Assists were the theme of Week 17 in the NFL. Various outcomes throughout the slate had ramifications that stretched beyond the two teams going toe-to-toe and have begun reshaping the playoff picture in both conferences.
On Christmas Day, the Vikings punched the Packers’ ticket to the playoffs after defeating the Lions. On Saturday, the Texans not only clinched a playoff berth, but handed the AFC West title to the Broncos after defeating the Chargers. As we continued through Sunday’s action, even more assists were dished out, most notably with the Seahawks and Browns pulling off wins against the Panthers and Steelers, respectively.
Because of those outcomes (along with Miami defeating Tampa Bay), we could have two win-or-go-home division title matchups in Week 18: Ravens at Steelers for the AFC North and Panthers at Buccaneers for the NFC South.
However, this NFC South matchup could have a wrench thrown into it depending on how the Falcons end their season. While out of the playoff race, if Atlanta wins out (vs. the Rams and Saints), Carolina will win the division, regardless of the outcome of that matchup with the Bucs. That’s due to the Panthers winning a tiebreaker because of a better head-to-head record among the three teams.
On top of those matchups, the No. 1 seeds in both conferences are still up for grabs, so we’re in for quite the finish.
As we wrap up the early window of Sunday’s action, here’s a look at the current playoff picture.
AFC standings
- z-Denver Broncos (13-3)
- x-New England Patriots (13-3)
- x-Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
- x-Buffalo Bills (11-4)
- x-Houston Texans (11-5)
- x-Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
x-clinched playoff berth; z-clinched division
1. Denver Broncos (13-3)
Remaining schedule: vs. Chargers
Denver got back to its winning ways with a key victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas night. With the win, the Broncos remain the No. 1 seed in the conference and are now the AFC West division winners after the Texans beat the Chargers.
2. New England Patriots (13-3)
Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins
The Patriots had already clinched a playoff berth in Week 16, and are now looking to secure the AFC East. They did their part in Week 17 by blowing out the Jets and now need the Eagles to defeat the Bills to clinch the division. New England still has an outside shot at the No. 1 seed as well.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Titans
The Jaguars fended off the Colts in Week 17 and can clinch the AFC South next week with a win over the Titans.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens
After falling to the Browns in Week 17, the Steelers face a do-or-die matchup with the Ravens in Week 18.
5. Buffalo Bills (11-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, vs. Jets
It was a bit closer than they may have liked, but the Bills came away with a win in Cleveland to push them to 11-4 on the season. That keeps them on the heels of the Patriots in the AFC East race and firmly in wild card position.
6. Houston Texans (11-5)
Remaining schedule: vs. Colts
After starting the year 3-5, the Texans have won eight straight games to punch their ticket to the playoffs. Houston extended that winning streak with a victory over the Chargers on the road and remains alive in the AFC South race.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
Remaining schedule: at Broncos
The Chargers had their four-game winning streak snapped with a Saturday afternoon loss against the Texans. Currently, they are the last wild card in the AFC. They’ll need to go full tilt against the Broncos in Week 18 for any hope of avoiding being the conference’s No. 7 seed.
In the hunt
The Ravens (8-8), with Lamar Jackson sidelined, kept their playoff hopes alive with an impressive road win against the Packers in Green Bay. Then, on Sunday, they had their prayers answered with the Browns upsetting Pittsburgh. That sets up a winner-take-all matchup in the AFC North against the Steelers in Week 18. The loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.
NFC standings
- x-Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
- z-Chicago Bears (11-4)
- z-Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
- Carolina Panthers (8-8)
- x-San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
- x-Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- x-Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)
x-clinched playoff berth; z-clinched division
1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
Remaining schedule: at 49ers
Seattle pulled off an incredible, come-from-behind win over the Rams on “Thursday Night Football,” elevating itself to the No. 1 seed in the conference in the process. They continued to hold that top spot in the conference after taking down the Panthers in Week 17. So long as they take down the 49ers in Week 18, they’ll win the NFC West and be the No. 1 seed.
2. Chicago Bears (11-4)
Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Lions
The Bears are coming off a stunning comeback win over the Packers in Week 16, and they remain in the hunt for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Thanks to the Packers’ loss to the Ravens, Chicago has officially clinched the NFC North title.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
Remaining schedule: at Bills, vs. Commanders
Philadelphia punched its playoff ticket in Week 16 with a commanding victory over the Commanders. The defending Super Bowl champions became the first team to win back-to-back NFC East crowns since 2004.
4. Carolina Panthers (8-8)
Remaining schedule: at Buccaneers
After losing to the Seahawks, Carolina is potentially faced with a winner-take-all matchup in Tampa in Week 18 against the Buccaneers.
However, if the Falcons (who play the Rams on Monday night) win their final two games, that would trigger a tie-breaking scenario that falls in favor of the Panthers, who’d have the better head-to-head record in this three-way tie. That situation would render the results of Carolina’s Week 18 matchup moot.
If Atlanta falls to L.A. on Monday night, however, then the contest would be for the division crown.
5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks
The 49ers are quietly lurking in the NFC playoff race and clinched a postseason berth after the Lions fell to the Steelers. San Francisco jumped the Rams into the No. 5 spot after walloping the Colts on “Monday Night Football,” and it’s positioned to climb even higher over the final two weeks.
If the 49ers beat the Bears and Seahawks to close out the season, they’ll secure the No. 1 seed and the conference’s lone first-round bye.
6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
Remaining schedule: at Falcons, vs. Cardinals
The Rams are still a playoff lock thanks to their win in Week 15, but their chances of winning the NFC West and claiming the No. 1 seed in the conference were dramatically reduced by their loss to the Seahawks in Week 16. They need Seattle to lose at least one more game, but also can’t have the 49ers win out. Otherwise, San Francisco would be the top seed in the conference by virtue of having the best division record among the three teams.
7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)
Remaining schedule: at Vikings
Green Bay, minus Jordan Love, fell to Derrick Henry and the Ravens on Saturday night. The loss ended any hopes of winning the NFC North title and locked Green Bay into the NFC’s No. 7 seed.
In the hunt
The Buccaneers (7-9) have experienced a dramatic fall from grace in this second half of the season. Even after losing to the Dolphins in Week 17, however, they still have an opportunity to jump up to the No. 4 seed as the NFC South champion. To do that, the Bucs need to win their Week 18 contest against the Panthers and have the Falcons lose one of their final two games.
