Think Week 18 is just another weekend of football? Think again. A whopping 20 of the NFL’s 32 teams are still postseason eligible entering the final week of the regular season. That ties the NFL record set in 2006 — and that year was shortened due to a strike.
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CLINCHING CHAOS: WEEK 18 SCENARIOS
Who’s In? Who’s Out? And Who Needs Whose Help in Unprecedented Week 18?
Think Week 18 is just another weekend of football? Think again. A whopping 20 of the NFL’s 32 teams are still postseason-eligible entering the final week of the regular season. That ties the NFL record set in 2006 — and that year was shortened due to a strike. What you’re about to witness on Saturday and Sunday is unlike anything seen before in the NFL’s Super Bowl era. Nine teams have clinched while 11 squads enter the weekend with their fates up in the air… Eleven! That means 1/3 of the league hinges on an 11th-hour miracle scenario. Lucky for you, we cracked the codes on every possible outcome. Eleven squads. Five open spots. Dozens of potential playoff brackets. Let’s crunch some numbers.
Who’s In?
AFC: Ravens (13-3)
AFC: Dolphins (11-5)
AFC: Chiefs (10-6)
AFC: Browns (11-5)
NFC: 49ers (12-4)
NFC: Cowboys (11-5)
NFC: Lions (11-5)
NFC: Eagles (11-5)
NFC: Rams (9-7)
Available Playoff Spots
AFC: 3 Open
NFC: 2 Open
AFC Clinching Scenarios
(5 Teams, 3 Spots)
Bills (10-6) → 87% Playoff Probability
In With Win Over Dolphins (OR) Losses by Steelers (OR) Jaguars
*Bills Can Win AFC East and No. 2 Seed or Miss the Playoffs Entirely
Jaguars (9-7) → 68% Playoff Probability
In With Win Over Titans (OR) Loss by Steelers (AND) Colts-Texans Doesn’t End in Tie
Colts (9-7) → 46% Playoff Probability
In With Win Over Texans (OR) Losses by Steelers (AND) Jaguars
Texans (9-7) → 53% Playoff Probability
In With Win Over Colts (AND) Losses by Jaguars (OR) Steelers
Steelers (9-7) → 46% Playoff Probability
In With Win Over Ravens (AND) Losses by Bills (OR) Jaguars
*Remember: The Ravens are resting their starters
NFC Clinching Scenarios
(6 Teams, 2 Spots)
Buccaneers (8-8) → 63% Playoff Probability
In With Win Over Panthers (NFC South Champs)
Packers (8-8) → 63% Playoff Probability
In With Win Over Bears (OR) Losses by Seahawks (AND) Either Saints or Bucs
Seahawks (8-8) → 25% Playoff Probability
In With Win Over Cardinals (AND) Losses by Packers (AND) Either Saints or Bucs
Saints (8-8) → 31% Playoff Probability
In With Win Over Falcons (AND) Loss by Bucs (OR) Losses by Seahawks (AND) Packers
Falcons (7-9) → 14% Playoff Probability
In With Win Over Saints (AND) Loss by Bucs
Vikings (7-9) → 4% Playoff Probability
In With Win Over Lions (AND) Losses by Seahawks (AND) Either Saints or Bucs
Got all that? We knew you could handle it. No matter how you spin it (or how we try to make sense of all the potential outcomes), you can simply look at the playoff seeding and decipher if your team needs a victory this weekend, then math out who else to root for. A lot can change in the next 72 hours. We’ll know the playoffs by Monday. Here are the games that will determine who’s in and who’s out.
Week 18 Games With Playoff Implications
Steelers at Ravens (Sat. 4:30 pm ET, ESPN)
Texans at Colts (Sat. 8:15 pm ET, ESPN)
Buccaneers at Panthers (Sun. 1:00 pm ET, FOX)
Vikings at Lions (Sun. 1:00 pm ET, FOX)
Falcons at Saints (Sun. 1:00 pm ET, CBS)
Jaguars at Titans (Sun. 1:00 pm ET, CBS)
Seahawks at Cardinals (Sun. 4:25 pm ET, FOX)
Bears at Packers (Sun. 4:25 pm ET, CBS)
Bills at Dolphins (Sun. 8:20 pm ET, NBC)
