-
ESPN staff
With just one weekend left in the 2022 NFL regular season, the playoff picture is almost set. Six teams have claimed their spots in the NFC, while five are locked in for the AFC field. The race to the playoffs is still on as several teams are looking to lock in their seedings and have a chance to do so in Week 18.
In the wake of the cancellation of Monday’s Bills-Bengals game, NFL owners on Friday approved a plan that leaves open the possibility of a neutral-site AFC Championship Game and could determine home field for a wild-card game between the Bengals and Ravens by a coin flip.
Here are the playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 18 as teams try to reach Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The playoffs begin Jan. 14, with 14 teams making the field, seven from each conference.
NFL playoff matchups as things stand
AFC
Teams that have clinched postseason berths: Bills (East), Chiefs (West), Bengals (North), Ravens, Chargers
NFC
Teams that have clinched postseason berths: 49ers (West), Vikings (North), Buccaneers (South), Eagles, Cowboys, Giants
Week 18 AFC playoff-clinching scenarios
Opponent: Las Vegas Raiders (6-10) | Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+
Kansas City clinches home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs with:
-
Win OR
-
BUF loss
Opponent: Tennessee Titans (7-9) | Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+
Jacksonville clinches the AFC South with:
Jacksonville clinches a playoff berth with:
Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8) | Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+
Tennessee clinches the AFC South with:
Opponent: New England Patriots (8-8) | 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Buffalo clinches home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs with:
-
Win + KC loss
Opponent: Buffalo Bills (12-3) | 1 p.m. ET, CBS
New England clinches a playoff berth with:
Opponent: New York Jets (7-9) | 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Miami clinches a playoff berth with:
-
Win + NE loss
Opponent: Cleveland Browns (7-9) | 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Pittsburgh clinches a playoff berth with:
-
Win + MIA loss + NE loss
Week 18 NFC playoff-clinching scenarios
Opponent: New York Giants (9-6-1) | 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
Philadelphia clinches home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
-
Win OR
-
DAL loss + SF loss
Philadelphia clinches the NFC East with:
-
Win OR
-
DAL loss
Opponent: Arizona Cardinals (4-12) | 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
San Francisco clinches home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs with:
-
Win + PHI loss
Opponent: Washington Commanders (7-8-1) | 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
Dallas clinches home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
-
Win + PHI loss + SF loss
Dallas clinches the NFC East with:
-
Win + PHI loss
Opponent: Los Angeles Rams (5-11) | 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
Seattle clinches a playoff berth with:
-
Win + GB loss
Opponent: Detroit Lions (8-8) | 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Green Bay clinches a playoff berth with:
Opponent: Green Bay Packers (8-8) | 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Detroit clinches a playoff berth with:
-
Win + SEA loss