NFL Playoff Image 2024-25: Bracket Clinching and Elimination Situations for Week 17

Heading into the ultimate two weeks of the 2024 NFL common season, six of the 14 playoff spots throughout each conferences stay up for grabs. 5 of these spots could possibly be locked up by the tip of Week 17.

Listed here are the up to date playoff standings, together with the clinching and elimination situations for groups in Week 17.

Week 16 introduced some potential readability to the highest of the postseason area. The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are one win or a loss by the Buffalo Payments away from securing the No. 1 seed within the AFC for the third time since 2018.

Sunday’s loss by the Philadelphia Eagles means the most-likely No. 1 seed within the NFC might be both the Detroit Lions or Minnesota Vikings. The NFC North is liable for three of the 4 playoff spots already locked up within the convention.

This text might be up to date quickly to offer extra info and evaluation.

NFC Standings

Division Leaders

1. Detroit Lions (13-2, NFC North; clinched playoff berth)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3, NFC East; clinched playoff berth)

3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6, NFC West)

4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7, NFC South)

Wild Card

5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2; clinched playoff berth)

6. Inexperienced Bay Packers (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

7. Washington Commanders (10-5)

On the Bubble

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

9. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)

Eradicated

10. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)

11. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)

12. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

14. Chicago Bears (4-11)

15. Carolina Panthers (4-11)

16. New York Giants (2-13)

AFC Standings

Division Leaders

1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (14-1, clinched AFC West)

2. Buffalo Payments (12-3, clinched AFC East)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5, AFC North; clinched playoff berth)

4. Houston Texans (9-6, clinched AFC South)

Wild Card

5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5; clinched playoff berth)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)

7. Denver Broncos (9-6)

On the Bubble

8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

9. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)

Eradicated

11. New York Jets (4-11)

12. Cleveland Browns (3-12)

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)

14. Tennessee Titans (3-12)

15. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)

16. New England Patriots (3-12)

Detroit Lions Clinch NFC North, NFC No. 1 seed and House-Discipline Benefit

Philadelphia Eagles Clinch NFC East

Los Angeles Rams Clinch NFC West Situations

Atlanta Falcons Clinch NFC South

Washington Commanders Clinch Playoff Berth

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs Clinch AFC No. 1 seed and House-Discipline Benefit

Los Angeles Chargers Clinch Playoff Berth

Denver Broncos Clinch Playoff Berth

When it as soon as appeared just like the NFC West would come all the way down to the Week 18 matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium has dramatically swung in favor of the Rams.

Having gained three straight video games mixed with the Seahawks dropping their final two video games, the Rams might win the division for the primary time since their Tremendous Bowl-winning season in 2021 with a victory over the Cardinals and a Seattle loss to the Chicago Bears.

There are different extra difficult situations for the Rams to win the division involving power of victory that might contain a number of groups needing to win, however the easiest one is that if they maintain their very own enterprise and the Seahawks stumble but once more.

The Week 18 recreation that might have probably the most at stake entails the Vikings and Lions at Ford Discipline. It could possibly be rendered moot, although, as a result of Detroit has a winnable recreation this week in opposition to a 49ers group hobbling to the end line and Minnesota has to host the Inexperienced Bay Packers.

Regardless of having their division title hopes delayed on Sunday, the Eagles are nonetheless getting ready to profitable the NFC East with a win in both of their last two video games or a loss by the Commanders.

Michael Penix’s profitable debut for the Atlanta Falcons mixed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers failing to maintain enterprise in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys has Atlanta again within the driver seat for the NFC South.

The Falcons have a tricky recreation in opposition to the Commanders they need to win and a Bucs loss to the Carolina Panthers to earn their first journey to the playoffs since 2017.

On the AFC aspect, your complete area could possibly be set as quickly as Sunday. The Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos are near locks, with their solely likelihood of lacking out being in the event that they lose out over the ultimate two weeks and at the very least one of many Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins or Cincinnati Bengals profitable out.

NFC Elimination Situations

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs have been a troublesome group to determine this season. They began sturdy with a 4-2 document, misplaced their subsequent 4 video games going into the bye, then returned in Week 12 to begin a four-game profitable streak earlier than Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys.

Within the midst of that four-game dropping streak was two losses to the Falcons, leaving them prone to dropping the division if the 2 groups find yourself tied within the standings. Atlanta moved again into the driving force seat because of a 34-7 win over the Giants on Sunday.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are one other group that went on a four-game profitable streak popping out of their bye earlier than operating right into a street block the previous two weeks. The schedule-makers did not do them any favors with back-to-back video games in opposition to the Packers and Vikings, however that they had a chance to beat Minnesota on Sunday earlier than Justin Jefferson’s go-ahead landing catch with below 4 minutes to play.

There’s nonetheless an excellent likelihood the Seahawks and Rams meet in Los Angeles for the NFC West title in Week 18, however they might discover themselves on the surface wanting in in the event that they hit upon Thursday in opposition to the Chicago Bears and a Rams win on Saturday night time.

AFC Elimination Situations

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

Cincinnati Bengals

Somewhat than single these three groups out, it is a lot simpler to lump the dialogue collectively as a result of their fates are all intertwined.

Crucial recreation is on Saturday with the Bengals internet hosting the Denver Broncos. A Denver win ends any suspense as a result of the Broncos might be within the playoffs for the primary time since profitable the Tremendous Bowl within the 2015 season.

If the Bengals win that recreation, their playoff hopes will stay alive till the ultimate week of the common season. The Colts and Dolphins would each need to win on Sunday in an effort to have one thing to play for in Week 18.

The schedule units up properly for the Colts to doubtlessly play spoiler if the Broncos lose this week. Their last two video games are in opposition to the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars, who’ve a mixed document of 5-25.

If the Chiefs lock up the No. 1 seed this week, the Broncos will possible be enjoying a whole lot of Kansas Metropolis’s backups of their Week 18 matchup at Empower Discipline.

On the prospect that each the Chargers and Broncos lose out, the Colts and Dolphins would each make the playoffs by profitable considered one of their last two video games. The Bengals would get in in the event that they win out, the Chargers and Broncos lose out and the Dolphins and Colts lose at the very least one recreation.

Despite the fact that that situation is extraordinarily unlikely, it does communicate nicely of the Bengals that they might nonetheless be in playoff competition going into Week 18 contemplating most analysts have been eulogizing them after falling to 4-8 following a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13.