2023-24 NFL Week 18 playoff scenarios and bracket: Bills, Steelers clinch berths after Jaguars loss – The Athletic
The Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday setting off some AFC playoff dominoes. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills clinched playoff spots with the Jags’ loss. This also gave the Houston Texans the AFC South title.
Plus, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers punched their ticket to the postseason capturing the NFC South crown with a sluggish win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Below is a glimpse at all the scenarios for every team with playoff life remaining.
Follow here for live updates from NFL Week 18 and here for live updates on Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins.
AFC
Clinched
- Baltimore Ravens (13-4) – AFC North division title, No. 1 seed, first-round bye and homefield advantage
- Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) – AFC West division title
- Houston Texans (10-7) – AFC South division title
- Cleveland Browns (11-5) – playoff berth
- Miami Dolphins (11-5) – playoff berth
- Buffalo Bills (10-6) — playoff berth
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) — playoff berth
Projected bracket
- Ravens
- Dolphins OR Bills
- Chiefs
- Texans
- Browns
- Bills, Dolphins OR Steelers
- Steelers OR Bills
Up for grabs
Buffalo Bills (10-6) at Miami (11-5); Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Buffalo clinches AFC East division title with:
- Bills win
Miami Dolphins (11-5) vs. Buffalo (10-6); Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Miami clinches AFC East division title with:
- Dolphins win or tie
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NFC
Clinched
- San Francisco 49ers (12-4) – NFC West division title, No. 1 seed, first-round bye and homefield advantage
- Detroit Lions (11-5) – NFC North division title
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) — NFC South division title
- Dallas Cowboys (11-5) – playoff berth
- Los Angeles Rams (9-7) – playoff berth
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) – playoff berth
Projected bracket
- 49ers
- Cowboys, Eagles OR Lions
- Cowboys, Eagles OR Lions
- Buccaneers
- Cowboys OR Eagles
- Rams
- Packers, Saints OR Seahawks
Up for grabs
Dallas Cowboys (11-5) at Washington (4-12); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
Dallas clinches NFC East division title with:
- Cowboys win OR
- Cowboys tie + Eagles tie OR
- Eagles loss
Green Bay Packers (8-8) vs. Chicago (7-9); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
Green Bay clinches playoff berth with:
- Packers win
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New Orleans Saints (9-8, won vs. Falcons on Sunday)
New Orleans clinches playoff berth with:
- Saints win + Seahawks loss or tie + Packers loss or tie
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) at N.Y. Giants (5-11); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
Philadelphia clinches NFC East division title with:
- Eagles win + Cowboys loss or tie OR
- Eagles tie + Cowboys loss
Seattle Seahawks (8-8) at Arizona (4-12); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
Seattle clinches playoff berth with:
- Seahawks win + Packers loss or tie
Required reading
- NFL Week 18 playoff standings and projections: Which teams have best chance to make postseason?
- Russini: What I’m hearing about the NFL coaching carousel entering Week 18
- NFL Power Rankings Week 18: Browns and Packers move up, plus a lesson from every team
(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
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