff berth with:
NO win + SEA loss or tie + GB loss or tie OR
NO tie + SEA loss + GB loss
– PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-5) at N.Y. Giants (5-11); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
Philadelphia clinches NFC East division title with: PHI win + DAL loss or tie OR PHI tie + DAL loss
– SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8-8) at Arizona (4-12); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
Seattle clinches playoff berth with:
SEA win + GB loss or tie OR
SEA tie + GB loss + TB loss or tie OR
SEA tie + GB loss + NO loss or tie
– TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-8) at Carolina (2-14); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Tampa Bay clinches NFC South division title with: TB win OR TB tie + NO loss or tie
Tampa Bay clinches playoff berth with:
TB tie + SEA loss + GB loss or tie
Me listening to playoff scenarios pic.twitter.com/T4WMMAftLJ
— Fro (@Masterfroda) December 31, 2023
As you can see, a whole lot can and will happen this weekend…
What are your predictions?
How’s it all going to go down?
Who is your early Super Bowl pick???