2023 NFL playoff picture Updated AFC and NFC rankings crucial

2023 NFL playoff picture: Updated AFC and NFC rankings, crucial scenarios for Week 18 – NBC Sports

Nine teams have secured a playoff spot and five playoff spots are still up for grabs. Here's what the NFL playoff picture looks like heading into Week 18:

NFC playoff picture

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

1. 49ers (12-4): I secured the NFC No. 1 spot.

2. Cowboys (11-5): Has secured a spot in the playoffs and is in the tiebreaker against the Lions and Eagles.

3. Lions (11-5): Won the NFC North.

4. Buccaneers (8-8): Despite the loss to the Saints, the NFC South is in the hands of the Bucs.

WILD CARDS
5. Eagles (11-5): Clinched a spot in the playoffs.

6. Rams (9-7): Clinched a spot in the playoffs.

7. Packers (8-8): Possess the strength of the win tiebreaker over the Seahawks and the conference record tiebreaker over the Saints.

FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKS IN
8. Seahawks (8-8): The loss to the Steelers hurts, but a wild card spot is still in play.

9. Saints (8-8): They are clinging to their playoff hopes.

10. Vikings (7-9): Not out, but I have to win and get a lot of help.

11. Bears (7-9): Mathematically eliminated.

12. Falcons (7-9): I'm still clinging to NFC South hopes.

13. Giants (5-11): Mathematically eliminated.

14. Commanders (4-12): Mathematically eliminated.

15. Cardinals (4-12): Mathematically eliminated.

16. Panthers (2-14): Mathematically eliminated, he secured the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which the Panthers traded to the Bears.

AFC playoff picture

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

1. Ravens (13-3): Secured the AFC's No. 1 seed.

2. Dolphins (11-5): Clinched a playoff spot and will win the AFC East if they beat the Bills next week.

3. Bosses (10-6): Caught the AFC West and secured the No. 3 seed in the AFC.

4. Jaguars (9-7): Win the direct tiebreaker against the Colts and Texans in the AFC South.

WILD CARDS
5. Shades of Brown (11-5): Tied for the AFC No. 5 spot.

6. Bills (10-6): Will win the AFC East if they beat the Dolphins next week.

7. Stallions (9-7): The big showdown is coming for the Texans.

FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKS IN
8. Texans (9-7): The big showdown is coming for the Colts.

9. Steelers (9-7): Could benefit from playing against a Ravens team that rests its starters in Week 18.

10. Broncos (8-8): Mathematically eliminated.

11. Bengal (8-8): Mathematically eliminated.

12.Raiders (7-9): Mathematically eliminated.

13. Jets (6-10): Mathematically eliminated.

14. Titans (5-11): Mathematically eliminated.

15. Chargers (5-11): Mathematically eliminated.

16. Patriots (4-12): Mathematically eliminated.

Week 18: The decisive scenarios

The Cowboys will clinch the NFC East with a win or a loss for the Eagles.

The Eagles clinch the NFC East with a win and a Cowboys loss.

The Buccaneers secure the NFC South with a win.

The winner of the Saints-Falcons secures the NFC South with a loss against the Buccaneers.

The Dolphins-Bills winner wins the AFC East.

The Jaguars secure the AFC South with a win.

The Colts-Texans winner secures the AFC South with a loss to the Jaguars.

The Steelers secure a wild card with a win and a loss by the Bills or Jaguars.

The full official decision scenarios will be released by the NFL this week.