The NFL playoff picture for Week 18 is as follows:
x is a berth without a loop
y is a section without loops
z – received a first round bye and home field advantage
* – Includes special NFL placement
Follow each game: Latest NFL scores and standings
FCA
yz* – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-3), AFC West Champions: They were one of several teams affected by the NFL’s decision Thursday night to cancel the Bills-Bengals Week 17 game after Buffalo C Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field and was subsequently hospitalized. Kansas City secured the No. 1 seed with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday, though the Chiefs are not guaranteed to stay at Arrowhead Stadium until January. A victory by the Bills on Sunday means that if both teams advance that far, they will face the Chiefs at a neutral site for the AFC Championship Game. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and his competition committee came up with several recommendations Friday that the league’s clubs approved, preventing Hamlin’s situation from forcing the Bills to Arrowhead, as Buffalo would have won the No. 1 seed by beating Cincinnati in Week 17. game over. Next week: Good bye
y* – 2. Buffalo Bills (13-3), AFC East champions: They secured second place with a win over the New England Patriots on Sunday. The Bills also won in Kansas City in Week 6 and won a seemingly crucial tiebreaker, so Goodell’s adjustment ensures that Hamlin’s slump doesn’t mean the Bills can be eliminated in KC for a third straight year. Next week: vs. Dolphins, Sunday at 1 p.m. (CBS, Paramount+)
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y – 3. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4), AFC North champions: Their tie with Buffalo gave the defending AFC champions back-to-back division crowns. Baltimore’s loss on Sunday ensured their matchup with the Ravens will be played at Paycor Stadium instead of being decided by a coin toss. Next week: vs. Ravens, 8:15 p.m. ET Sunday (NBC, Peacock, Universo)
y – 4. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8), AFC South Champion: They won their first division title since 2017, and the Jags also made the playoffs last year, defeating the Tennessee Titans in Saturday’s de facto division title game. Next week: vs. Chargers, Saturday 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock, Universo)
x – 5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-7), joker #1: Making the playoffs for the first time in four years, they travel to Jacksonville next week for a wild card matchup. They are fifth in the conference as their record in AFC games (7-5) is better than Baltimore’s. The rest of the table: At the Broncos Next week: Jaguars, 8:15 p.m. ET Saturday (NBC, Peacock, Universo)
x – 6. Baltimore Ravens (10-7), joker #2: Their loss to Cincinnati on Sunday eliminated the possibility of a coin toss that would determine next week’s wildcard game in Cincinnati … but the Ravens could choose QB Lamar Jackson for it. Next week: at Bengals, 8:15 p.m. ET Sunday (NBC, Peacock, Universo)
x – 7. Miami Dolphins (9-8), joker #3: QB3 Skylar Thompson led them to an 11-6 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, ending a five-game slide that swept the Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s just Miami’s third playoff berth in the last 21 seasons. Next week: On the Bills, Sunday at 1 p.m. (CBS, Paramount+)
NFC
yz – 1. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3), NFC East champions: The conference was eventually blocked by home court advantage for a week and Sunday, their third attempt. Philly’s 14 regular season wins set a new franchise record. Next week: Good bye
y – 2. San Francisco 49ers (13-4), NFC West champions: Their 10-2 record in intraconference games put them ahead of Minnesota for the No. 2 seed. Next week: vs. Seahawks, 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday (FOX, FOX Deportes)
y – 3. Minnesota Vikings (13-4), NFC North champions: Once in the mix for the No. 1 seed, they finished third on Sunday after briefly finishing second. The Viks defeated their next opponent, the Giants, 27-24 in Week 16. Next week: vs. Giants, Sunday at 4:30 p.m. (FOX, FOX Deportes)
y – 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9), NFC South champions: Back-to-back division champions for the first time in team history, the Bucs were locked into the fourth seed last week, so Sunday’s loss to Atlanta didn’t affect them. Next week: vs. Cowboys, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC, ESPN2-Manningcast, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes)
x – 5. Dallas Cowboys (12-5), Wildcat #1: Ultimately, they couldn’t make up for it on Sunday, but the drubbing in Washington wasn’t the driving force for Tampa. Next week: Buccaneers, Monday 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC, ESPN2-Manningcast, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes)
x – 6. New York Giants (9-7-1), joker #2: Big Blue is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2016, but nothing is in jeopardy in Philadelphia. Next week: at Vikings, Sunday, 4:30 p.m. (FOX, FOX Deportes)
x – 7. Seattle Seahawks (9-8), No. 3 seed: The Detroit Lions’ loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night opened up Seattle’s late streak to an NFC Finals berth, and the Seahawks then beat the Los Angeles Rams 19-16 (destroying Detroit) earlier in the day. Next week: 49ers, 4:30 ET Saturday (FOX, FOX Deportes)
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