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The NFL’s playoff seedings are almost set — but not quite. We know most of the division winners — but not all.
So let’s break down what we know for certain and what can still happen in the 18th and final week of the NFL regular season on Sunday to affect the postseason:
AFC
Five of seven spots have been clinched.
- Cincinnati Bengals – AFC North division title
- Kansas City Chiefs – AFC West division title
- Tennessee Titans – AFC South division title
- Buffalo Bills – playoff berth
- New England Patriots – playoff berth
NFC
Six of seven spots have been clinched.
- Green Bay Packers – NFC North division title, No. 1 seed, only first-round bye and homefield advantage
- Dallas Cowboys – NFC East division title
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – NFC South division title
- Arizona Cardinals – playoff berth
- Los Angeles Rams – playoff berth
- Philadelphia Eagles – playoff berth
So the top seed in the NFC is decided in that the Green Bay Packers get the only first-round bye and will host games as long as they continue to advance.
Although the Tennessee Titans currently hold the top seed in the AFC, the spot can still be won by four different teams — Tennessee, Kansas City, New England or, amazingly, Cincinnati.
The AFC West, AFC North and AFC South have their champion.
The NFC North, NFC East, and NFC South have their champion.
That means two division champions will be decided on Sunday: The AFC East, and NFC West.
So this is what can play out in the AFC with Sunday’s results:
BALTIMORE RAVENS (8-8) (vs. Pittsburgh (8-7-1), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Baltimore clinches playoff berth with:
- BAL win + LAC loss + IND loss + MIA loss or tie
BUFFALO BILLS (10-6) (vs. New York Jets (4-12), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)
Buffalo clinches AFC East division title with:
- BUF win OR
- NE loss OR
- BUF tie + NE tie
CINCINNATI BENGALS (10-6) (at Cleveland (7-9), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Cincinnati clinches AFC’s No. 1 seed, only first-round bye and homefield advantage with:
- CIN win + TEN loss + KC loss + NE loss or tie OR
- CIN win + TEN loss + KC loss + BUF win
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-7) (at Jacksonville (2-14), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Indianapolis clinches playoff berth with:
- IND win or tie OR
- LAC loss + BAL-PIT tie OR
- LAC loss + PIT loss + MIA win
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-5) (at Denver (7-9), Saturday, 4:30 PM ET, ESPN/ABC)
Kansas City clinches AFC’s No. 1 seed, only first-round bye and homefield advantage with:
- KC win + TEN loss or tie OR
- KC tie + TEN loss
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (9-7) (vs. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7), Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)
Las Vegas clinches playoff berth with:
- LV win OR
- LV tie + IND loss OR
- IND loss + PIT loss or tie
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (9-7) (at Las Vegas (9-7), Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)
Los Angeles Rams clinch playoff berth with:
- LAC win or tie
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-6) (at Miami (8-8), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)
New England clinches AFC’s No. 1 seed, only first-round bye and homefield advantage with:
- NE win + BUF loss or tie + KC loss + TEN loss
New England clinches AFC East division title with:
- NE win + BUF loss or tie OR
- NE tie + BUF loss
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-7-1) (at Baltimore (8-8), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Pittsburgh clinches playoff berth with:
- PIT win + IND loss + LV-LAC game does not end in a tie
TENNESSEE TITANS (11-5) (at Houston (4-12), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Tennessee clinches AFC’s No. 1 seed, only first-round bye and homefield advantage with:
- TEN win OR
- TEN tie + KC loss or tie OR
- KC loss + CIN loss or tie + NE loss or tie OR
- KC loss + CIN loss or tie + BUF win
And this is what can play out in the NFC with Sunday’s results:
ARIZONA CARDINALS (11-5) (vs. Seattle (6-10), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)
Arizona clinches NFC West division title with:
- ARI win + LAR loss
LOS ANGELES RAMS (12-4) (vs. San Francisco (9-7), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)
Los Angeles Rams clinch NFC West division title with:
- LAR win or tie OR
- ARI loss or tie
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (8-8) (at Atlanta (7-9), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)
New Orleans clinches playoff berth with:
- NO win + SF loss
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (9-7) (at Los Angeles Rams (12-4), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)
San Francisco clinches playoff berth with:
- SF win or tie OR
- NO loss or tie
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