NFL Playoff Picture: AFC East and NFC West up for grabs in Week 18, as are final AFC playoff spots
The AFC playoff picture could be very simple, but it can also go off the rails in Week 18.
In the conference, there's two playoff spots, a division and the top seed still to be decided this weekend.
Most scenarios seem simple, until some of those things don't happen. What if the Titans or Colts lose as big favorites?
In the NFC, the West is down to Arizona and the LA Rams. The Rams clinch with a win or a Cardinals loss. Arizona clinches with a win and a Rams loss.
New Orleans needs a win and a 49ers loss to sneak into the playoffs, while San Francisco needs a win or a Saints loss against Atlanta.
There's more. Take a look at the full picture with scenarios below.
All times Central.
AFC Playoff Picture
Division leaders
1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-5, clinched AFC West)
This week: Won 28-24 at Denver
Clinching scenarios: Chiefs clinch No. 1 seed in AFC with a win and a Titans loss or tie.
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2. Tennessee Titans (11-5, clinched AFC South)
This week: at Houston, Noon Sunday on NewsChannel 5
Clinching scenarios: Titans clinch No. 1 seed in AFC with a win.
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3. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6, clinched AFC North)
This week: at Cleveland, Noon Sunday on FOX 17
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4. Buffalo Bills (10-6, AFC East leader, clinched playoff spot)
This week: vs. NY Jets, 3:25 p.m. Sunday on NewsChannel 5
Clinching scenarios: Bills clinch AFC East with a win OR a Patriots loss OR a tie and a Patriots tie.
Wild cards
5. New England Patriots (10-6, clinched playoff spot)
This week: at Miami, 3:25 p.m. Sunday on CBS
Clinching scenarios: Patriots clinch AFC East with a win and a Bills loss or tie OR a tie and a Bills loss.
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6. Indianapolis Colts (9-7)
This week: at Jacksonville, Noon Sunday on CBS
Clinching scenarios: Colts clinch a playoff berth with a win or tie OR a Chargers loss and a Steelers-Ravens tie OR a Chargers loss, a Steelers loss and a Dolphins win.
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7. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)
This week: at Las Vegas, 7:20 p.m. Sunday on NBC
Clinching scenarios: Chargers clinch a playoff berth with a win or tie.
Outside looking in
8. Las Vegas Raiders (9-7)
This week: vs. LA Chargers, 7:20 p.m. Sunday on NBC
Clinching scenarios: Raiders clinch a playoff berth with a win OR a tie and a Colts loss OR a Colts loss and a Steelers loss or tie.
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9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7-1)
This week: at Baltimore, Noon Sunday on CBS
Clinching scenarios: Steelers clinch a playoff berth with a win, a Colts loss and no tie in Chargers-Raiders.
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11. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
This week: vs. Pittsburgh
Clinching scenarios: Ravens clinch a playoff berth with a win, a Chargers loss, a Colts loss and a Dolphins loss or tie.
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Eliminated from playoff contention
10. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
12. Cleveland Browns (7-9)
13. Denver Broncos (7-10)
14. New York Jets (4-12)
15. Houston Texans (4-12)
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14)
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NFC playoff picture
Division leaders
1. Green Bay Packers (13-3, clinched NFC North, No. 1 seed)
This week: at Detroit, Noon Sunday on FOX
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2. Los Angeles Rams (12-4, NFC West leader, clinched playoff spot)
This week: vs. San Francisco, 3:25 p.m. Sunday on FOX 17
Clinching scenarios: Rams clinch NFC West with a win or tie OR a Cardinals loss or tie.
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3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4, clinched NFC South)
This week: vs. Carolina, 3:25 p.m. Sunday on CBS
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4. Dallas Cowboys (12-5, clinched NFC East)
This week: Won 51-26 at Philadelphia
Wild cards
5. Arizona Cardinals (11-5, clinched playoff spot)
This week: vs. Seattle, 3:25 p.m. Sunday on FOX 17
Clinching scenarios: Cardinals clinch NFC West with a win and a Rams loss.
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6. San Francisco 49ers (9-7)
This week: at LA Rams, 3:25 p.m. Sunday on FOX
Clinching scenarios: 49ers clinch playoff berth with a win or tie OR a Saints loss or tie.
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7. Philadelphia Eagles (9-8, clinched playoff spot)
This week: Lost 51-26 vs. Dallas
Outside looking in
8. New Orleans Saints (8-8)
This week: at Atlanta, 3:25 p.m. Sunday on FOX
Clinching scenarios: Saints clinch playoff berth with a win and a 49ers loss.
Eliminated from playoff contention
9. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
10. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
11. Washington Football Team (6-10)
12. Chicago Bears (6-10)
13. Seattle Seahawks (5-10)
14. Carolina Panthers (5-11)
15. New York Giants (4-12)
16. Detroit Lions (2-13-1)
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NFL Playoff Picture: AFC playoff spots up for grabs; Week 18 scenarios
