The playoff picture is coming into focus as a dramatic Week 17 comes to a close.
The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers locked up the top seeds in each conference, one team clinched an unlikely playoff berth and four were officially eliminated on Sunday.
The results also set up several games next week with massive stakes on the line, none more so than a Bills vs. Dolphins showdown to decide the AFC East. Here's a look at the key games and scenarios to watch entering the final week of the NFL season.
NFL Playoff Picture, Odds: Postseason Clinching Scenarios for Week 18
Battle for the Division in the AFC and NFC East
The Bills and Dolphins will go head-to-head for the division crown in Week 18. It's a wild turn of events for the Dolphins who were 9-3 in entering Week 14 while the Bills were 6-6.
The NFC East will come down to the wire, too, after a pair of dramatic games for the Cowboys and Eagles. Dallas held on for a controversial win over the Lions Saturday night, and are now favored to win the division after the free-falling Eagles were upset by the Cardinals, 35-31. Philadelphia visits the Giants next week while Dallas travels to Washington to take on the Commanders.
Potential Madness in the AFC South
There’s complete chaos in the AFC South after the Jaguars, Texans and Colts each won. Jacksonville wins the division if they beat the Titans next week, but could be on the outside looking in if they lose. The big question is whether Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) can return after missing the Jaguars’ shutout of the Panthers, 26-0.
Both the Texans and Colts are alive in the division race. However, they play a win-and-in game next week as the winner of their showdown automatically earns a wild card berth.
Still Hope for the Black and Yellow
Pittsburgh is also alive in the wild card race after a 30-23 win over the Seahawks. The Steelers victory means they still have not had a losing season during head coach Mike Tomlin’s 17-year tenure. Meanwhile, the Bills make the playoffs as a wild card team if they lose to the Dolphins and either Pittsburgh or Jacksonville loses.
Logjam in the NFC South
The NFC South also remains in flux as the Buccaneers, Saints and Falcons can each win the division. Tampa Bay could have wrapped it up on Sunday, but instead fell to New Orleans, 23-13, in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicates. The Buccaneers have the inside track as all they have to do is beat the Panthers to win the division. If they lose, the winner of the Falcons-Saints game takes home the crown.
Win and In
The Packers and Vikings needed help heading into Sunday Night Football as neither team controlled their destiny. That changed quickly as everything went perfectly during the afternoon games. They kicked off knowing they'd make the playoffs by winning their final two games. However, only one team showed up ready to play as Green Bay dismantled Minnesota, 33-10.
The Packers can return to the playoffs after a one year absence by beating the Bears in Week 18. Meanwhile, the Vikings aren't officially eliminated, but need four different outcomes to go exactly their way in order to earn a wild card spot.
In and Out After Week 17
Meanwhile, the Rams were the big winners in the NFC this week as they clinched a playoff berth in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. The Rams secured a wild card spot after eking out a 26-25 win over the Giants while the Steelers upset the Seahawks. The Rams made sure to thank Pittsburgh on social media once the clock struck zero.
The Rams were +165 to make the playoffs at BetMGM heading the season, and were as low as +500 as November came to a close. They return to the postseason two years after winning Super Bowl LVI and are a team no one wants to face as they’ve won six of their last seven. (Their lone loss in that stretch came in overtime against the powerhouse Ravens.)
The Chiefs won their eighth-straight division title after beating the Bengals, 25-17. The reigning Super Bowl champs don’t look like the world beaters they’ve been in recent years, but you can never count out Patrick Mahomes in the postseason. Kansas City is locked into the No. 3 seed, and play the Chargers next week.
Finally, Cincinnati, Denver and Las Vegas were eliminated from contention (the Bears are mathematically alive, but don't control their own destiny). The Bengals were +260 to miss the playoffs at BetMGM heading into the season while the Bears were -200, Broncos -225 and Raiders -450.
