At least one side of the NFL playoff picture will remain unresolved heading into Week 18, with several teams all vying for the AFC field’s last opening. The NFC, however, could have all its entrants set once Week 17 is wrapped up.
Two of the last berths in the conference hinge on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers losing to the Carolina Panthers, as the result would clinch at least a wild-card spot for the Washington Commanders. That outcome would also open the window for the Atlanta Falcons to seal the NFC South with a win over the Commanders on ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams could take home the NFC West title and avoid a winner-take-all bout against the Seattle Seahawks for the division crown in Week 18, but only if several results go their way to confer a strength-of-victory tiebreaker. And while the top seed in the conference is still up for grabs, the Detroit Lions could claim it with both a win Monday night over the San Francisco 49ers and a Minnesota Vikings loss Sunday to the Green Bay Packers.
Here are all the clinching scenarios still on the table for Week 17 entering Sunday:
Detroit Lions
Clinch NFC North and NFC’s No. 1 seed (first-round bye and home-field advantage) with:
Win + Vikings loss
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Atlanta Falcons
Clinch NFC South with:
Win + Buccaneers loss
Philadelphia Eagles
Clinch NFC East with:
Win or tie
Commanders loss or tie
Los Angeles Rams
Clinch NFC West with:
Strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Seahawks with 2½ or more wins from the following teams: Bills, Browns, Vikings, 49ers and Commanders. A tie equates to a half-win in this formula.
Washington Commanders
Clinch playoff berth with:
Win or tie
Buccaneers loss or tie
NFL teams that have already clinched playoff berths
Buffalo Bills: AFC East
Houston Texans: AFC South
Kansas City Chiefs: No. 1 seed and home-field advantage, AFC West
Baltimore Ravens: Playoff berth
Los Angeles Chargers: Playoff berth
Pittsburgh Steelers: Playoff berth
Detroit Lions: Playoff berth
Green Bay Packers: Playoff berth
Minnesota Vikings: Playoff berth
Philadelphia Eagles: Playoff berth