After one of the most uncertain periods in modern NFL history, with games suspended and then canceled, Week 18 saw Bills safety Dummer Hamlin face a life-threatening injury. It goes according to plan with the good news that we are making rapid progress.
thursday league announced That game will go ahead as scheduled and will not constitute a Bills-Bengals game. The AFC’s #1 seed will be awarded based on winning percentage, and conference championship games may be played at neutral sites depending on participating teams.
As the NFL noted in its announcement, there is a “competitive unfairness” to any decision the NFL may have made. But for most teams, the playoff situation remains the same. In the NFC, his three teams — the Lions, the Packers and the Seahawks — are vying for the final conference spot in the postseason. And in the AFC, the Patriots, Dolphins and Steelers are vying for the remaining wild card spots.
In both conferences, the No. 1 seed remains in the running, with the Chiefs and Bills battling for the lead in the AFC, and the Eagles, Cowboys and 49ers battling for the lead in the NFC.
The chart below shows the playoff passes for each team. It lists all the ways teams make the playoffs, or drop out of the playoffs. A tree diagram starts with a particular team and shows, from left to right, the potential outcomes of the game that may be important to that team in chronological order.
They’ll be updated throughout the weekend and linked to an interactive playoff simulator that lets you explore every scenario.
One note: the text does not take into account ties. However, if you want to explore how a draw affects each team’s playoff pass, I’ve included a button in each tree.
AFC East
buffalo bills (12-3)
Remaining games: Patriots
The Bills host the Patriots and can be either the No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the AFC. 1 kind. Saturday’s win combined with a win for the Raiders gives the Bills the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye.
new england patriots (8-8)
Remaining games: at Bills
The Patriots are hoping to clinch the 7th seed, the last spot in the AFC playoffs. They must visit the bill and win. (If they do, the Bills may play again a week from now if they become the No. 2 seed.) If the Patriots lose, if the Titans, Dolphins, and Steelers also lose, they can move forward. increase.
miami dolphins (8-8)
Games Remaining: Jets
A loss to the Patriots in Week 17 knocked the Dolphins out of the playoffs, but they’re still on the road to the No. 7 seed. They have to beat the Jets and I hope the Patriots lose to the Buffaloes and he loses to the Bills 12-3. Otherwise they are out.
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals (11-4)
Remaining games: Ravens
The Bengals don’t get the No. 1 seed or a bye week after no results against Buffalo in Cincinnati. If they win and the Bills lose, the Bengals will be the second seed and host the Patriots, Dolphins, Steelers or Jaguars. Otherwise, they would be the No. 3 seed and host the Ravens or Chargers.
Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
Remaining games: Bengals
The Ravens are in the playoffs but are falling behind the Bengals in the AFC North. Advance to the playoffs as the 5th or 6th seed.
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)
Remaining games: Browns
Like the Patriots and Dolphins, the Steelers have their way to the last spot in the AFC, representing the seventh seed at 9-8. But of all the teams on the brink of elimination, the Steelers have the narrowest road ahead. They have to win—they’re hosting the 7-9 Browns—and want the Dolphins and Patriots to lose.
AFC South
jacksonville jaguars (8-8)
Remaining games: Titans
The Jaguars will play for the AFC South title when they host the Titans on Saturday. A win would give him the 4th seed and his wild card game at home against the Ravens or Chargers. As the No. 7 seed, the Dolphins, Steelers, and Patriots could all lose a game or still make the playoffs.
Tennessee Titans (7-9)
Remaining games: Jaguars
The Titans are playing for the division title and a playoff berth. A win over the Jaguars would host the Ravens or Chargers in the wildcard round. If they lose, they are eliminated.
AFC West
kansas city chiefs (13-3)
Remaining games: Raiders
The Chiefs can’t do worse than the No. 2 seed in the AFC, and can beat the Raiders to secure a first-round bye. Even if they lose, the Patriots can still clinch the No. 1 seed if they win away with the Bills.
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
Remaining games: Broncos
The Chargers will enter as a wildcard team. A win over the Broncos on Sunday would move them to the fifth seed and face either Jacksonville or Tennessee in the playoff opener. On the other hand, if the Ravens lose and win, the Chargers will be demoted to the sixth seed and face a tougher opponent in the first round: the Bengals or the Bills.
NFC East
philadelphia eagles (13-3)
Remaining games: Giants
For weeks, the Eagles have been looking to clinch the No. 1 seed in the division and the NFC with a bye week and home field advantage through the playoffs. But they are on his second losing streak, leaving some potential.
A win or draw with the Giants will still give them the number one seed. A Cowboys loss would give the Eagles the division title and at least the second seed. A loss and a Cowboys win would demote the Eagles to the fifth seed. They visited Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady and the Bucks in the wildcard round.
dallas cowboys (12-4)
Remaining Games: Commander
The Cowboys held out hopes of winning the division with last week’s win. If they win again and the Eagles lose, they’ll win the NFC East title, and if the 49ers also lose, they’ll get a first-round bye. Visit Tampa Bay for the first round of the playoffs.
new york giants (9-6-1)
Remaining games: Eagles
The Giants will be the No. 6 seed no matter what happens in Week 18. The No. 3 seed will face either the 49ers or the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs.
NFC North
Minnesota Vikings (12-4)
Remaining games: Bears
After a devastating loss to the Packers on Sunday, the Vikings are likely to drop to the No. 3 seed and host the Giants in the wildcard round. If they win and he 49ers lose, they will be the second seed and host the seventh seed (Packers, Lions, or Seahawks).
Green Bay Packers (8-8)
Remaining games: Lions
It’s easy for the Packers. A win would make him the 7th seed. They visited the 49ers, Vikings, Eagles, or Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs. A loss or draw eliminates them. They host the 8-8 Lions who are hoping for their first playoff appearance since the 2016 season.
detroit lions (8-8)
Remaining games: Packers
By the time the game begins against the Packers on Sunday night, the Lions may already be out of playoff contention. But if the Rams beat the Seahawks and the Lions beat the Packers in Green Bay, the Lions would qualify for the playoffs for the first time since his 2016 season.
NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)
Remaining games: Falcons
The Bucks will win the NFC South title and will host the No. 5 seed (presumably the Cowboys) in the first round. No matter what happens in Week 18, that will never change.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
Remaining games: Cardinals
The 49ers won the NFC West. A win over the Eagles on Sunday and a win over the Giants would give them the No. 1 seed and a first round bye. Otherwise, they would be the second or third seed and start the playoffs with either the Giants, the Seahawks, or the Lions-Packers game winner.
Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
Remaining games: Rams
The Seahawks are out of control of the playoff pass, but they still have a shot at the final wildcard spot in the NFC.Hope to beat the Rams at home and then see the Lions beat the Packers on Sunday night. . .
