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NFL playoff scenarios, stakes for each postseason-bound and postseason-hopeful team in Week 18

Lions win No. 1 seed in NFC, Broncos snag last berth in AFC postseason

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) runs against Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) for a first down during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) and the Lions brushed aside safety Camryn Bynum and the Vikings on Sunday night. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The NFL playoff field is set. Here's how the Week 18 scramble shook out.

Kansas City Chiefs: They are the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, an honor that gives them a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the conference's postseason action. The Chiefs didn't play for anything in their regular-season finale loss at the Denver Broncos and sat out some starters, including Patrick Mahomes. The road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Arrowhead.

Buffalo Bills: They visited the New England Patriots in the regular-season finale with nothing to gain and lost 23-16. The Bills already secured the AFC's No. 2 seed, so they'll host the worst conference wild-card team during wild-card weekend. That postseason opponent will be the Denver Broncos.

Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson and company clinched the AFC North title with a victory over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday.

That means the Ravens are the AFC's No. 3 seed and will host a wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Houston Texans: Nothing was on the line for the Texans in Week 18, though they had no issue beating the Tennessee Titans. The Texans clinched the AFC South in Week 15, but they couldn't improve their seeding. As the conference's worst division winner, Houston is locked into the No. 4 seed.

The Texans will host the Los Angeles Chargers during wild-card weekend.

Los Angeles Chargers: They walked into Week 18 at the Las Vegas Raiders with a wild-card berth in hand. The Chargers earned the No. 5 seed with a strong win Sunday against the Raiders. That No. 5 seed will earn them a trip to Houston to face the Texans during wild-card weekend.

Pittsburgh Steelers: They had a playoff berth secured in mid December but failed to get the No. 5 seed after losing Saturday night vs. the Bengals.

They will be the No. 6 seed and will visit the Baltimore Ravens during wild-card weekend.

CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos and Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals meet after the Bengals beat the Broncos 30-24 in overtime at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos spoiled the regular-season finale for Joe Burrow and the Bengals. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Denver Broncos: They secured the final wild-card berth as the No. 7 seed in the AFC with their 38-0 wipeout of the resting Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos are now headed to Buffalo in Round 1 of the playoffs.

The Chiefs already clinched the conference's No. 1 seed, so they didn't use their starters throughout the regular-season finale in Denver.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins needed help to nab that last wild-card spot in the AFC — which they didn't get from the Kansas City Chiefs. The Denver Broncos' 38-0 victory against the visiting Chiefs eliminated the Dolphins from the postseason picture.

Cincinnati Bengals: They had the hardest chance at securing a playoff bid among the AFC postseason hopefuls and didn't get the break they needed in Denver. The Bengals needed the Broncos to lose to the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, which didn't happen as Denver cruised to a 38-0 victory.

Detroit Lions: They won the NFC North, their conference's No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC postseason with Sunday night's victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Philadelphia Eagles: The NFC East champions are locked into the No. 2 seed in the conference. They defeated the New York Giants, 20-13, on Sunday with nothing on the line. Even Saquon Barkley took it easy, passing on taking a shot at Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record.

On wild-card weekend, the Eagles will host the No. 7 seed Green Bay Packers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: They won the NFC South with their 27-19 victory against the New Orleans Saints.

The Buccaneers also elevated to the No. 3 seed with the Los Angeles Rams' defeat to the visiting Seattle Seahawks.

As the third-seeded team in the NFC, the Bucs will face the Washington Commanders in the opening round of the playoffs.

Los Angeles Rams: As NFC West champs, L.A. entered Sunday vs. the Seattle Seahawks with a chance to clinch the No. 3 seed with a victory. They didn't get it, losing to the Seahawks. That defeat, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' victory against the New Orleans Saints, pushed the Rams to the No. 4 seed.

The Rams will face the Minnesota Vikings in Round 1 of the playoffs.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings lost the NFC North in their defeat to the Detroit Lions on Sunday night and became the No. 5 wild-card seed, which puts them on the road in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Rams.

Washington Commanders: They're headed to the postseason as the NFC's No. 6 seed thanks to its victory on Sunday vs. the Dallas Cowboys.

As a No. 6 seed in wild-card weekend, the Commanders will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Green Bay Packers: The Packers' defeat vs. the rival Chicago Bears and the Washington Commanders' road victory against the Dallas Cowboys locks Green Bay in as the last wild-card team in the NFC playoffs.

As the No. 7 seed, the Packers will face the Philadelphia Eagles on the road in Round 1.

Atlanta Falcons: They were eliminated from postseason contention with Tampa Bay's victory vs. New Orleans. They lost in overtime to the Carolina Panthers, 44-38.

NFC

1. Detroit Lions (15-2)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) vs. 7. Green Bay Packers (11-6)

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) vs. 6. Washington Commanders (12-5)

4. Los Angeles Rams (10-7) vs. 5. Minnesota Vikings (14-3)

AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

2. Buffalo Bills (13-4) vs. 7. Denver Broncos (10-7)

3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5) vs. 6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

4. Houston Texans (10-7) vs. 5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)