The NFL playoff bracket is just days away from finalized.
The league enters the final week of the 2024 regular season with six of the seven postseason berths in both conferences having been clinched.
The third and final wild-card spot in the AFC is still up for grabs. The playoff position is currently occupied by the 9-7 Denver Broncos, but the 8-8 Cincinnati Bengals or 8-8 Miami Dolphins could overtake Denver in Week 18. Over in the NFC, the 9-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are attempting to hold off the 8-8 Atlanta Falcons for the NFC South title.
Those aren't the only teams with something to play for this week, though, as several postseason-bound squads aren't locked into a seed just yet. There are even a few squads that could still either enter the playoffs as a division winner or wild card.
From the current playoff picture to Week 18 clinching scenarios and more, here's what to know for the final week of the regular season:
Which teams have clinched a spot in the NFL playoffs?
These 12 teams have clinched a playoff berth:
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Buffalo Bills
- Baltimore Ravens
- Houston Texans
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Los Angeles Chargers
NFC
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- Detroit Lions
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Los Angeles Rams
- Minnesota Vikings
- Washington Commanders
- Green Bay Packers
What's the AFC playoff picture?
Here's a look at the AFC playoff picture entering Week 18 (teams in bold are locked into seed):
- Chiefs, 15-1
- Bills, 13-3
- Ravens, 11-5
- Texans, 9-7
- Steelers, 10-6
- Chargers, 10-6
- Broncos, 9-7
Three of the top four seeds are set, with the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs earning a bye to the Divisional Round as the No. 1 seed, the Bills at No. 2 and the Texans at No. 4.
The No. 3 seed will go to the AFC North champion -- either the Ravens or Steelers.
If Baltimore wins the division, the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds will be the Chargers and Steelers in some order. Should the Steelers win the division, they'll host the No. 6 Chargers while the Ravens will be slotted at No. 5 and face the Texans.
The No. 7 seed will be either the Broncos, Bengals or Dolphins, and whichever team earns the playoff berth will face Buffalo.
What's the NFC playoff picture?
The NFC playoff picture entering Week 18 isn't quite as clear (teams in bold are locked into seed):
- Lions, 14-2
- Eagles, 13-3
- Rams, 10-6
- Buccaneers, 9-7
- Vikings, 14-2
- Commanders, 11-5
- Packers, 11-5
The Eagles will be the No. 2 seed and face either the Packers or NFC East rival Commanders on Super Wild Card Weekend. Green Bay and Washington will be slotted sixth and seventh in some order.
The No. 1 seed, along with the NFC North title, will be awarded in the final game of the regular season as the Vikings visit the Lions on Sunday Night Football. The NFC North runner-up will be the No. 5 seed.
The Rams will be either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed, and the same goes for the Bucs should they qualify for the postseason. If the Falcons win the NFC South, they will be the No. 4 seed.
The No. 3 seed will face either the Commanders or Packers, while the No. 4 seed will draw a 14-win wild-card team from the NFC North.
What are the playoff clinching scenarios in NFL Week 18?
Here's a look at the clinching and seeding scenarios to know for Week 18:
AFC
- Ravens to clinch AFC North title, No. 3 seed: Win/tie vs. Browns OR Steelers loss/tie vs. Bengals
- Steelers to clinch AFC North title, No. 3 seed: Win vs. Bengals + Ravens loss vs. Browns
- Chargers to clinch No. 5 seed: Win vs. Raiders + Steelers loss/tie vs. Bengals OR tie vs. Raiders + Steelers loss vs. Bengals
- Broncos to clinch playoff berth, No. 7 seed: Win/tie vs. Chiefs OR Dolphins loss/tie vs. Jets + Bengals loss/tie vs. Steelers
- Dolphins to clinch playoff berth, No. 7 seed: Win vs. Jets + Broncos loss vs. Chiefs
- Bengals to clinch playoff berth, No. 7 seed: Win vs. Steelers + Broncos loss vs. Chiefs + Dolphins loss/tie vs. Jets
NFC
- Lions to clinch NFC North title, No. 1 seed: Win/tie vs. Vikings
- Vikings to clinch NFC North title, No. 1 seed: Win vs. Lions
- Rams to clinch No. 3 seed: Win/tie vs. Seahawks OR Bucs loss/tie vs. Saints
- Buccaneers to clinch NFC South title: Win/tie vs. Saints OR Falcons loss/tie vs. Panthers
- Buccaneers to clinch No. 3 seed: Win vs. Saints + Rams loss vs. Seahawks
- Falcons to clinch NFC South title, No. 4 seed: Win vs. Panthers + Bucs loss vs. Saints
- Commanders to clinch No. 6 seed: Win vs. Cowboys OR Packers loss vs. Bears OR tie vs. Cowboys + Packers tie vs. Bears
- Packers to clinch No. 6 seed: Win vs. Bears + Commanders loss/tie vs. Cowboys OR tie vs. Bears + Commanders loss vs. Cowboys
Who gets a bye in the NFL playoffs?
Only the top seed in each conference gets a bye to the Divisional Round. The Chiefs clinched the AFC bye, while the NFC bye will go to the NFC North champion -- either the Lions or Vikings.
How do the NFL playoffs work?
Teams are seeded No. 1 through No. 7 in each conference, with the four division winners ranked by regular-season record followed by the three wild-card teams ranked by regular-season record.
The matchups in the opening round of the playoffs are No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5.
Does the NFL reseed in the playoffs?
Yes, the NFL reseeds in the playoffs. That means the top seed in each conference will draw the lowest-seeded team to advance beyond the opening round of the playoffs.
When do the NFL playoffs start?
The postseason is then slated to begin with Super Wild Card Weekend from Saturday, Jan. 11 to Monday, Jan. 13.
What's the NFL playoff schedule?
The Divisional Round will take place from Saturday, Jan 18 to Sunday, Jan. 19, setting up the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, Jan. 26.
When is the Super Bowl 2025?
The AFC and NFC champions will square off in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Where is the Super Bowl 2025?
Caesars Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints, in the Big Easy will host the Big Game.
