NFL playoff standings 2023: Live updates in Week 18 as regular season ends

<div><figure> <img alt="Buffalo Bills v Miami Dolphins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iMteTaGqb6lbgV4U9-5XPxzwiv0=/0x0:5916x3944/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73030090/1915663376.10.jpg"> <figcaption>Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images</figcaption> </figure> <p>Week 18 of the NFL schedule is upon us, bringing to a close the regular season and setting up the playoffs. Who will make it into the postseason tournament this weekend?</p> <p id="ZA7TMr">The NFL is down to one final weekend of the regular season, giving teams one final chance to claim their spot in the playoffs. This weekend’s games, including two on Saturday and 14 on Sunday, is full of playoff implications. Who will clinch a division title? Which teams will make up the three wild card teams for each side of the bracket? We keep up with everything happening throughout the weekend, updating the standing as games go final and keeping up with all of the clinching scenarios. </p> <p id="DvdaM3">Entering the weekend, the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-playoff-picture">AFC playoff picture</a> includes the <a href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Baltimore Ravens</a> having clinched the AFC North and the number one seed, giving them a bye during Wild Card Weekend next week and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a>, holding on to the second seed position, have claimed a berth in the playoffs, but are still playing for the AFC East division title and to secure their claim on the second spot. The <a href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a>, locked into the third seed, have clinched the AFC West title. The <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a> are locked into the fifth seed as the top wild card team.</p> <p id="00VPkC">The <a href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jacksonville Jaguars</a> are currently the fourth seed as the leader in the AFC South, but they have not clinched the spot nor the division. The <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Houston Texans</a> and <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> could both surpass the Jaguars and find themselves the division champions by the end of the weekend. The <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> and <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> are also both in the fight for a playoff berth, with Pittsburgh hoping for a wild card spot while the Bills could win the AFC East over Miami, be either the sixth or seventh seed as a wild card team, or find themselves on the wrong side of the playoff cut line. </p> <p id="mFwFY6">The NFC playoff picture has the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> locked into the top spot as the NFC West division winner. The <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> are currently the second seed, but they still need to be locked into that spot, with the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a>, currently the top wild card team, also able to claim the NFC East division title. The <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a>, the NFC North division champions, are in the third position, with a slim possibility of sliding up into the second seed if the Cowboys and Eagles both stumble. The <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> are currently the fourth seed, but they have not yet clinched the NFC South, with both the <a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> and <a href="https://www.thefalcoholic.com/">Atlanta Falcons</a> still in the hunt.</p> <p id="qlhxBk">With the fifth seed going to whichever NFC East team, Dallas or Philadelphia, does not win the division, the sixth seed is held by the <a href="https://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Los Angeles Rams</a>, who are locked into the playoffs but could slip down to the seventh seed with a loss and a <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a> win. The Packers, <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a>, <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>, Buccaneers, and Saints are all in contention for the seventh seed.</p> <p id="Ftnf5y"><em>Note: In past weeks, we have included the elimination scenarios throughout the week. This week, we did not include them because they are just the opposite of the clinching scenarios. As one team clinches, another will see all of their scenarios end, essentially giving us the elimination scenarios as well.</em></p> <p id="rJPlOY">Here are the current standings for both the AFC and NFC.</p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="jVUNyE"> <p id="TVIuJh"><strong>Last Update: </strong>7:28 p.m. ET, Sunday</p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Vr0Oya"> <h3 id="2Ra5Tr">AFC playoff picture (through Week 17 Sunday late games):</h3> <p id="ByLdas">1 - <a href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Baltimore Ravens</a> (13-4, AFC North leader)yz*<br>2 - <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a> (11-5, AFC East leader)x<br>3 - <a href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a> (11-6, AFC West leader)y*<br>4 - <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Houston Texans</a> (10-7, AFC South leader)y*</p> <p id="vFMF2o">5 - <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a> (11-6, Wild Card 1 position)x*<br>6 - <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> (10-6, Wild Card 2 position)x<br>7 - <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> (10-7, Wild Card 3 position)x*</p> <p id="Zd1fXj"><strong>Eliminated:</strong><br><a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> (9-8)*<br><a href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jacksonville Jaguars</a> (9-8)*<br><a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> (9-8)*<br><a href="https://www.silverandblackpride.com/">Las Vegas Raiders</a> (8-9)*<br><a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a> (8-9)*<br><a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a> (7-10)*<br><a href="https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/">Tennessee Titans</a> (6-11)*<br><a href="https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/">Los Angeles Chargers</a> (5-12)*<br><a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> (4-13)*</p> <p id="q0566F"><em>x Playoff berth clinched</em><br><em>y Division title clinched</em><br><em>z Homefield advantage/first-round bye clinched</em><br><em>*Week 18 game complete</em></p> <p id="B3tgGI"><strong>Tiebreaks:</strong></p> <ul> <li id="UMTwmg">Jaguars over Colts based on head-to-head results (divisional tiebreak); Bengals over Jaguars based on head-to-head results</li> <li id="5bDZgI">Jaguars over Colts based on head-to-head results</li> <li id="P4JzWq">Raiders over Broncos based on head-to-head results</li> </ul> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="lS47Eo"> <h3 id="Gos0Al">AFC Clinching Scenarios Week 17:</h3> <p id="ONCkCA">Bills clinch AFC East title with:</p> <ul><li id="Vc1OiU">Bills win</li></ul> <p id="70s8n4">Bills clinch wild card berth with: <em><strong>(Clinched)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="PDHAeh">Bills tie OR</li> <li id="DSfPlR"> <s>Steelers loss/tie</s> OR</li> <li id="hf378L"> <strong>Jaguars loss/tie</strong> OR</li> <li id="9SeGbH"><s>Texans-Colts tie</s></li> </ul> <p id="mpCO7s">Dolphins clinch AFC title with:</p> <ul><li id="ZMNuAM">Dolphins win</li></ul> <p id="zi3G0N">Steelers clinch wild card berth with: <em><strong>(Clinched)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="CAJMQK"> <strong>Steelers win </strong>and Bills loss OR</li> <li id="1r2eoJ"> <strong>Steelers win </strong>and <strong>Jaguars loss/tie</strong> OR</li> <li id="lDs8qN"> <strong>Steelers win </strong>and <s>Texans-Colts tie</s> OR</li> <li id="lywI6G"> <s>Steelers tie </s>and <strong>Jaguars loss</strong> and <s>Texans-Colts do not tie</s> OR</li> <li id="zPoSCi"> <strong>Jaguars loss</strong> and <s>Broncos win</s> and <s>Texans-Colts do not tie</s> </li> </ul> <p id="V1qVTc">Colts clinch AFC South title with: <em><strong>(Eliminated from AFC South title)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="Ia4Mep"> <s>Colts win</s> and <strong>Jaguars loss/tie </strong>OR</li> <li id="azY7Qm"> <s>Colts tie</s> and <strong>Jaguars loss</strong> </li> </ul> <p id="qODEC1">Colts clinch wild card berth with: <em><strong>(Eliminated from playoff)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="rub6NT"> <s>Colts win</s> OR</li> <li id="rQM3A2"> <s>Colts tie</s> and <s>Steelers loss/tie</s> </li> </ul> <p id="pw0OFE">Jaguars clinch AFC South with: <em><strong>(Eliminated from AFC South title)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="KrNAxE"> <s>Jaguars win</s> OR</li> <li id="mLGoAb"> <s>Jaguars tie</s> and <s>Texans-Colts tie</s> </li> </ul> <p id="YLfdIE">Jaguars clinch wild card berth with: <em><strong>(Eliminated from playoffs)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="TglCzV">Jaguars tie and <s>Steelers loss/tie</s> </li> <li id="lUNCis"> <s>Steelers loss</s> and <strong>Broncos loss/tie </strong>and <s>Texans-Colts do not tie</s> </li> </ul> <p id="s0YkOC">Texans clinch AFC South title with: <em><strong>(Clinched AFC South title)</strong></em> </p> <ul><li id="AvsOeJ"> <strong>Texans win</strong> and <strong>Jaguars loss/tie</strong> </li></ul> <p id="0aa0qn">Texans clinch wild card berth with: <em><strong>(Clinched playoff spot if not AFC South title)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="WUV43r"> <strong>Texans win</strong> OR</li> <li id="i0bb58"> <s>Texans tie</s> and <strong>Jaguars loss</strong> and <s>Steelers loss/tie</s> </li> </ul> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="7XuSK3"> <h3 id="jmSA8O">NFC Playoff Picture (Final)</h3> <p id="BYv3np">1 - <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> (12-5, NFC West champ)yz*<br>2 - <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> (12-5, NFC East leader)y*<br>3 - <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> (12-5, NFC North champ)y*<br>4 - <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> (9-8, NFC South champ)y*</p> <p id="67BI9D">5 - <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> (11-6, Wild Card 1 position)x*<br>6 - <a href="https://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Los Angeles Rams</a> (10-7, Wild Card 2 position)x*<br>7 - <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a> (9-8, Wild Card 3 position)x*</p> <p id="kUuEEj"><strong>Eliminated:</strong><br><a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> (9-8)*<br><a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> (9-8)*<br><a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> (7-10)*<br><a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> (7-10)*<br><a href="https://www.thefalcoholic.com/">Atlanta Falcons</a> (7-10)*<br><a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> (5-12)*<br><a href="https://www.hogshaven.com/">Washington Commanders</a> (4-13)*<br><a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> (4-13)*<br><a href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Carolina Panthers</a> (2-15)*</p> <p id="kokKS7"><em>x Playoff berth clinched</em><br><em>y Division title clinched</em><br><em>z Homefield advantage/first-round bye clinched</em><br><em>*Week 18 game complete</em></p> <p id="Dg3zNV"><strong>Tiebreaks:</strong></p> <ul> <li id="F9RKtx">49ers over Cowboys and Lions based on NFC winning percentage</li> <li id="1I6p7T">Cowboys over Lions based on head-to-head results</li> <li id="8IHuV6">Buccaneers over Saints based on common games winning percentage</li> <li id="NznXS9">Packers over Saints based on head-to-head results</li> <li id="85GFne">Vikings over Bears based on common games winning percentage (divisional tiebreak); Vikings over Falcons based on head-to-head results</li> <li id="Y2H6s9">Bears over Falcons based on head-to-head results</li> <li id="wICKua">Commanders over Cardinals based on head-to-head results</li> </ul> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="AvntaO"> <h3 id="vXXVdM">NFC Clinching Scenarios Week 17</h3> <p id="fY75js">Cowboys clinch NFC East title with: <em><strong>(Clinched)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="yv1nKQ"> <strong>Cowboys win</strong> OR</li> <li id="DreMFG"> <s>Cowboys tie</s> and <s>Eagles tie</s> OR</li> <li id="mb6Q5g"><strong>Eagles loss</strong></li> </ul> <p id="EiNXjn">Eagles clinch NFC East title with: <em><strong>(Elminated from NFC East title)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="w7LRRV"> <s>Eagles win</s> and <s>Cowboys loss/tie</s> OR</li> <li id="kNLdQe"> <s>Eagles tie</s> and <s>Cowboys loss</s> </li> </ul> <p id="2sXKI9">Packers clinch wild card berth with: <em><strong>(Clinched)</strong></em> </p> <ul> <li id="oIkq60"> <strong>Packers win</strong> OR</li> <li id="JWZx55"> <s>Packers tie</s> and <s>Seahawks loss/tie</s> or <s>Saints loss/tie</s> OR</li> <li id="uOeKzJ"> <s>Packers tie</s> and <s>Seahawks loss </s>and <s>Buccaneers loss</s> OR</li> <li id="yZPd6C"> <s>Packers tie</s> and <s>Seahawks tie </s>and <s>Buccaneers loss/tie</s> OR</li> <li id="qPB896"> <strong>Vikings loss/tie</strong> and <s>Seahawks loss</s> and <s>Buccaneers loss</s> OR</li> <li id="4GeOLq"> <strong>Vikings loss/tie</strong> and <s>Seahawks loss</s> and <s>Saints loss</s> </li> </ul> <p id="mPRTpZ">Vikings clinch wild card berth with: <em><strong>(Eliminated)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="uBG5MA"> <s>Vikings win</s> and <s>Packers loss</s> and <s>Seahawks loss</s> and <s>Buccaneers loss</s> OR</li> <li id="z301jY"> <s>Vikings win</s> and <s>Packers loss</s> and <s>Seahawks loss</s> and <s>Saints loss</s> </li> </ul> <p id="AgMaJo">Buccaneers clinch NFC South title with: <em><strong>(Clinched)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="RLwzcm"> <strong>Buccaneers win</strong> OR</li> <li id="BpMGAZ"> <s>Buccaneers tie</s> and <s>Saints loss/tie</s> </li> </ul> <p id="3BLdJJ">Buccaneers clinch wild card berth with: <em><strong>(Clinched division title)</strong></em></p> <ul><li id="rfhysP"> <s>Buccaneers tie</s> and <s>Seahawks loss</s> and <s>Packers loss/tie</s> </li></ul> <p id="9lVZ0u">Falcons clinch NFC South title with: <em><strong>(Eliminated from NFC South title and playoffs)</strong></em></p> <ul><li id="4Ut9rq">Falcons win and <s>Buccaneers loss</s> </li></ul> <p id="EleaxN">Saints clinch NFC South title with: <em><strong>(Eliminated from NFC South title)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="W6xeTH"> <strong>Saints win</strong> and <s>Buccaneers loss/tie</s> OR</li> <li id="6PrFF0"> <s>Saints tie</s> and <s>Buccaneers loss</s> </li> </ul> <p id="XOeIy8">Saints clinch wild card berth with: <em><strong>(Eliminated from playoffs)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="Q0AkUz"> <strong>Saints win</strong> and <s>Seahawks loss/tie </s>and <s>Packers loss/tie</s> OR</li> <li id="Fj7Ysw"> <s>Saints tie</s> and <s>Seahawks loss </s>and <s>Packers loss</s> </li> </ul> <p id="SFu8r6">Seahawks clinch wild card berth with: <em><strong>(Eliminated from playoffs)</strong></em></p> <ul> <li id="AVufU7"> <strong>Seahawks win</strong> and <s>Packers loss/tie</s> OR</li> <li id="UpsEf6"> <s>Seahawks tie</s> and <s>Packers loss</s> and <s>Buccaneers loss/tie</s> OR</li> <li id="sLrbUg"> <s>Seahawks tie</s> and <s>Packers loss</s> and <s>Saints loss/tie</s> </li> </ul> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="bSGdyT"> <h3 id="Wn9N3z"></h3></div>