Just 14 video games stay within the 2024 NFL regular season, with Sunday’s Week 18 slate establishing a wild end to the playoff picture. Twelve groups have clinched postseason spots, leaving a gap apiece within the AFC and NFC, however there’s quite a bit to be labored out with seeding in each conferences.
The AFC North was settled Saturday, with the Baltimore Ravens beating the Cleveland Browns and clinching with their tiebreaker over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFC North title and 1-seed within the NFC can be up for grabs, with the winner of the Minnesota Vikings–Detroit Lions finale getting a first-round bye. The NFC South title additionally will come all the way down to Sunday’s video games.
Here are the clinching situations for Week 18, together with projected seeds and matchups from ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI):
More NFL playoff race protection:
Tracking the playoff picture
FPI ratings for every team
Projected 2025 draft order
Full standings for all 32 teams
Week 18 clinching situations within the AFC
Already clinched: Kansas City Chiefs (1-seed), Buffalo Bills (2-seed), Baltimore Ravens (3-seed), Houston Texans (4-seed), Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers
The matchup: lost 19-17 vs. Cincinnati on Saturday
How the Steelers can clinch the 5-seed:
Pittsburgh might have clinched the 5-seed with a win, but it surely now should wait to see the result of the Chargers’ sport in opposition to the Raiders.
The matchup: won 19-17 at Pittsburgh on Saturday
How the Bengals can clinch a playoff berth:
The Bengals’ win on Saturday was simply the primary a part of what they wanted to get into the playoffs. Now they need to hope for a loss by the Broncos or a loss/tie by the Dolphins.
The matchup: vs. Kansas City on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
How the Broncos can clinch a playoff berth:
The matchup: at N.Y. Jets on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
How the Dolphins can clinch a playoff berth:
Week 18 clinching situations within the NFC
Already clinched: Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles (2-seed), Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, Washington Commanders
The matchup: vs. Carolina on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
How the Falcons can clinch the NFC South:
The matchup: vs. New Orleans on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
How the Bucs can clinch the NFC South:
The matchup: vs. Minnesota on Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
How the Lions can clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field benefit:
The matchup: at Detroit on Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
How the Vikings can clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field benefit:
AFC seeding probabilities, per ESPN’s FPI
Heading into Saturday’s video games:
No. 1: KC
No. 2: BUF
No. 3: BAL 94.6%; PIT 5.4%
No. 4: HOU
No. 5: PIT 67.7%; LAC 26.9%; BAL 5.4%
No. 6: LAC 73.1%; PIT 26.9%
No. 7: DEN 64.3%; MIA 25.3%; CIN 10.4%
NFC seeding probabilities, per ESPN’s FPI
Heading into Saturday’s video games:
No. 1: DET 65.2%; MIN 34.8%
No. 2: PHI
No. 3: LAR 65.9%; TB 34.1%
No. 4: TB 50.1%; LAR 34.1%; ATL 15.8%
No. 5: MIN 65.2%; DET 24.8%
No. 6: WSH 73.9%; GB 26.1%
No. 7: GB 73.9%; WSH 26.1%
