-
ESPN staff
Three NFL playoff spots are still in play in Week 18, along with a couple of division titles. We’re projecting the final 14 postseason teams and their seedings all day long.
Six divisions are already clinched. The No. 1 seeds belong to the Packers and Titans. But the AFC East crown is up for grabs between the Bills and Patriots, and the Rams are trying to hold off the Cardinals for the NFC West title. Three teams are battling for the last two playoff spots in the AFC, and the 49ers and Saints are in a final-day duel for the last NFC wild-card berth. The Colts and Ravens were eliminated in the early window. Lastly, on the other side of the standings, the Jaguars — despite winning themselves — clinched the No. 1 pick in April’s NFL draft with the Lions’ win on Sunday.
Sunday night’s Chargers-Raiders game will be a win-and-in spot for each team. And in a weird twist, it’s also a tie-and-in scenario — for both teams. But Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said this week, “We kind of just want to play this game.”
We’re live-tracking the playoff picture in both the AFC and the NFC on Sunday. We will update playoff chances and projected seedings from ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) periodically throughout the 14-game slate, showing how the playoff landscape is changing as games are played. Clinching scenarios are provided for each team, as well. Keep checking back all day long for the most up-to-date view of the playoff teams and seedings based on those FPI projections.
LAST UPDATED: Sunday, 5:30 p.m. ET
Teams in contention:
ARI | BUF | CIN | DAL | GB
KC | LV | LAC | LAR | NE
NO | PHI | PIT | SF | TB | TEN
Projected AFC playoff standings
What Tennessee has already clinched: The Titans are in the playoffs, and they won the AFC South crown in Week 17 for their second straight division title. They clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed on Sunday with their 28-25 win over Houston. Tennessee will not play until the divisional round on the weekend of Jan. 22-23.
Current projected wild-card game matchup: Bye
What Kansas City has already clinched: The Chiefs are in the playoffs and are the AFC West champions for the sixth consecutive season. On Saturday, they finished off their regular season with a 28-24 win over the Broncos and will have the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
Current projected wild-card game matchup: vs. Steelers
What Buffalo has already clinched: The Bills secured a playoff spot in Week 17.
What’s at stake for the Bills on Sunday: Buffalo can’t finish with the top seed in the AFC, but it can win the AFC East through either of two simple routes. A win over the Jets hands them the division title, as does a Patriots loss to Miami.
What ESPN’s FPI is saying: Buffalo has a 98% chance to win the AFC East.
Follow games that matter: NYJ-BUF | NE-MIA
Current projected wild-card game matchup: vs. Chargers
What Cincinnati has already clinched: The Bengals are in the playoffs after winning the AFC North in Week 17. It’s their first playoff berth and first division title since 2015. They closed their regular season with a 21-16 loss to Cleveland.
What’s at stake for the Bengals on Sunday: Not a whole lot. Cincinnati can finish No. 3 or No. 4 in the conference.
Current projected wild-card game matchup: vs. Patriots
What New England has already clinched: The Patriots are in the playoffs, returning after a one-year hiatus.
What’s at stake for the Patriots on Sunday: If New England beats Miami and the Bills lose to the Jets, the Patriots would jump into the top four seeds and win the AFC East for the 12th time in the past 13 seasons.
What ESPN’s FPI is saying: The Patriots have a 2% chance to win the AFC East.
Follow games that matter: NE-MIA | NYJ-BUF
Current projected wild-card game matchup: at Bengals
What Los Angeles has already clinched: Nothing yet. The Chargers can’t win the AFC West, but they still have plenty of hope for a wild-card spot.
What’s at stake for the Chargers on Sunday: Los Angeles controls its fate. Regardless of other results, the Chargers will make the playoffs if they win or tie. But a loss eliminates them.
What ESPN’s FPI is saying: Los Angeles has a 58% chance to make the playoffs.
Follow games that matter: LAC-LV (8:20 p.m. ET)
Current projected wild-card game matchup: at Bills
What Pittsburgh has already clinched: The Steelers can’t win the AFC North, but they are a near-lock to make the playoffs after their 16-13 overtime win against Baltimore on Sunday.
What’s at stake for the Steelers on Sunday: To reach the playoffs, Pittsburgh needs Sunday night’s Chargers-Raiders game to not end in a tie.
What ESPN’s FPI is saying: The Steelers have a 99% chance to make the playoffs.
Follow games that matter: LAC-LV (8:20 p.m. ET)
Current projected wild-card game matchup: at Chiefs
Currently projected outside of the playoffs
What Las Vegas has already clinched: Nothing yet. The Raiders can’t win the AFC West, but a playoff spot is very much still on the table.
What’s at stake for the Raiders on Sunday: Las Vegas can clinch the playoffs with either a win or a tie.
What ESPN’s FPI is saying: The Raiders have a 43% chance to make the playoffs.
Follow games that matter: LAC-LV (8:20 p.m. ET)
Projected NFC playoff standings
What Green Bay has already clinched: They won the NFC North and clinched the conference’s No. 1 seed — which includes a bye in the wild-card round. Green Bay will be the NFC’s top team going into the playoffs and will not play until the divisional round on the weekend of Jan. 22-23. It finished the regular season with a 37-30 loss to Detroit.
Wild-card game matchup: Bye
What Los Angeles has already clinched: The Rams are in the playoffs, but they haven’t yet secured the division title.
What’s at stake for the Rams on Sunday: L.A. can win the NFC West with a win or a Cardinals loss. The Rams cannot win the conference’s top seed, though. They will finish no higher than No. 2 and no lower than No. 5 in the conference.
What ESPN’s FPI is saying: The Rams have a 96% chance to win the NFC West.
Follow games that matter: SF-LAR (4:25 p.m. ET) | SEA-ARI
Current projected wild-card game matchup: vs. Saints
What Tampa Bay has already clinched: The Buccaneers are in the playoffs and are the NFC South champions for the first time since 2007.
What’s at stake for the Buccaneers on Sunday: Not a lot. The Buccaneers could finish No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 in the conference — but the top seed is not an option.
Follow games that matter: CAR-TB
Current projected wild-card game matchup: vs. Eagles
What Dallas has already clinched: The Cowboys are NFC East champions for the fourth time in the past eight seasons. They finished their regular season with a 51-26 win against the Eagles on Saturday.
What’s at stake for the Cowboys on Sunday: Dallas can’t earn the NFC’s top seed, and it will finish somewhere from No. 2 to No. 4 in the conference standings.
Current projected wild-card game matchup: vs. Cardinals
What Arizona has already clinched: The Cardinals are in the playoffs and can still win the NFC West.
What’s at stake for the Cardinals on Sunday: To win the division, Arizona needs a win and a Rams loss. But even if it wins the NFC West, it can’t earn the conference’s top seed.
What ESPN’s FPI is saying: The Cardinals have a 4% chance to win the NFC West.
Follow games that matter: SEA-ARI | SF-LAR
Current projected wild-card game matchup: at Cowboys
What Philadelphia has already clinched: The Eagles are in the playoffs. They closed out their regular season with a 51-26 loss to the Cowboys on Saturday.
What’s at stake for the Eagles on Sunday: Not much. Philadelphia can’t win the NFC East, and it will finish with either the No. 6 or No. 7 seed.
Current projected wild-card game matchup: at Buccaneers
0:58
Dan Orlovsky and Ryan Clark agree that Nick Sirianni’s successful playcalling and execution make the Eagles dangerous in the playoffs.
What New Orleans has already clinched: Nothing yet, and the Saints do not control their playoff destiny.
What’s at stake for the Saints on Sunday: First, the Saints need to win. Second, they need the 49ers to lose. If both of those things happen, New Orleans is in and would be the No. 7 seed.
What ESPN’s FPI is saying: New Orleans has a 71% chance to make the playoffs.
Follow games that matter: NO-ATL | SF-LAR
Current projected wild-card game matchup: at Rams
Currently projected outside of the playoffs
What San Francisco has already clinched: Nothing yet. The Niners are seeking the final wild-card spot in the NFC.
What’s at stake for the 49ers on Sunday: If the Niners win, they are in. If they lose, they need the Saints to also lose. San Francisco can only finish in the No. 6 spot if it makes the playoffs.
What ESPN’s FPI is saying: San Francisco has an 29% chance to make the playoffs.
