2023-24 NFL Week 18 playoff scenarios: Texans clinch bid, Steelers need help following Saturday wins – The Athletic
The Houston Texans clinched at least a wild-card berth and the Pittsburgh Steelers beefed up their playoff chances with their respective wins on Saturday. But both teams are still among those yet to have postseason scenarios decided.
Four postseason bids and four division titles remain unclaimed as the NFL enters play Sunday. Below is a glimpse at all the scenarios for every team with playoff life remaining:
AFC
Clinched
- Baltimore Ravens (13-3) – AFC North division title, No. 1 seed, first-round bye and homefield advantage
- Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) – AFC West division title
- Cleveland Browns (11-5) – playoff berth
- Miami Dolphins (11-5) – playoff berth
- Houston Texans (10-7) – playoff berth
Up for grabs
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, won vs. Ravens on Saturday)
Pittsburgh clinches playoff berth with:
Buffalo Bills (10-6) at Miami (11-5); Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Buffalo clinches AFC East division title with:
- Bills win
Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:
- Bills tie OR
- Jaguars loss or tie
Houston Texans (10-7, won at Colts on Saturday)
Houston clinches AFC South division title with:
- Jaguars loss or tie
Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) at Tennessee (5-11); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Jacksonville clinches AFC South division title with:
- Jaguars 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
- Dallas Cowboys (11-5) – playoff berth
- Los Angeles Rams (9-7) – playoff berth
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) – playoff berth
Up for grabs
Atlanta Falcons (7-9) at New Orleans (8-8); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Atlanta clinches NFC South division title with:
- Falcons win + Buccaneers loss
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 OR
- Packers tie + Seahawks loss or tie + Saints loss or tie OR
- Packers tie + Seahawks loss + Buccaneers loss OR
- Packers tie + Seahawks tie + Buccaneers loss or tie OR
- Vikings loss or tie + Seahawks loss + Buccaneers loss OR
- Vikings loss or tie + Seahawks loss + Saints loss
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Minnesota Vikings (7-9) at Detroit (11-5); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Minnesota clinches playoff berth with:
- Vikings win + Packers loss + Seahawks loss + Buccaneers loss OR
- Vikings win + Packers loss + Seahawks loss + Saints loss
New Orleans Saints (8-8) vs. Atlanta (7-9); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
New Orleans clinches NFC South division title with:
- Saints win + Buccaneers loss or tie OR
- Saints tie + Buccaneers loss
New Orleans clinches playoff berth with:
- Saints win + Seahawks loss or tie + Packers loss or tie OR
- Saints tie + Seahawks loss + Packers loss
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 OR
- Seahawks tie + Packers loss + Buccaneers loss or tie OR
- Seahawks tie + Packers loss + Saints loss or tie
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) at Carolina (2-14); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Tampa Bay clinches NFC South division title with:
- Buccaneers win OR
- Buccaneers tie + Saints loss or tie
Tampa Bay clinches playoff berth with:
- Buccaneers tie + Seahawks loss + 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: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)