Last week NFL The season is here and you better buckle up because there's a lot at stake. On the eve of Sunday there is still three division titles and two playoff berths that were not won.
One thing that is out of reach is the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and that's because the Seahawks clinched it Saturday night with a dominant 13-3 win over the 49ers. This means the Seahawks will say goodbye to the team. first round of playoffs while the 49ers will be forced to hit the road for the wild card round.
The Seahawks' victory was part of Saturday's doubleheader to begin Week 18. The Buccaneers beat the Panthers 16-14.in an NFC South showdown that decided nothing. With Tampa Bay's win, the battle for the division title will now be Sunday's game will decide between the Saints and Falcons. That's right, the two teams that have already been eliminated from the playoffs will determine the winner of the NFC South.
If the Falcons beat Saints they will improve to 8-9 on Sunday, creating a three-way tie at the top of the NFC South. In this scenario Panthers will win a three-way tiebreaker. On the other hand, if the Falcons lose to New Orleans, the Bucs will win the division title.
The team that ultimately wins the NFC South gets to host a playoff game next week.
So who will they face in the first round? Glad you asked. Here, we're going to break down the entire playoff field, taking a look at the possible seeds for each team, as well as each playoff team's possible opponent in the wild-card round.
With that in mind, let's check out the current playoff standings as well as clinch scenarios.
AFC playoff table
1. Denver Broncos (13-3)
Won AFC West
Possible playoff seeding: 1, 2 or 3
Possible opponents based on the template: Texans, Jaguars, Chargers, Accounts or bye in the first round
The Broncos are ranked No. 1 in the AFC. To take first place, all they have to do is beat a Chargers team that won't be at full strength (the Chargers will be resting several starters, including Justin Herbert). If the Broncos lose against Los Angeles, they could potentially drop to third place.
2. New England Patriots (13-3)
Won AFK East
Possible playoff seeding: 1, 2 or 3
Possible opponents based on the template: Texans, Jaguars, Chargers, Bills or first round bye
If the Patriots win Dolphins this will ensure them at least second place in the standings on Sunday. If they win and the Broncos also lose, New England will get the No. 1 overall seed.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)
Place in the playoffs won
Possible playoff seeding: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
Possible opponents based on the template: Chargers, Texans, Bills, Steelers, CrowsBroncos, Patriots or first-round bye
It seems impossible, but with one week left in the season, the Jaguars (12-4) could still find themselves in one of six different AFC playoff seeds (the only one they can't secure is the fourth seed). If the Jags beat Titans they will win the AFC South on Sunday. The Jags can still take first place with a win, but they'll also need both the Broncos and Patriots to lose.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
Possible seed: 4 or out of the playoffs
Possible opponents based on the template: Texans, Jaguars, Chargers or Bills
The Steelers' path to the playoffs is pretty simple: They need to beat (or tie) the Ravens on Sunday night. If the Steelers lose, their season will end. By the time the Steelers take the field Sunday night, they will know who their potential playoff opponent will be in the wild card round if they manage to get past the Ravens.
5. Houston Texans (11-5)
Place in the playoffs won
Possible playoff seeding: 3, 5, 6, 7
Possible opponents based on the template: Chargers, Jaguars, Bills, Steelers, Ravens, Broncos or Patriots
The Texans can still win the AFC South, but they'll have to beat the AFC South to do so. Colts and the Jaguars would have to lose to the Titans. While the Texans don't control their destiny, they do control one thing: They'll be guaranteed no worse than fifth place if they win Sunday.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
Place in the playoffs won
Possible playoff seeding: 5, 6, 7
Possible opponents based on the template: Jaguars, Texans, Steelers, Ravens, Broncos, Patriots
While the Chargers are still alive and could finish fifth, that probably won't happen. The Chargers will rest their starting lineup on Sunday against the Broncos, and if they end up losing to Denver, Los Angeles will get either the sixth or seventh seed, depending on what Buffalo does.
7. Buffalo Bills (11-5)
Place in the playoffs won
Possible playoff seeding: 5, 6, 7
Possible opponents based on the template: Jaguars, Texans, Steelers, Ravens, Broncos, Patriots
If the bills fail Jets they will get seventh place on Sunday. However, if they beat the Jets, they could move up to fifth if the Texans and Chargers lose. With the Chargers resting their starting lineup, there is a very real scenario where the Bills could end up with the sixth overall pick. For that to happen, the Chargers would have to lose and the Texans and Bills would have to win.
STILL ALIVE: Ravens (8-8)
Possible seed: 4 or out of the playoffs
Possible opponents based on the template: Texans, Jaguars, Chargers or Bills
The Ravens face the Steelers on Sunday night with the AFC North on the line. This is essentially a playoff game because the loser will see the end of the season. If the Ravens win, they will host a playoff game in Baltimore next week.
AFC wild card games based on current standings
(7) Accounts with (2) Patriots
(6) Chargers in (3) Jaguar
(5) Texans at (4) Steelers
Bye: Broncos
NFC playoff table
1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3)
Won NFC West
Playoff seeding: Conquered No. 1
Wild card opponent: First round win, bye
The Seahawks officially clinched the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a 13-3 victory over the 49ers on Saturday night. This is the fourth time in franchise history that the Seahawks have the No. 1 overall pick. In each of the previous three times (2005, 2013, 2014), Seattle reached the Super Bowl. This will keep the Seahawks from returning to the field until the divisional round (Jan. 10 or 11).
2. Chicago Bears (11-5)
Won NFC North
Possible playoff seeding: 2 or 3
Possible opponents based on the template: Packers, Rams or 49ers
The Bears could finish second with a win over the Lions on Sunday, and if that happens, Chicago will host the Packers in the wild card round. The only way the Bears could drop to third place is if they lose and the Eagles beat the Commanders.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
Won NFC East
Possible playoff seeding: 2 or 3
Possible opponents based on the template: Packers, Rams or 49ers
The Eagles will rest their starters, including Jalen Hurts, on Sunday against the Commanders. If the Eagles lose, they will remain a top-three seed and a first-round playoff game against the 49ers or Rams.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
Possible playoff seeding: 4 or out of the playoffs
Possible opponents based on the template: Rams or 49ers
The Buccaneers picked up a huge win over the Panthers on Saturday but have yet to clinch the NFC South title. To win the division, the Bucs need the Falcons to lose (or tie) against the Saints on Sunday, meaning everyone on Tampa Bay's roster will be trying their best to make sure New Orleans pulls out a win. The Bucs would win a regular-game tiebreaker over the Panthers if both teams finished 8-9, but Carolina would win a three-way tiebreaker when the Falcons, Bucs and Panthers tied at 8-9.
5. San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
Place in the playoffs won
Possible playoff seeding: 5 or 6
Possible opponents based on the template: Pirates, Panthers, Eagles, Bears
The 49ers had a chance to grab the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC on Saturday, but they fell short. Given the loss, that means they will finish in either fifth or sixth place in the NFC. If the Rams beat the Cardinals on Sunday, San Francisco will drop to sixth place. If the Rams lose, the 49ers will move into fifth place. The big difference is that the fifth seed will play the winner of the NFC South, while the sixth seed will have to play the Bears or Eagles.
6. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
Place in the playoffs won
Possible playoff seeding: 5 or 6
Possible opponents based on the template: Pirates, panthers, bears or eagles
The Rams will move into fifth place after beating Arizona on Sunday. If the Rams lose, they will be the sixth seed. During the regular season, the Rams faced three of their four possible playoff opponents with a 1–2 record. They lost to the Eagles and Panthers while beating the Buccaneers.
7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)
Place in the playoffs won
Possible playoff seeding: Conquered No. 7
Possible opponents based on the template: Bears or eagles
Heading into Week 18, the Packers are the only playoff team to clinch a postseason berth, which explains why Matt LaFleur will rest several starters on Sunday against the Vikings, including Jordan Love.
STILL ALIVE: Carolina Panthers (8-9)
Possible playoff seeding: 4 or out of the playoffs
Possible opponents based on the template: Rams or 49ers
The Panthers had a chance to clinch the NFC South on Saturday but fell short. Carolina's playoff hopes now rest in the hands of the Falcons. If Atlanta beats the Saints on Sunday, the Panthers will clinch the division title. A Falcons win would create a three-way tie over the NFC South at 8-9, and the Panthers would win it because they have the best head-to-head record among the three tied teams (The Panthers were 3-1 against the Bucs and Falcons. The Bucs were 2-2 against Carolina and Atlanta. The Falcons were 1-3 against the other two).
NFC wild card games based on current position
(7) Packers in (2) Bears
(6) Rams and (3) Eagles
(5) 49ers and (4) Buccaneers
Bye: Seahawks
