We only have one more week to figure out the 2022 NFL playoff landscape, and there is still a lot to decide.
The AFC has been in a jam all year, and will come to a head in Week 18. There are five teams still competing for two remaining playoff spots on that side of the draw, such as the Colts, Chargers, Raiders, Ravens. and Steelers. everyone has a chance to get it. Both the Chargers and Raiders, who are meeting in Week 18, plan to go in while the Colts have the inside track to the other place.
In addition, four teams have a chance to take the top spot in the AFC (the Titans are likely to win, but they are not ruling out the others), while the winner of the AFC East will also have to be decided this week. Therefore, there will be many potential changes to the AFC.
The same cannot be said for NFC. The NFC West is still up for grabs and also a wild card spot, but that’s it. The final wild card will come down to the 49ers and Saints, while the Cardinals will look to catch the Rams in their divisional run. With that said, both of them have already made the playoffs, so they’re not looking at a win-and-go scenario or anything like that.
There will be a lot of drama and potential mayhem during the final week of the 2021 NFL regular season. Here are all of the NFL playoff ending scenarios for teams that can be guaranteed a postseason spot in Week 18. And also , a comprehensive look at the NFL playoff picture.
MORE: Explaining the NFL Expanded Playoffs
Scenarios that ensure the NFL playoffs for week 17
Tennessee Titans (11-5)
Remaining game: to Texans
Tennessee Rivets AFC No. 1 seed with:
- Titans win O
- Titans tie AND Bosses lose or tie OR
- Defeat of the Chiefs AND defeat or draw of the Bengals AND defeat or draw of the Patriots OR
- Chiefs lose AND Bengals lose or tie AND Bills win
Kansas City Chiefs (11-5)
Remaining game: in the Broncos
Boss Rivets AFC No. 1 seed with:
- Bosses win and Titans lose or draw OR
- Tie of the bosses and defeat of the Titans
Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)
Remaining game: in Browns
Cincinnati Rivets AFC No. 1 seed with:
- Bengals win AND Titans lose AND Chiefs lose AND Patriots lose or draw OR
- Bengals win AND Titans lose AND Chiefs win AND Bills win
Buffalo Bills (10-6)
Remaining game: against Jets
Buffalo rivets AFC East Division Title with:
- Invoices earn OR
- Loss of the Patriots O
- Banknote tie and Patriots tie
New England Patriots (10-6)
Remaining game: in the dolphins
New england rivets AFC No. 1 seed with:
- Patriots win AND Bills lose or tie AND Chiefs lose AND Titans lose
New england rivets AFC East Division Title with:
- Patriots win AND Bills lose or draw OR
- Patriots tie and Bills defeat
Indianapolis Colts (9-7)
Remaining game: in the jaguars
Indianapolis ensures a playoff spot with:
- Foals win or draw OR
- Chargers lose AND Ravens / Steelers tie OR
- The Chargers lose AND the Steelers lose AND the Dolphins win
Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)
Remaining game: on Raiders
Los Angeles ensures a playoff spot with:
- Chargers win or tie
Las Vegas Raiders (9-7)
Remaining game: against chargers
Las Vegas clinches to playoff spot with:
- Raiders win O
- Raiders draw AND Colts defeat O
- Colts loss AND Steelers loss or draw
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7-1)
Remaining game: in Ravens
Pittsburgh ensures a playoff spot with:
- Steelers win AND Colts lose AND Raiders / Chargers don’t end in a draw
Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
Remaining game: against Steelers
Baltimore secures a playoff spot with:
- The Ravens win AND the Chargers lose AND the Colts lose AND the Dolphins lose or draw
WEEK 18 PICKS: Against the spread | Straight up
Los Angeles Rams (12-4)
Remaining game: against 49ers
Los Angeles Rivets NFC West Division Title with:
- Rams win or draw OR
- Cardinals draw or loss
Arizona Cardinals (11-5)
Remaining game: against Seahawks
Arizona Rivets NFC West Division Title with:
- Cardinals with loss of Y Rams
San Francisco 49ers (9-7)
Remaining game: in Rams
San Francisco ensures a playoff spot with:
- 49ers win or draw OR
- Santos loss or draw
New Orleans Saints (8-8)
Remaining game: in Falcons
New Orleans ensures a playoff spot with:
- The Saints win and the 49ers lose
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Image of the 2021 NFL playoffs
Here’s how the standings break down in both conferences going into Week 15, along with the other teams still in pursuit of the playoffs.
Seed | Team | Record | Riveted |
one. | Tennessee Titans | 11-5 | Yes. (AFC South Champions). |
two. | Kansas City Chiefs | 11-5 | Yes. (AFC West Champions). |
3. | Cincinnati Bengals | 10-6 | Yes. (AFC North Champions). |
Four. | Buffalo bills | 10-6 | Yes. (Placed in the playoffs). |
5. | New England Patriots | 10-6 | Yes. (Placed in the playoffs). |
6. | Indianapolis Colts | 9-7 | N / A |
7. | Los Angeles Chargers | 9-7 | N / A |
On the hunt: Las Vegas Raiders (9-7), Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7-1), Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
Seed | Team | Record | Riveted |
one. | Green Bay Packers | 12-3 | Yes. (NFC North Champions). |
two. | Los Angeles Rams | 12-4 | Yes. (Placed in the playoffs). |
3. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 12-4 | Yes. (NFC South Champions). |
Four. | Dallas Cowboys | 11-5 | Yes. (NFC East Champions). |
5. | Arizona Cardinals | 11-5 | Yes. (Placed in the playoffs). |
6. | San Francisco 49ers | 9-7 | N / A |
7. | Philadelphia Eagles | 9-7 | Yes. (Placed in the playoffs). |
On the hunt: New Orleans Saints (8-8)
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.