NFL playoff picture: Texans clinch berth and eliminate Colts, while Bears officially win NFC North after Packers loss

Here’s how the NFL playoff picture looks after Saturday’s two games, which determined quite a bit playoff wise. The Houston Texans’ win over the Los Angeles Chargers clinched a playoff berth for the Texans, and eliminated the Indianapolis Colts. It also won the AFC West for the Denver Broncos. The Baltimore Ravens aren’t out of it yet either after their win over the Green Bay Packers. That victory handed the Chicago Bears the NFC North title.

The NFC playoff field is all set except for one slot: the NFC South champion, which is currently on pace to be the Carolina Panthers, but could still end up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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(* Clinched playoff spot)

1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)*: Remaining schedule — at Carolina Panthers, at San Francisco 49ers

NFC No. 1 seed-clinching scenario:

• Seahawks win + Rams loss or tie + 49ers-Bears tie

NFC West-clinching scenarios:

• Seahawks win + Rams loss or tie + 49ers loss or tie, OR

• Seahawks tie + Rams loss + 49ers loss

Notable odds: Seattle has a 46% chance of holding onto the No. 1 seed and a 50% probability of winning the NFC West, according to The Athletic’s playoff predictor.

2. Chicago Bears (11-4)*: Remaining schedule — at San Francisco 49ers, vs. Detroit Lions

Notable odds: The Bears secured a playoff berth via the Lions’ loss to the Steelers in Week 16, and they won the NFC North after their overtime win over the Green Bay Packers, who also fell to the Ravens on Saturday night. The Bears also have about a 14% chance at the No. 1 overall seed.

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3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)*: Remaining schedule — at Buffalo Bills, vs. Washington Commanders

Notable odds: The Eagles, back-to-back champs of the NFC East, can’t get the No. 1 seed. They entered the week with less than a 1% shot, per The Athletic.

4. Carolina Panthers (8-7): Remaining schedule — vs. Seattle Seahawks, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC South-clinching scenarios:

• Panthers win + Buccaneers loss or tie, OR

• Panthers tie + Buccaneers loss

Notable odds: A big win over the Bucs moved Carolina into first place in the NFC South. The Panthers bumped up to 45% to win the division, according to The Athletic. They still have to play at Tampa Bay in the regular-season finale.

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5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4)*: Remaining schedule — vs. Chicago Bears, vs. Seattle Seahawks

Notable odds: The 49ers clinched a postseason position via the Lions’ loss in Week 16. They also have about a 27% shot at the No. 1 seed in the conference, according to The Athletic. They simply need to win out, against the Bears and Seahawks, to secure the top seed and home-field advantage in the playoffs.

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

NFC West-clinching scenario: The Rams are already in the postseason field, but they will need some help to win the division crown and the conference’s No. 1 seed. L.A. needs, per RamsWire, to:

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• Beat Falcons and Cardinals, AND

• Have Seahawks lose to Panthers and beat 49ers, AND

• Have 49ers beat Bears and lose to Seahawks, AND

• Have Bears NOT tie Lions

Notable odds: The Rams’ odds of clinching the No. 1 seed fell from 53% to 12% after Week 16’s results, per The Athletic.

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

Notable odds: 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 (7-8): Remaining schedule — at Miami Dolphins, vs. Carolina Panthers

Notable odds: While the loss to the Panthers drops Tampa Bay out of playoff position for the time being, the Bucs still have a 54% shot at winning the NFC South, per The Athletic. That’s because they face Carolina one more time and will hold the tiebreaker if they win that game.

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AFC

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

AFC No. 1 seed-clinching scenario:

• Patriots loss + Bills loss or tie + Jaguars loss or tie

Notable odds: The Broncos ended the Chiefs‘ nine-year reign atop the AFC West by virtue of the Chargers’ loss Saturday, and now have around a 60% chance to earn the No. 1 seed per ESPN.

2. New England Patriots (12-3)*: Remaining schedule — at New York Jets, vs. Miami Dolphins

AFC East-clinching scenarios:

• Patriots win + Bills loss or tie, OR

• Patriots tie + Bills loss

Notable odds: The Patriots punched their playoff ticket by beating the Ravens on Sunday night. They are 83% likely to win the AFC East, per The Athletic, and they have a 30% shot at the No. 1 seed.

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3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)*: Remaining schedule — at Indianapolis Colts, vs. Tennessee Titans

AFC South-clinching scenarios:

• Jaguars win out, OR

• Jaguars finish 1-1 and Texans lose Week 18

Notable odds: The Jaguars have a 61% chance to win the AFC South per NBC, and can make it easy on themselves by just winning out.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6): Remaining schedule — at Cleveland Browns, vs. Baltimore Ravens

AFC North-clinching scenarios:

• Steelers win or tie vs. Browns

Notable odds: The Steelers are in control of the AFC North, with an 82% chance of winning the division, according to The Athletic.

5. Buffalo Bills (11-4)*: Remaining schedule — vs. Philadelphia Eagles, vs. New York Jets

Notable odds: While Buffalo’s chances at catching up to New England to win the division title are still slim (17% according to The Athletic), the Bills are in the playoff field after the Colts lost on Monday.

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

AFC South clinching scenarios:

• Jaguars finish 0-2, OR

• Jaguars finish 1-1 and Texans win Week 18

Notable odds: The Texans’ chances of winning the AFC South are at 39%, per NBC. But they’ll need help from at least one of the Jaguars’ final two opponents.

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

Notable odds: 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 odds: The Ravens’ playoff hopes aren’t done yet after their win over the Packers. They’ll need the Steelers to lose to the Browns on Sunday, however, to have a shot next week.

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Already eliminated

AFC

• Indianapolis Colts (8-7)

• Miami Dolphins (6-9)

• Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

• Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)

• New York Jets (3-12)

• Cleveland Browns (3-12)

• Tennessee Titans (3-12)

• Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)

NFC

• Detroit Lions (8-8)

• Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

• Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)

• Atlanta Falcons (6-9)

• New Orleans Saints (5-10)

• Washington Commanders (4-12)

• Arizona Cardinals (3-12)

• New York Giants (2-13)