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ESPN staff
Three NFL playoff spots are still in play in Week 18. We’re projecting the final 14 postseason teams and their seedings all day long.
The No. 1 seeds belong to the Packers and Titans. The Bills won the AFC East on Sunday, and the Rams clinched the NFC West. That means all eight divisions are locked up. 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. Each team could just take a knee for 60 minutes and secure a playoff spot, 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, 7:35 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 and clinched the AFC East. They will be the No. 3 seed in the AFC.
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. They will be the No. 4 seed in the AFC.
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, but failed to overtake the Bills for the AFC East
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 Tampa Bay has already clinched: The Buccaneers are in the playoffs and are the NFC South champions for the first time since 2007.
Current projected wild-card game matchup: vs. Eagles
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 99% 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. 49ers
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. They will be either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the conference.
Current projected wild-card game matchup: vs. Cardinals
What Arizona has already clinched: The Cardinals are in the playoffs, but couldn’t beat out the Rams for the NFC West title. Instead, Arizona will be the No. 5 seed in the NFC.
Current projected wild-card game matchup: at Cowboys
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 a 50% chance to make the playoffs.
Follow games that matter: SF-LAR | NO-ATL
Current projected wild-card game matchup: at Rams
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
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Dan Orlovsky and Ryan Clark agree that Nick Sirianni’s successful playcalling and execution make the Eagles dangerous in the playoffs.
Currently projected outside of 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: The Saints need the 49ers to lose. If that happens, New Orleans is in and would be the No. 7 seed.
What ESPN’s FPI is saying: New Orleans has a 50% chance to make the playoffs.
Follow games that matter: SF-LAR
