A current glance at the NFL playoff rankings and news on the teams fighting for the last few spots in the postseason.
NFL Week 18 narratives to follow: Who advances to the playoffs?
Finally, the NFL regular season is coming to an end, and my, what a crazy adventure football has been!
major quarterback injuries on a large scale. Some of their backups had heroic performances that saved the season, while others were complete failures. Unusual difficulties for the leaders. Underdog teams’ incredible triumph against all odds. achievements by elite athletes that push records. Three coach firings throughout the season. And there will naturally be a packed playoff pitch.
Nine teams still have a chance to make the playoffs when play begins on Sunday. Only four of those clubs will have advanced to the postseason after everything is said and done; the remaining teams will enter the offseason.
Here is a summary of five of the most intriguing plots as Week 18 of the regular season draws to a close on Sunday.
As we approach Week 18, the NFL playoff landscape in the wild card for both conferences remains incredibly muddied.
While seven NFC clubs are still qualified for the postseason and have a chance to secure a postseason berth this weekend, five AFC teams are competing for two wild cards in addition to the AFC South.
Related Article: Game Update: The Texans defeated the Colts 23-19 to punch their way to the playoffs
AFC clubs will be cheering for the Titans to defeat Jacksonville on Sunday. The Titans can help the Bills and Steelers qualify for the playoffs, but the Texans need to lose to the Jaguars in order to win the AFC South.
The following two days ought to be really interesting. See every NFL playoff scenario down below, and check back often since it will be updated all weekend long.
NFL Week 18 narratives to follow: Who advances to the playoffs?
Finally, the NFL regular season is coming to an end, and my, what a crazy adventure football has been!
major quarterback injuries on a large scale. Some of their backups had heroic performances that saved the season, while others were complete failures. Unusual difficulties for the leaders. Underdog teams’ incredible triumph against all odds. achievements by elite athletes that push records. Three coach firings throughout the season. And there will naturally be a packed playoff pitch.
Nine teams still have a chance to make the playoffs when play begins on Sunday. Only four of those clubs will have advanced to the postseason after everything is said and done; the remaining teams will enter the offseason.
NFL Playoffs: Week 18 Updated Following the Texas Texans’ victory over Indianapolis on Saturday
AFC Playoff Picture Leaders by Division
- Baltimore Ravens (13-4) (home field advantage, first seed, and AFC North clinched)
- Miami Dolphins (11-5) (won a trip to the playoffs)
This week: 7:20 p.m. CT vs. Buffalo on NBC on Sunday
AFC East winning scenarios: A Dolphins victory or draw secures the AFC East for the Dolphins. - Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)—they secured the third seed in the AFC West.
- Houston Texans (10-7) (won a trip to the playoffs)
This week: triumphed 23–19 in Indianapolis
Possibilities for securing the AFC South: A Texans victory and a Jaguars defeat or draw would mean the Texans had won the AFC South.
Wild cards - Cleveland Browns (11-5) (No. 5 seed and guaranteed postseason place)
- Bills of Buffalo (10-6)
At Miami this week at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC on Sunday
Possible outcomes for winning the AFC East: If the Bills triumph on Sunday, they will have won the AFC East.
Postseason-clinching scenarios: A Bills tie OR a Jaguars defeat or tie secures a postseason berth for the Bills.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7): Victorious against Baltimore this week, 17-10
Playoff-clinching scenarios: A Steelers victory and a Bills loss OR a Steelers victory and a Jaguars loss or tie secures the Steelers’ spot in the playoffs.
Looking in from the outside
- Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)
This week: on Sunday at noon CT on CBS in Tennessee
AFC South winning scenarios: A victory by the Jaguars secures the AFC South.
UPDATE: The Jaguars must win the AFC South in order to go to the playoffs after the Steelers’ victory on Saturday.
Out of the running for the playoffs
- Colts of Indianapolis (9-8)
- Broncos of Denver (8-8)
- Bengals of Cincinnati (8-8)
- Raiders of Las Vegas (7-9)
- Jets of New York (6-10)
- Titans of Tennessee (5-11)
- Chargers of Los Angeles (5-11)
- Patriots of New England (4-12)
Texans punch a postseason ticket after the Colts’ fruitless attempt at a comeback
The Houston Texans defeated the Indianapolis Colts 23–19 at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, booking their spot in the postseason for just the seventh time in team history. With the victorious club moving on to the postseason and the losing team returning home to try again the next year, the regular-season finale functioned as a de facto playoff game.
After an early Colts field goal, the Texans needed only one play to produce their first offensive burst of the game: rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with Nico Collins for a 75-yard touchdown reception to give the team a 7-3 lead. Collins’s performance was jam-packed with highlights, such as his nine 195-yard grabs and his diving catch to convert on second-and-14. Stroud completed 20 of 26 passes for two touchdowns and 264 yards.
Sources:
https://theathletic.com/live-blogs/nfl-playoffs-bracket-updates-matchups-projections/pLkFasdFKNQJ/?redirected=1&source=googlesearch&access_token=14840579&isNewUser=1
https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2024/01/06/nfl-playoff-scenarios-week-18-playoff-picture-afc-wild-card/72099988007/
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