Week 18: NFL Playoff Outlook

01/03/2024

By: Jeff Yoder

9 of 14 Playoff Spots Claimed Entering Final Week of NFL Regular Season

The NFL Playoffs are just around the corner, and we now know nine of the 14 postseason teams following the holiday break. The Baltimore Ravens extended their win streak to six games with wins against the 49ers (33-19) and Dolphins (56-19). Those are two of the top teams in the league. The AFC Playoffs officially run through Baltimore. Was Christmas Day (49ers-Ravens) a Super Bowl LVIII preview? And is Lamar Jackson now the runaway MVP? He’s now at -20000 odds to win it. There’s much to love about Baltimore’s potential hardware haul coming in the next month.

The Last 5 Spots (Scenarios)

Eleven teams are still eligible for the final five playoff bids entering Week 18 — the final week of the regular season. The keys to the postseason reside in the NFC South (Bucs, Saints, Falcons) and AFC South (Colts, Texans, Jaguars). Neither of those divisions has solidified a winner, and those divisional races are all tight. The Seahawks, Packers, Vikings and Steelers are also clinging to postseason hope. That’s ten. The Bills are the outlier — not technically in — but they have a 94% chance of making the playoffs. Here’s a look at the postseason standings.

AFC Playoffs

1. NORTH: Ravens (13-3)*

2. EAST: Dolphins (11-5)*

3. WEST: Chiefs (10-6)*

4. SOUTH: Jaguars (9-7)

5. WC: Browns (11-5)*

6. WC: Bills (10-6)

7. WC: Colts (9-7)

In the Hunt: Texans (9-7), Steelers (9-7)

NFC Playoffs

1. WEST: 49ers (12-4)*

2. EAST: Cowboys (11-5)*

3. NORTH: Lions (11-5)*

4. SOUTH: Buccaneers (8-8)

5. WC: Eagles (11-5)*

6. WC: Rams (9-7)*

7. WC: Packers (8-8)

In the Hunt: Seahawks (8-8), Saints (8-8), Vikings (7-9), Falcons (7-9)

Full NFL Playoff Picture

*There are no Thursday Night or Monday Night NFL games in Week 18 (only Saturday and Sunday). We’ll have more on the playoff-clinching scenarios in Friday’s edition.

ESPN: NFL Week 18 Futures Odds: Super Bowl, MVP & More

NBC Sports: With 1 Week Left, Lamar Jackson’s MVP Case Seems to be Insurmountable

Y! Sports: NFL Week 18 Playoff Scenarios: Cowboys, Bills, Dolphins Control Division Fate

Photo: Loren Elliot / Getty Images