Ralph Vacchiano
NFL Reporter
By late Sunday night, all the seedings will be set and the first six games of the NFL playoffs will be locked into the schedule.
But between now and then there is still a lot up for grabs in Week 18. The Vikings and Lions will battle Sunday night for the top seed in the NFC playoffs. And five teams are still fighting for the last two spots in the playoff field.
Here is the full NFL Playoff Picture as the teams begin what could be a wild Week 18:
(x-Clinched playoff berth)
AFC
x-1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
Next game: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET at the Denver Broncos (9-7). They are already locked into the No. 1 seed in the AFC and will have a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Playoff probability: 100%
x-2. Buffalo Bills (13-3)
Next game: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at the New England Patriots (3-13). The AFC East champs are locked into the No. 2 seed and will play host to the seventh seed — either the Broncos, Dolphins or Bengals — in the first round of the playoffs.
Playoff probability: 100%
x-3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
They barely broke a sweat beating the Cleveland Browns (3-14) and their multiple, third-string quarterbacks on Saturday. And with that, the Ravens won the AFC North title and locked up the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. They will play host to a first-round game against either the Steelers or the Chargers. If the Chargers beat the Raiders on Sunday, they get the Steelers. If the Chargers lose, the world gets another Harbaugh Bowl.
Playoff probability: 100%
x-4. Houston Texans (9-7)
Next game: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at the Tennessee Titans (3-13). The AFC South champs are locked into the No. 4 seed and will play host to the fifth seed (Steelers or Chargers) in the first round of the playoffs.
Playoff probability: 100%
x-5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
They ended the season with their fourth straight loss, dropping their finale to the Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) on Saturday. They lost their shot at the AFC North title, but they’ll still either be the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the AFC playoffs. If the Chargers lose on Sunday to the Raiders, then the Steelers finish fifth and head to Houston for a first-round playoff game. If the Chargers win, the Steelers fall to sixth and head to Baltimore instead.
Playoff probability: 100%
x-6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
Next game: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET at the Las Vegas Raiders (4-12). A win would move them up to the No. 5 seed, which would send them to Houston for the first round. If they lose, they finish sixth and head to Baltimore.
Playoff probability: 100%
7. Denver Broncos (9-7)
Next game: Sunday, 4:25 p.m., at home against the Kansas City Chiefs (15-1). They need to win to clinch a playoff berth and a first-round trip to Buffalo. If they lose, they are out.
Playoff probability: 81%
On the outside looking in:
Cincinnati Bengals (9-8): They still need a lot of help, but they sure have made a run at the end of the season. They won their fifth straight game on Saturday, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7). But they need the Broncos to lose to the Chiefs and the Dolphins to lose at the Jets on Sunday to get them into the playoffs. If they make it, they head to Buffalo for the first round. Playoff Probability: 10%
Miami Dolphins (8-8): Next game: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET at the New York Jets (4-12). They will clinch a playoff berth (and a first-round trip to Buffalo) with a win and a loss by the Broncos (vs. the Chiefs). Playoff Probability: 9%
NFC
x-1. Detroit Lions (14-2)
Next game: Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET at home against the Minnesota Vikings (14-2). A win locks up the NFC North title, the No. 1 seed in the NFC, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. A loss sends them tumbling to the fifth seed and puts them on the road for the postseason, starting in either Tampa, Atlanta or Los Angeles.
Playoff probability: 100%
x-2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Next game: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at home against the New York Giants (3-13). The NFC East champs are locked into the No. 2 seed and will host a first-round playoff game against either the Packers or the Commanders.
Playoff probability: 100%
x-3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
Next game: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET at home against the Seattle Seahawks (9-7). The NFC West champs would lock up the No. 3 seed with a win or a loss by the Buccaneers (vs. the Saints). That would set them up for a first-round game at home against the Packers or Commanders. If they lose and the Bucs win, they would slip to No. 4, where they’d play host to the loser of the Lions-Vikings game.
Playoff probability: 100%
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Next game: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at home against the New Orleans Saints (5-11). They will clinch the NFC South title with a win or a loss by the Falcons (vs. Carolina). They can move up to No. 3 with a win and a loss by the Rams (vs. the Seahawks), which would mean a first-round home game against the Packers or Commanders. If they stay at No. 4, they’ll play host to the loser of the Lions-Vikings game.
Playoff Probability: 89%
x-5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
Next game: Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET at the Detroit Lions (14-2). With a win, they will clinch the NFC North title, the No. 1 seed in the NFC, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If they lose, they stay at No. 5 and will go on the road for the postseason, starting either in Tampa or Los Angeles.
Playoff probability: 100%
x-6. Washington Commanders (11-5)
Next game: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at the Dallas Cowboys (7-9). They lock the No. 6 seed with a win or if the Packers lose to the Bears. That would send them to either Los Angeles or Tampa in the first round of the playoffs. If they lose and the Packers win, they slip to the seventh seed and start the playoffs in Philadelphia.
Playoff probability: 100%
x-7. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
Next game: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at home against the Chicago Bears (4-12). If they win and the Commanders lose, they’d move up to the sixth seed and open the playoffs in either Los Angeles or Tampa. Otherwise, they stay at No. 7 and head to Philadelphia for the first round.
Playoff probability: 100%
On the outside looking in:
Atlanta Falcons (8-8): Next game: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at home against the Carolina Panthers (4-12). They will clinch the NFC South title and the No. 4 seed in the NFC with a win and a loss by the Buccaneers (vs. the Saints). That would earn them a home game in the first round against the loser of the Lions-Vikings game. Playoff Probability: 11%
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports. He spent the previous six years covering the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
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