With one week to go until the 2023 NFL regular season ends, the playoff races are as wild and confusing as ever. The AFC and NFC each entered Week 17 with 12 teams still mathematically alive. Heading into Week 18, the AFC still has three playoff spots up for grabs. An AFC East title showdown between the Bills and Dolphins highlights the action. In the NFC, six teams are fighting for the last two places.
Below, the tiebreakers for each team will be explained. Here’s a look at the current standings and what each competitor is facing.
AFC Playoff Photo
1 |
z-Crows |
13 |
3 |
0 |
.813 |
+210 |
2 |
x-dolphins |
11 |
5 |
0 |
.688 |
+112 |
3 | y-Chefs |
ten |
6 |
0 |
.625 |
+76 |
4 | Jaguar |
9 |
7 |
0 |
.563 |
+14 |
5 | x-Browns | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | +51 |
6 | Invoices | ten | 6 | 0 | .625 | +133 |
7 | Colts | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | -15 |
8 | Texans | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | +20 |
9 | Steelers | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | -27 |
ten | e-Bengals | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | -35 |
11 | e-Broncos | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | -2 |
12 | e-Raiders | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | -12 |
13 | e-Jets | 6 | ten | 0 | .375 | -101 |
14 | e-Titans | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | -70 |
15 | e-Chargers | 5 | 11 | 0 | .333 | -51 |
16 | e-Patriots | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | -116 |
za won home field advantage
x-clinched a playoff berth
unhooked Y division
e-eliminated
What to do know: The Ravens clinched first place in the AFC with their win over the Dolphins in Week 17. They have a first-round bye.
Remaining schedule: against the Steelers
Miami Dolphins
What there is to know: Miami remains the No. 2 seed in the AFC despite losing to Baltimore. The Dolphins will face the Bills for the AFC East title next week.
Remaining schedule: vs invoices
Kansas City Chiefs
What there is to know: The Chiefs won the AFC West title and are currently the No. 3 seed, knocked out of home field advantage in the AFC.
Remaining schedule: at the shippers
Jacksonville Jaguars
What there is to know: The Jaguars are still the No. 4 seed in the AFC and still first in the AFC South. The Jaguars have the tiebreaker against the Texans and Colts for the division lead.
Remaining schedule: among the Titans
What there is to know: The Browns are the fifth seed in the AFC and cannot advance any higher, with the Ravens winning the division.
Remaining schedule: among the Bengals
Buffalo Bills
What there is to know: The Bills remain seeded No. 6 thanks to their victory against the Patriots. They will face the Dolphins for the AFC East title next week.
Remaining schedule: among the Dolphins
Indianapolis Colts
What there is to know: The Colts are currently the No. 7 seed in the AFC after their win over the Raiders, holding tiebreakers against the Texans (No. 8) and Steelers (No. 9). Indianapolis and Houston will play next week to keep the season alive, as a Colts win will secure them a playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: against the Texans
Houston Texans
What there is to know: Houston is currently No. 8 and remains out of the playoffs after the win over Tennessee, losing the tiebreaker to Indianapolis for the No. 7 seed. The Texans also have the tiebreaker against the Steelers, and a win will keep their postseason chances alive.
Remaining schedule: at the Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers
What there is to know: The Steelers stayed in the race with their victory against the Seahawks. Pittsburgh (No. 9) loses tiebreaker to the Colts and Texans. They need a win against the Ravens and some help to make the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: among the Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
What there is to know: The Bengals are eliminated from the playoffs following their loss to the Chiefs.
Remaining schedule: against the browns
What there is to know: The Broncos are eliminated from the playoffs, even with their victory against the Chargers.
Remaining schedule: with the Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders
What there is to know: The Raiders are eliminated.
Remaining schedule: against the Broncos
What there is to know: The Jets are eliminated.
Remaining schedule: among the Patriots
Los Angeles Chargers
What there is to know: The Chargers are eliminated.
Remaining schedule: against the leaders
Tennessee Titans
What there is to know: The Titans are eliminated.
Remaining schedule: against the Jaguars
New England Patriots
What there is to know: The Patriots are eliminated.
Remaining schedule: against the Jets
NFC Playoff Photo
1 |
z-49ers |
12 |
4 |
0 |
.773 |
+194 |
2 |
x-Cowboys |
11 |
5 |
0 |
.688 |
+166 |
3 | y-Lions | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | +56 |
4 |
Buccaneers |
8 |
8 |
0 |
.500 |
+14 |
5 | x-Eagles | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | +22 |
6 | X-Rams | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | +26 |
7 | Packers | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | +25 |
8 | sea hawks | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | -39 |
9 | Saints | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | +44 |
ten | Vikings | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | -8 |
11 | e-bear | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | -11 |
12 | Falcons | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | -21 |
13 | e-Giants | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | -158 |
14 | Electronic Commanders | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | -161 |
15 | e-Cardinals | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | -124 |
16 | e-Panthers | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | -171 |
za won home field advantage
x-clinched a playoff berth
unhooked Y division
e-eliminated
What there is to know: The 49ers clinched home-field advantage in the NFC with their win and the Eagles’ loss. They will have a bye in the first round.
Remaining schedule: against the rams
What there is to know: Dallas returns to second place with its victory against the Lions and the Eagles’ defeat against the Cardinals. They clinch the NFC East with a victory next week.
Remaining schedule: among the commanders
Detroit Lions
What there is to know: The Lions clinched the NFC North and are currently the No. 3 seed in the NFC.
Remaining schedule: against the Vikings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What there is to know: The Buccaneers continue to lead the NFC South even with their loss to the Saints. They set up the tiebreaker based on best winning percentage in joint matches and can clinch the division with a victory next week.
Remaining schedule: among the Panthers
Philadelphia Eagles
What there is to know: The Eagles fall to fifth in the NFC – and out of the division lead – with their loss to the Cardinals. Philadelphia needs a win and a Dallas loss in Week 18 to win the NFC East.
Remaining schedule: among the Giants
Los Angeles Rams
What there is to know: The Rams clinched a playoff spot with their win over the Giants coupled with the Seahawks’ loss to the Steelers. They are the No. 6 seed in the conference.
Remaining schedule: at 49ers
Green Bay Packers
What there is to know: The Packers moved up to 7th place with their big win against the Vikings and can clinch a playoff spot with a win against the Bears in Week 18.
Remaining schedule: against the bears
Seattle Seahawks
What there is to know: The Seahawks sit in 8th place but no longer control their own playoff destiny after losing to the Steelers. They hold the tiebreaker against the Saints (No. 9) thanks to their better record in conference games.
Remaining schedule: among the cardinals
New Orleans Saints
What there is to know: The Saints are No. 9 after their win over the Buccaneers, now tied for first in the NFC South. Tampa Bay has the best winning percentage in running games, so the Buccaneers hold the tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: against the hawks
Minnesota Vikings
What there is to know: The Vikings are No. 10 in the NFC and on life support. They need a win against the Lions in Week 18 and a lot of help to make the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: among the Lions
Chicago Bear
What there is to know: The Bears were eliminated due to the Packers’ victory against the Vikings.
Remaining schedule: at Packers
Atlanta Falcons
What there is to know: The Falcons fall to 12th with their loss to the Bears, still one game back in the NFC South. Atlanta ends its regular season with New Orleans, still mathematically alive in the division race.
Remaining schedule: among the saints
New York Giants
What there is to know: The Giants are eliminated.
Remaining schedule: against the Eagles
Washington Commanders
What there is to know: The commanders are eliminated.
Remaining schedule: against the cowboys
Arizona Cardinals
What there is to know: The Cardinals are eliminated.
Remaining schedule: against the Seahawks
Carolina Panthers
What there is to know: The Panthers are eliminated.
Remaining schedule: against the buccaneers