Here’s what the NFL playoff picture looks like after Sunday’s games in Week 17:
AFC
y – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-3), AFC West Champions: A Buffalo loss to Cincinnati opens the door for KC to snag the No. 1 seed, a goal currently hampered by the Chiefs’ Week 6 loss to the Bills. Rest of the schedule: In Riders
y – 2. Buffalo Bills (12-3), AFC East champions: They need a win at Cincinnati on Monday to retain the AFC’s first-round bye and home-field advantage. Fall to the Bengals, and Buffalo could slip to third in the conference. Rest of the schedule: At Bengals, vs. Patriots
x – 3. Cincinnati Bengals (11-4), AFC North leaders: If they beat Buffalo and end up in a three-way tie with the Bills and Chiefs, the reigning conference champions would get home field and a first-round bye. A win on Monday would send the AFC North championship to Cincinnati. Rest of the schedule: vs. Bills, vs. Ravens
Follow every game: Latest NFL scores and schedules
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8), AFC South leaders: They ended a five-year drought with Sunday’s decisive win over the Houston Texans … but it did little to affect the Jags’ playoff chances. The division title will be decided against Tennessee in Week 18. Rest of the schedule: vs. the Titans
x – 5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6), wild card no. 1: For the first time in four years, the playoff participants will decide which division champion Bolts will advance to in the opening round. Now fifth in the AFC because their record in AFC games is better than Baltimore’s, LA can’t be worse than sixth. Rest of the schedule: At the Broncos
x – 6. Baltimore Ravens (10-6), wild card no. 2: A Cincinnati loss on Monday ensures the Ravens and Bengals will play in the AFC North Championship Game in Week 18. Rest of the schedule: In Bengal
7. New England Patriots (8-8), wild card no. 3: Not only would the Pats avoid elimination by beating Miami on Sunday, but the Pats would advance to the playoffs by winning the following Sunday. Rest of the schedule: in bills
8. Miami Dolphins (8-8), out of playoff field: With a five-game slide and QB Tua Tagowailoa’s recent concussion putting their postseason hopes in jeopardy, Sunday’s loss at Foxborough knocked the Fins out of a projected postseason bracket. However, a win next week would advance New England to Miami with a loss. Rest of the schedule: vs. the Jets
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8), out of playoff field: Big win Sunday night in Baltimore. If the Steelers beat Cleveland in Week 18 and the Bills and Jets both win, Pittsburgh will qualify for the AFC’s final wild card. Rest of the schedule: vs. the Browns
Note: The New York Jets (7-9) are currently 10th overall in the AFC, but have been eliminated from playoff contention.
11. Tennessee Titans (7-9), out of playoff field: They treated Thursday night’s loss to Dallas as a preseason game, a Week 18 matchup with Jacksonville that will decide the AFC South crown. Rest of the schedule: At the Jaguars
NFC
x – 1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3), NFC East leaders: They went 0-for-2 without injured QB Jalen Hurts and lost twice to close out the NFC’s No. 1 seed. But Philly still punches its ticket to the sixth seed against the Giants in Week 18 and has little to play for before the wild-card round. Rest of the schedule: vs. the Giants
y – 2. San Francisco 49ers (12-4), NFC West champions: Escaping Las Vegas with an overtime win and eliminating the Raiders gives them a chance at the NFC’s top seed thanks to their 9-2 record in intraconference games. The Niners need a win next week with Philadelphia losing. Rest of the schedule: vs. the Cardinals
y – 3. Minnesota Vikings (12-4), NFC North champions: Sunday’s crushing loss at Green Bay means they won’t earn the No. 1 seed. Rest of the schedule: At bears
y – 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8), NFC South champions: It hasn’t been a pretty year, but Sunday’s win over Carolina eliminated the Panthers and gave the Bucs back-to-back division crowns for the first time in franchise history. Rest of the schedule: In the Falcons
x – 5. Dallas Cowboys (12-4), wild card no. 1: If they win in Week 18 and the Eagles don’t, Team USA will advance to the NFC East crown. The Cowboys also have a path to the No. 1 seed if they beat Washington — Philly must lose its last two games — and end up in a conference tie with Minnesota. Rest of the schedule: At Commanders
x – 6. New York Giants (9-6-1), wild card no. 2: Big Blue is back in the postseason for the first time since 2016 thanks to Sunday’s win. Rest of the schedule: In the Eagles
7. Seattle Seahawks (8-8), wild card no. 3: They stayed alive by eliminating the New York Jets on Sunday, but despite currently residing in seventh place, their postseason fate is not in check. I hope the Seahawks win in Week 18 and the Packers lose. Rest of the schedule: vs. the Rams
8. Detroit Lions (8-8), out of playoff field: They need a win in Green Bay and a loss to the Seahawks in Week 18 to reach the postseason. A loss to Seattle in Week 4 would finally hit them. Rest of the schedule: at Bakers
9. Green Bay Packers (8-8), out of playoff field: They’ve had plenty of outside help the past few weeks, but the biggest help has come from within the Pack’s four-game winning streak, including Sunday at Minnesota. If they beat Detroit in Week 18, the Bucks will be in the playoffs for the fourth time in four years under coach Matt LaFleur, as their record in NFC games will be 7-5 — better than Seattle even if the Seahawks beat the Rams. regular-season finale. Rest of the schedule: vs. Lions
x – Clinch Perth
y – branching section
***
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.
