NFL playoff picture, NFL standings update in Week 18

[ASFN Admin]

The NFL playoff picture cruises into Week 18, where four divisions are up for grabs.

On Jan. 3, Panthers-Bucs could decide the NFC South. If Carolina wins, the Panthers clinch the division. If Tampa Bay wins, the Bucs need a Saints win over Atlanta to secure another division crown.

Later, Seattle faces San Francisco in a game that will decide the NFC West and the No. 1 seed, which comes with home-field advantage and a first-round bye.

Jacksonville can clinch the AFC South on Jan. 4, but the Texans still have a path to the division. And on Sunday Night Football, Pittsburgh hosts Baltimore in a win-and-in game for the AFC North title.

Here is the NFL playoff picture in Week 18, with the standings updated throughout Jan. 3 and 4:

QB1s: Mike McCoy compares Titans rookie Cam Ward's growth to Trevor Lawrence

AFC Playoff Picture​

Division leaders​

1. Denver Broncos (13-3) Clinched AFC West​

• This week: LA Chargers

Clinching scenarios: The Broncos clinch the No. 1 seed, home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye with a win OR a tie and Patriots loss or tie OR a Patriots loss and a Jaguars loss or tie.

2. New England Patriots (13-3) Clinched AFC East​

• This week: Miami

Clinching scenarios: The Patriots clinch the No. 1 seed, home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye with a win and a Broncos loss or tie OR a tie and a Broncos loss.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Clinched playoff berth; AFC South leaders​

• This week: Tennessee

Clinching scenarios: The Jaguars clinch the AFC South with a win OR a Texans loss or tie. The Jaguars clinch the No. 1 seed, home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye with a win, a Broncos loss and a Patriots loss.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) AFC North leaders​

• This week: Baltimore

Clinching scenarios: The Steelers clinch the AFC North with a win or tie.

Wild cards​

5. Houston Texans (11-5) Clinched playoff berth​

• This week: Indianapolis

Clinching scenarios: The Texans clinch the AFC South with a win and a Jaguars loss.

6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Clinched playoff berth​

• This week: at Denver

7. Buffalo Bills (11-5) Clinched playoff berth​

• This week: NY Jets

Outside looking in​

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-8); eliminated from playoff contention​

9. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)​

• This week: at Pittsburgh

Clinching scenarios: The Ravens clinch the AFC North with a win.

10. Miami Dolphins (7-9); eliminated from playoff contention​

11. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10); eliminated from playoff contention​

12. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10); eliminated from playoff contention​

13. Cleveland Browns (4-12); eliminated from playoff contention​

14. Tennessee Titans (3-13); eliminated from playoff contention​

15. New York Jets (3-13); eliminated from playoff contention​

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-14); eliminated from playoff contention​

NFC playoff picture​

Division leaders​

1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Clinched playoff berth, NFC West leader​

• This week: at San Francisco

Clinching scenarios: The Seahawks clinch the NFC West, the No. 1 seed, home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs and a first-round bye with a win or tie.

2. Chicago Bears (11-5) Clinched NFC North​

• This week: Detroit

3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Clinched NFC East​

• This week: Washington

4. Carolina Panthers (8-8) NFC South leader​

• This week: at Tampa Bay

Clinching scenarios: The Panthers clinch the NFC South with a win or tie OR a Falcons win.

Wild cards​

5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4) Clinched playoff berth​

• This week: Seattle

Clinching scenarios: The 49ers clinch the NFC West, the No. 1 seed, home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs and a first-round bye with a win.

6. Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Clinched playoff berth​

• This week: Arizona

7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) Clinched playoff berth, No. 7 seed​

• This week: at Minnesota

Outside looking in​

8. Minnesota Vikings (8-8); eliminated from playoff contention​

9. Detroit Lions (8-8); eliminated from playoff contention​

10. Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1); eliminated from playoff contention​

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)​

• This week: Carolina

Clinching scenarios: The Buccaneers clinch the NFC South with a win and a Falcons loss or tie.

12. Atlanta Falcons (7-9); eliminated from playoff contention​

13. New Orleans Saints (6-10); eliminated from playoff contention​

14. Washington Commanders (4-12); eliminated from playoff contention​

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-13); eliminated from playoff contention​

16. New York Giants (3-13); eliminated from playoff contention​

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NFL playoff picture, NFL standings update in Week 18

Continue reading...