With one week to go within the N.F.L. common season, 5 groups are competing for the final two open spots. This can be a a lot clearer playoff image than final season, when 11 groups had been competing for 5 spots.
For a lot of groups, the seeding implications of the ultimate week are nonetheless as vital as ever. The loser of the Vikings-Lions recreation, as an example, must play on the street as a wild-card staff, whereas the winner will get a No. 1 seed and a bye.
And a variety of groups could have their playoff seeding determined not simply by whether or not they win or lose their very own recreation but additionally by the outcomes of different video games. The bushes beneath present how the ultimate weekend will form the seeding outcomes for each remaining contender.
If you wish to discover all doable outcomes in additional element, our interactive playoff simulator allows you to set the end result of any recreation and see how that modifications the playoff possibilities for every staff.
(One word: The bushes present eventualities that embody ties, however within the discussions beneath we assume there gained’t be any ties.)
AFC East
Buffalo Payments 13-3
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #2 Seed Worst consequence #2 Seed Present #2 Seed
Scroll down if you’d like one thing extra attention-grabbing. The Payments would be the No. 2 seed. They may play the lowest-seeded A.F.C. wild-card staff.
Doable opponents as No. 2 seed: Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins 8-8
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #7 Seed Worst consequence Out Present Out
With two straight wins, the Dolphins have stayed alive within the playoff hunt. In the event that they win in opposition to the 4-12 Jets, they simply want the Denver Broncos to lose to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs to get in.
It’s unsure if Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will play this weekend. It’s additionally unclear how a lot the Kansas Metropolis starters will relaxation this weekend now that the Chiefs have locked up the highest seed.
Opponent if No. 7 seed: Buffalo Payments
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens 11-5
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #3 Seed Worst consequence #5 Seed Present #3 Seed
After Baltimore’s Christmas Day victory and Pittsburgh’s loss, the Ravens can win the division in the event that they beat the visiting 3-13 Browns. They may also win the division if the Steelers lose to the Bengals.
If the Ravens win the division, they would be the No. 3 seed. In the event that they don’t, they would be the No. 5 seed.
Doable opponents if No. 3 seed: Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Opponent if No. 5 seed: Houston Texans
Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #3 Seed Worst consequence #6 Seed Present #5 Seed
The Steelers misplaced management of the A.F.C. North final week. To reclaim it (and the No. 3 seed), they should win and hope for a Ravens loss in opposition to the 3-13 Browns. Way more doubtless, the Steelers will enter the playoffs as a wild card, as both the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
Opponent if No. 3 seed: Los Angeles Chargers
Opponent if No. 5 seed: Houston Texans
Opponent if No. 6 seed: Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals 8-8
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #7 Seed Worst consequence Out Present Out
The Bengals are final in line to get the No. 7 seed. Not solely do they should win (in opposition to the 10-6 Steelers), however in addition they want the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins to lose. In our simulations this occurs about 15 % of the time.
Opponent if No. 7 seed: Buffalo Payments
AFC South
Houston Texans 9-7
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #4 Seed Worst consequence #4 Seed Present #4 Seed
The Texans can relaxation key gamers this week as their last recreation in opposition to the Tennessee Titans may have no influence on playoff seeding. Houston will host a playoff recreation because the No. 4 seed in opposition to the top-ranked wild-card staff.
Doable opponents as No. 4 seed: Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens
AFC West
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs 15-1
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #1 Seed Worst consequence #1 Seed Present #1 Seed
On Christmas Day, the Chiefs sealed the highest seed and bye, giving them a number of weeks off between significant video games.
On Sunday, they play the Denver Broncos, who’re nonetheless in rivalry. If the Broncos win that recreation, Cincinnati and Miami shall be knocked out of the playoffs.
As No. 1 seed: Bye
Los Angeles Chargers 10-6
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #5 Seed Worst consequence #6 Seed Present #6 Seed
The Chargers made the playoffs with their win over the Patriots final weekend. They may most certainly enter the playoffs because the No. 6 seed, although with a win and a few luck they might transfer as much as a neater first-round recreation at No. 5.
Opponent if No. 5 seed: Houston Texans
Doable opponents if No. 6 seed: Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers
Denver Broncos 9-7
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #7 Seed Worst consequence Out Present #7 Seed
The Broncos have failed two weeks in a row to clinch a playoff spot. They play the 15-1 Chiefs this weekend, who will most likely be resting most key gamers. The Broncos can earn a No. 7 seed in the event that they win, or they will hope that each Cincinnati and Miami lose.
Opponent if No. 7 seed: Buffalo Payments
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles 13-3
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #2 Seed Worst consequence #2 Seed Present #2 Seed
With their win over Dallas final weekend, the Eagles would be the No. 2 seed within the N.F.C.
Doable opponents as No. 2 seed: Inexperienced Bay Packers, Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders 11-5
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #6 Seed Worst consequence #7 Seed Present #6 Seed
The Commanders clinched a playoff spot with their dramatic additional time victory in opposition to Atlanta final weekend. A win in opposition to Dallas could be a great way to safe a greater matchup of their first playoff recreation.
Doable opponents if No. 6 seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams
Opponent if No. 7 seed: Philadelphia Eagles
NFC North
Detroit Lions 14-2
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #1 Seed Worst consequence #5 Seed Present #1 Seed
The Lions-Vikings recreation on Sunday evening will decide who wins the N.F.C. North and the highest seed. The loser will drop to the No. 5 seed and be the primary 13-win staff since 1999 to must accept a wild card.
If No. 1 seed: Bye
Doable opponents if No. 5 seed: Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons
Minnesota Vikings 14-2
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #1 Seed Worst consequence #5 Seed Present #5 Seed
The Vikings will win the highest seed in the event that they beat the Lions, however will drop to No. 5 in the event that they lose.
If No. 1 seed: Bye
Doable opponents if No. 5 seed: Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons
Inexperienced Bay Packers 11-5
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #6 Seed Worst consequence #7 Seed Present #7 Seed
The 11-5 Inexperienced Bay Packers would be the No. 6 or No. 7 seed. They might lose the tiebreaker to the Commanders for seeding, so to seize the No. 6 seed they should win whereas the Commanders lose.
Doable opponents if No. 6 seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams
Opponent if No. 7 seed: Philadelphia Eagles
NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-7
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #3 Seed Worst consequence Out Present #4 Seed
Final weekend was a superb one for Tampa Bay, with a win and a Falcons loss to the Commanders. Though the Bucs would lose a tiebreaker to Atlanta, they’re up by one recreation within the N.F.C. South, so to win the division they simply have to win their final recreation or see the Falcons lose once more.
They’ll enter the playoffs as a No. 3 or No. 4 seed. In the event that they don’t win the division, they don’t have any path to a wild-card berth.
Doable opponents if No. 3 seed: Washington Commanders, Inexperienced Bay Packers
Doable opponents if No. 4 seed: Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions
Atlanta Falcons 8-8
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #4 Seed Worst consequence Out Present Out
The Falcons’ additional time loss to the Commanders final weekend could value them a playoff spot. Though they play the 4-12 Panthers this weekend, the Buccaneers play the 5-11 Saints and may knock out Atlanta in the event that they win.
In our simulations, the Falcons sneak in about 17 % of the time.
Doable opponents if No. 4 seed: Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions
NFC West
Los Angeles Rams 10-6
Remaining recreation Greatest consequence #3 Seed Worst consequence #4 Seed Present #3 Seed
The Rams began the season 1-4 however have clinched a playoff spot with every week to spare.
In the event that they win this weekend, they would be the No. 3 seed. In the event that they lose, they might nonetheless seize the No. 3 seed, however would most certainly fall to No. 4.
Doable opponents if No. 3 seed: Washington Commanders, Inexperienced Bay Packers
Doable opponents if No. 4 seed: Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions
