NFL playoff picture: 49ers-Seahawks to decide No. 1 seed in NFC; Patriots clinch AFC East title; Steelers-Ravens set for winner-take-all showdown

Here’s how the NFL playoff picture looks after Sunday’s games:

• The San Francisco 49ers forced a regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks where the winner will claim the NFC’s No. 1 seed and the NFC West title.

• The New England Patriots secured the AFC East title with the Buffalos Bills’ dramatic loss to the Eagles.

• The NFC playoff field is all set except for one slot: the NFC South champion, which will likely be decided in a Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup in Week 18.

(* Clinched playoff spot)

1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3)*: Remaining schedule — at San Francisco 49ers (Week 18)

Notable: Seattle is up to 57% to earn the No. 1 seed after beating the Panthers on Sunday, according to The Athletic’s playoff predictor. If they beat the Niners on Saturday night, they’ll win the No. 1 seed and the NFC West.

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2. Chicago Bears (11-5)*: Remaining schedule — vs. Detroit Lions (Week 18)

Notable: The Bears can’t win the No. 1 seed and are locked into either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs. If they defeat the Lions in the regular-season finale, they’ll face the Packers in the wild-card round.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)*: Remaining schedule — vs. Washington Commanders (Week 18)

Notable: The Eagles, back-to-back champs of the NFC East, can’t get the No. 1 seed and can’t fall below the third seed. There’s not much to play for in Week 18.

4. Carolina Panthers (8-8): Remaining schedule — at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 18)

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Notable: Not much changed for Carolina this week with both the Panthers and Bucs losing. Next Saturday’s Panthers-Bucs game will likely be for the NFC South title, though there’s an unlikely scenario where Carolina could win the division despite a loss.

5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)*: Remaining schedule — vs. Seattle Seahawks (Week 18)

Notable: They can be the No. 1 seed in the NFC and NFC West champions if they beat the Seahawks on Saturday night.

6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)*: Remaining schedule — at Atlanta Falcons, vs. Arizona Cardinals (Week 18)

Notable: The Rams are locked into a wild-card spot.

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7. Green Bay Packers* (9-6-1): Remaining schedule — at Minnesota Vikings (Week 18)

Notable: The Packers clinched a playoff spot with the Lions’ loss to the Vikings on Christmas, but they can’t win the NFC North. They’re locked in here at No. 7.

Still in the NFC picture

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): Remaining schedule — vs. Carolina Panthers (Week 18)

Notable odds: Despite a fourth straight loss, all the Bucs can still likely win the NFC South with a win over the Panthers next week. But even a win in that game isn’t a guaranteed division title.

AFC

1. Denver Broncos (13-3)*: Remaining schedule — vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Week 18)

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AFC No. 1 seed-clinching scenario:

• Beat the Chargers OR

• Patriots lose to Dolphins + Jaguars lose to Titans

Notable: The Broncos ended the Chiefs’ nine-year reign atop the AFC West by virtue of the Chargers’ loss Saturday, and now have around a 61% chance to earn the No. 1 seed per ESPN.

2. New England Patriots (13-3)*: Remaining schedule — vs. Miami Dolphins (Week 18)

AFC No. 1 seed-clinching scenario:

• Beat the Dolphins + Broncos lose to Chargers

Notable: The Patriots secured the AFC East crown with the Bills loss on Sunday. They still have a 34% shot at the AFC No. 1 seed, according to The Athletic.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)*: Remaining schedule — vs. Tennessee Titans (Week 18)

AFC No. 1 seed-clinching scenario:

• Beat the Titans + Broncos lose to Chargers + Patriots lose to Dolphins

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AFC South-clinching scenarios:

• Jaguars win over Titans in Week 18, OR

• Texans lose Week 18

Notable: The Jaguars have a 86% chance to win the AFC South per The Athletic, and can make it easy on themselves by just beating Tennessee in Week 18.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7): Remaining schedule — vs. Baltimore Ravens (Week 18)

Notable: The Steelers missed their opportunity to clinch the AFC North by losing to the Browns. They can still claim the division crown next week by beating the Ravens.

5. Buffalo Bills (11-5)*: Remaining schedule — vs. New York Jets (Week 18)

Notable: The Bills lost out on the AFC East with a loss to the Eagles, but they’re still in the playoff field.

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6. Houston Texans (11-5): Remaining schedule — vs. Indianapolis Colts (Week 18)

AFC South-clinching scenarios:

• Jaguars lose to Titans and Texans win over Colts in Week 18

Notable: The Texans’ chances of winning the AFC South are at 14%, per The Athletic. But they’ll need help from the Jaguars in the season finale.

7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)*: Remaining schedule — at Denver Broncos (Week 18)

Notable: The Chargers are in the postseason, but also locked into a wild-card spot thanks to their loss Saturday.

Still in the AFC picture

9. Baltimore Ravens (8-8): Remaining schedule — at Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 18)

Notable: The Ravens had a good weekend, keeping their playoff hopes alive by beating the Packers and seeing the Steelers lose. Baltimore can now steal the division title with a win at Pittsburgh next week.

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Already eliminated

AFC

• Indianapolis Colts (8-8)

• Miami Dolphins (7-9)

• Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

• Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

• Cleveland Browns (4-12)

• New York Jets (3-13)

• Tennessee Titans (3-13)

• Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)

NFC

• Detroit Lions (8-8)

• Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

• Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)

• Atlanta Falcons (6-9)

• New Orleans Saints (6-10)

• Washington Commanders (4-12)

• Arizona Cardinals (3-13)

• New York Giants (3-13)