NFL Playoff Picture - Week 17: Postseason seeds, projected draft order
NFL Playoff Picture is a weekly look at the teams jockeying to secure their shot to make it to Super Bowl LVI.
AFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Titans (y) | South | 11-5 |
| 2 | Chiefs (y) | West | 11-5 |
| 3 | Bengals (y) | North | 10-6 |
| 4 | Bills (x) | East | 10-6 |
| 5 | Patriots (x) | East | 10-6 |
| 6 | Colts | South | 9-7 |
| 7 | Chargers | West | 9-7 |
x = clinched playoff berth
y = clinched division title
z = clinched first-round bye
The Kansas City Chiefs fell from the AFC's top seed with their stunning loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The Bengals, meanwhile, clinched their first playoff berth since 2015 and also put the Tennessee Titans in the driver's seat for a first-round bye and home-field advantage.
The AFC East will also send two clubs to the postseason after the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots clinched in Week 17. Buffalo will need to take care of business against the New York Jets next Sunday to earn a second straight division title.
In the hunt
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Raiders | West | 9-7 |
| 9 | Steelers | North | 7-7-1 |
| 10 | Ravens | North | 8-8 |
The pack got a lot smaller Sunday after the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and Denver Broncos were eliminated by the Los Angeles Chargers' Week 17 victory.
The Las Vegas Raiders are still alive heading into the final week of the season. Following a tough road win against the Indianapolis Colts, the Raiders will meet the Chargers in a gigantic win-and-in scenario for both teams.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers are clinging to their playoff hopes and will need a win against the Browns on Monday to stay alive. The Ravens are mathematically still in it but will require loads of help in Week 18 to reach the postseason.
NFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Packers (z) | North | 13-3 |
| 2 | Rams (x) | West | 12-4 |
| 3 | Buccaneers (y) | South | 12-4 |
| 4 | Cowboys (y) | East | 11-5 |
| 5 | Cardinals (x) | West | 11-5 |
| 6 | 49ers | West | 9-7 |
| 7 | Eagles (x) | East | 9-7 |
x = clinched playoff berth
y = clinched division title
z = clinched first-round bye
Get ready for playoff football at Lambeau Field. The Green Bay Packers once again locked up a first-round bye and home field in the postseason with their Sunday Night Football win over the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings' loss also secured a playoff berth for the Philadelphia Eagles.
There's still plenty left to be decided in Week 18 for the rest of the conference. The NFC West can be won by either the Los Angeles Rams or Arizona Cardinals, with the runner-up forced to settle for a road wild-card game. The Cardinals have a date with the Seattle Seahawks, while the Rams will face a feisty San Francisco 49ers side gunning to secure a playoff spot of its own.
In the hunt
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Saints | South | 8-8 |
Despite all the injuries that the New Orleans Saints have endured this season, they have a fighting chance to earn an invite to the postseason entering the final week. Sean Payton's team will keep one eye on its opponents - the Atlanta Falcons - and the other on the scoreboard as the Saints root for the Rams to take down the 49ers.
Projected NFL draft order
| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Jaguars |
| 2 | Lions |
| 3 | Texans |
| 4 | Jets |
| 5 | Giants |
| 6 | Panthers |
| 7 | Jets (via Seahawks) |
| 8 | Giants (via Bears) |
| 9 | Washington |
| 10 | Falcons |