The final week of the NFL regular season is here, and while many playoff spots have already been clinched, the seeding, including the No. 1 seeds in both conferences, remains up in the air. The added weight of postseason implications brings heightened drama to several Week 18 matchups, including three with division titles directly on the line.
Here are the updated playoff scenarios heading into Week 18.
AFC
CLINCHED:
Denver Broncos (13-3) – AFC West
New England Patriots (13-3) – AFC East
Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) – playoff berth
Buffalo Bills (11-5) – playoff berth
Houston Texans (11-5) – playoff berth
Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) – playoff berth
Denver Broncos (13-3) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
Denver clinches the AFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:
1. Denver win OR
2. Denver tie + New England Patriots loss or tie OR
3. New England loss + Jacksonville Jaguars loss or tie
New England Patriots (13-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (7-9)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
New England clinches the AFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:
1. New England win + Denver loss or tie OR
2. New England tie + Denver loss
Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) vs. Tennessee Titans (3-13)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Jacksonville clinches the AFC South division title and the AFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:
1. Jacksonville win + Denver loss + New England loss
Jacksonville clinches the AFC South division title with:
1. Jacksonville win or tie OR
2. Houston Texans loss or tie
Houston Texans (11-5) vs. Indianapolis Colts (8-8)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Houston clinches the AFC South division title with:
1. Houston win + Jacksonville loss
Baltimore Ravens (8-8) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
The winner of Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh between the Steelers and Ravens will advance to the postseason, while the loser will be eliminated. (Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Baltimore clinches the AFC North division title with:
1. Baltimore win
Pittsburgh clinches the AFC North division title with:
1. Pittsburgh win or tie
NFC
CLINCHED:
Seattle Seahawks (13-3) – playoff berth
San Francisco 49ers (12-4) – playoff berth
Chicago Bears (11-5) – NFC North
Los Angeles Rams (11-5) – playoff berth
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) – NFC East
Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) – playoff berth
San Francisco 49ers (12-4) vs. Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
San Francisco clinches the NFC West division title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:
1. San Francisco win
Seattle clinches the NFC West division title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:
1. Seattle win or tie
Carolina Panthers (8-8) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
Carolina clinches the NFC South division title with:
1. Carolina win or tie OR
2. Atlanta Falcons win
Tampa Bay clinches the NFC South division title with:
1. Tampa Bay win + Atlanta Falcons loss or tie