Complete NFL playoff scenarios for Week 18

Significant questions remain unanswered ahead of what should be a thrilling Week 18. 

The NFL’s penultimate slate of regular-season action saw two more teams clinch playoff berths, while three squads captured their respective division titles. 

The Packers became playoff-bound after the Lions fell to the Vikings on Christmas Day, though Green Bay’s Saturday loss to the Ravens opened the door for the Bears to seize the NFC North title. 

The Texans took down the Chargers Saturday to punch their ticket to the postseason, coincidentally presenting the Broncos with the AFC West crown.

Meanwhile, the Patriots won the AFC East on Sunday after the Bills fell to the Eagles.

Still, there’s a vacant playoff spot in each conference, a pair of unclaimed No. 1 seeds, and four division titles that remain up for grabs — and just one week to decide it all. 

Here’s a look at the current NFL playoff picture with clinching scenarios heading into Week 18.

AFC

Denver Broncos (13-3)

Matchup: vs. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

The Broncos can clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage with any of the following:

• Win
• Tie and Patriots loss or tie
• Patriots loss and Jaguars loss or tie

New England Patriots (13-3)

Matchup: vs Miami Dolphins (7-9); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

Like Denver, New England could clinch the No. 1 seed, first-round bye and home-field advantage with either of these scenarios:

• Win and Broncos loss or tie
• Tie and Broncos loss

Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)

Matchup: vs. Tennessee Titans (3-13); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The Jaguars would secure the AFC South title with any of the following:

• Win or tie
• Texans loss or tie

Jacksonville also as an outside shot of winning the conference and could seize the top seed, first-round bye and home-field advantage with:

• Win, Broncos loss and Patriots loss

Houston Texans (11-5)

Matchup: vs. Indianapolis Colts (8-8); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The Texans, who clinched a playoff berth in Week 17, could win the AFC South in the following scenario:

Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

Matchup: at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7); “Sunday Night Football,” 8:20 p.m. ET

Pittsburgh’s dramatic Week 17 loss to the Browns set up a winner-take-all showdown for the AFC North title. Baltimore’s path to clinching the division crown is simple:

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

Matchup: vs. Baltimore Ravens (8-8); “Sunday Night Football,” 8:20 p.m. ET

On the other side of the coin, Pittsburgh can win the AFC North with:

NFC

Seattle Seahawks (13-3)

Matchup: at San Francisco 49ers (12-4); Saturday, 8 p.m. ET

Heading to enemy territory, the Seahawks could capture the NFC West crown, a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the following scenarios:

San Francisco 49ers (12-4)

Matchup: vs. Seattle Seahawks (13-3); Saturday, 8 p.m. ET

After catching up to their division rivals in the standings, the 49ers’ path to leaping them for the division title, a first-round bye and home-field advantage is simple:

Carolina Panthers (8-8)

Matchup: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9); Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET

An almost-winner-take-all matchup with some extra insurance for Carolina. The Panthers could clinch the NFC South title with:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

Matchup: vs. Carolina Panthers (8-8); Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET

The Buccaneers, winners of just one of their last eight games, will not only need to turn the ship around — but also get lucky. They can clinch the NFC South in the following scenario:

• Buccaneers win and Falcons loss or tie

Current Seeding and Projected Matchups

AFC

• No. 2 Patriots vs. No. 7 Bills
• No. 3 Jaguars vs. No. 6 Chargers
• No. 4 Steelers vs. No. 5 Texans
• First-Round Bye: No.1 Broncos

NFC

• No. 2 Bears vs. No. 7 Packers
• No. 3 Eagles vs. No. 6 Rams
• No. 4 Panthers vs. No. 5 49ers
• First-Round Bye: No. 1 Seahawks