NFL Playoff Picture Going Into Week 18

As the final week of the 2021-2022 NFL season comes to a close, playoffs are right around the corner. Officially, playoffs are set to begin on Saturday, January 15, with two wild card games.

American Football Conference

Clinched: Cincinnati Bengals (AFC North division title), Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West division title), Tennessee Titans (AFC South division title), Buffalo Bills (playoff berth) and New England Patriots (playoff berth)

An additional two teams will clinch playoff berths in the AFC. Among these potential teams are the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Baltimore Ravens secure a playoff spot with a win against Pittsburgh on Sunday, a Chargers loss, Colts loss and a Dolphins loss or tie.

The Colts can clinch with a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Playoffs are also possible for Indianapolis if the Chargers lose and Baltimore and Pittsburgh tie, or if the Chargers lose, Pittsburgh loses and Miami wins.

The Pittsburgh Steelers can clinch a playoff berth with a win against Baltimore on Sunday, a Colts loss and if the Raiders and Chargers game doesn’t end in a tie.

The Los Angeles Chargers have an opportunity to secure a playoff spot with a win or tie against the Raiders on Sunday.

Finally, Las Vegas is able to clinch a playoff spot with a win against the Chargers on Sunday. Also, if the Raiders tie and the Colts lose or the Colts lose and Pittsburgh sustains a loss or ties. Raiders’ interim head coach Richard Bisaccia said he is looking to improve their game ahead of this weekend’s matchup.

National Football Conference

Clinched: Green Bay Packers (NFC North division title), Dallas Cowboys (NFC East division title), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South division title), Arizona Cardinals (playoff berth), Los Angeles Rams (playoff berth) and Philadelphia Eagles (playoff berth)

The Packers, along with the NFC North division title, have secured the No.1 seed, first-round bye and home field advantage.

With these six teams clinching, either the New Orleans Saints or the San Francisco 49ers have an opportunity to secure a playoff berth.

New Orleans plays the Atlanta Falcons Sunday. The Saints can clinch a playoff berth with a win against the Falcons and a 49ers loss.

Also in the NFC, San Francisco plays the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The 49ers can secure a playoff spot with or tie against the Rams or a Saints loss or tie.

NFL Playoffs

As Week 18 comes to a close, multiple teams still have a chance to clinch a playoff spot. Also, among the teams that have already cliched, there are various competitions for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the AFC East division title and the NFC West division title.

Playoffs begin on Saturday, January 15.