Coming into the 14-game slate on the final Sunday of the NFL’s regular season, there was still a lot on the line in terms of both playoff berths, as well as seeding.
After the early slate of games came to a close, we gained a little more clarity on just how next week’s Wild Card round will look. Especially in the AFC, where all seven seeds have officially been set and the teams can now begin to prepare for their first-round opponent.
Below is how things currently look based on the results of Sunday’s opening eight games:
AFC:
No. 1 Chiefs on bye
No. 2 Bills vs. No. 7 Dolphins
No. 3 Bengals vs. No. 6 Ravens
No. 4 Jaguars vs. No. 5 Chargers
NFC:
No. 1 Eagles (13-3)/Cowboys (12-4)/49ers (12-4)
No. 2 49ers (12-4)/Vikings (12-4) vs. No. 7 Seahawks (8-8)/Packers (8-8)/Lions (8-8)
No. 3 49ers (12-4)/Vikings (12-4) vs. No. 6 Giants (9-6-1)
No. 4 Buccaneers (8-8) vs. No. 5 Eagles (13-3)/Cowboys (12-4)
(Note: Teams bolded are locked into their seed and will not move regardless of future results)
Here are what the remaining games mean in terms of the playoff picture:
Cardinals (4-12) @ 49ers (12-4) | Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
The 49ers can open the playoffs as the No. 1 seed with a victory over Arizona AND an Eagles loss to the Giants. They will also fall to the No. 3 seed with a loss because of the Vikings win over the Bears.
Cowboys (12-4) @ Commanders (7-8-1) | Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
With the NFC East and the NFC’s top seed still up for grabs, the Cowboys can make a huge jump on Sunday in terms of seeding. Dallas can clinch the division title with a win over Washington AND an Eagles loss to the Giants. They can clinch the division title AND claim the top seed in the entire conference with a win over Washington, an Eagles loss to the Giants, AND a 49ers loss or tie against the Cardinals.
Rams (5-11) @ Seahawks (8-8) | Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Between their red-hot start and their second-half struggles, 2022 has felt like a tale of two seasons for Seattle. The Seahawks are in playoff position heading into Week 18 but in order to remain there they’ll need a little help.
Seattle can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Rams on Sunday followed by a Packers loss or tie against Detroit on Sunday Night Football.
Giants (9-6-1) @ Eagles (13-3) | Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
The Eagles, the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season, have had a clear shot at the division title and No. 1 seed for a few weeks now but haven’t been able to seal the deal. They can lock up the NFC East with a win over the Giants OR a Cowboys loss to Washington.
They can lock up the top seed with a win over the Giants OR with a loss or tie for either the Cowboys or 49ers.
A failure to clinch either would see them drop all the way from the first to the fifth seed.
Chargers (10-6) @ Broncos (4-12) | Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
With the Ravens loss to the Bengals in the early window, this is the only game with no playoff implications. The Chargers are locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC.
Lions (8-8) @ Packers (8-8) | Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET
Talk about a dramatic season finale! Riding a four-game win streak into Week 18, the once-written-off Green Bay Packers have put themselves in position to claim the final wild card spot with a fifth straight victory.
Of the three 8-8 teams vying for the seventh seed (Detroit, Green Bay, Seattle), the Packers have the clearest path.
Green Bay can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Detroit.
In order for the Lions to clinch, they must defeat the Packers AND the Seahawks must lose to the Rams.
