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NFL playoff scenarios, projected matchups, and odds after Sunday’s late Week 18 games

NFL
Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL playoff scenarios are playing out Sunday as we head toward the finish line of the regular season.

Below is a rundown of the teams in each conference, ordered by their current seed, and their odds of making the playoffs, attaining the No. 1 seed (if applicable), and advancing to the Super Bowl. Scenarios that lead to either a playoff berth, a division title, or the No. 1 seed will be included.

Related: Super Bowl odds: Every team’s championship futures for 2023-24 NFL season

The only teams not included below are those that have been eliminated. Those teams are the following:

  • AFC: New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars
  • NFC: Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders, Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints

Here are the updated NFL playoff scenarios, projected matchups and odds following the early Week 18 games Sunday.

Note: The odds for making and winning the Super Bowl, along with the scenarios, come from PlayoffStatus.com. All other odds come from the NFL.

AFC

NFL playoff scenarios

Current playoff matchups

BYE: Baltimore Ravens

  • No. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 2 Miami Dolphins
  • No. 6 Buffalo Bills at No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs
  • No. 5 Cleveland Browns at No. 4 Houston Texans

Seeding

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-4)

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched + AFC North title + No. 1 seed in AFC)

Make/win Super Bowl: 52% / 30%


2. Miami Dolphins (11-5)

Remaining NFL games: vs. Buffalo

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched)

Make/win Super Bowl: 10% / 5%

Week 18 scenarios:

The Dolphins can clinch the AFC East title and the No. 2 seed with:

  • MIA win or tie vs. BUF

3. Kansas City Chiefs (11-6)

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched + AFC West title)

Make/win Super Bowl: 10% / 4%


4. Houston Texans (10-7)

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched + AFC South title)

Make/win Super Bowl: 4% / 2%


5. Cleveland Browns (11-6)

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched)

Make/win Super Bowl: 11% / 6%


6. Buffalo Bills (10-6)

Remaining NFL games: at Miami

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched)

Make/win Super Bowl: 5% / 2%

Week 18 scenarios:

The Bills clinch the AFC East title, and the No. 2 seed with:

  • BUF win over MIA

The Bills clinch the No. 6 seed with:

  • BUF tie with MIA

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched)

Make/win Super Bowl: 4% / 2%

Week 18 scenarios:

The Steelers clinch the No. 6 seed with:

  • BUF loss

NFC

NFL playoff scenarios

Current playoff matchups

BYE: San Francisco 49ers

  • No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 2 Dallas Cowboys
  • No. 6 Los Angeles Rams at No. 3 Detroit Lions
  • No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Seeding

1. San Francisco 49ers (12-5)

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched + NFC West title + No. 1 seed in NFC)

Make/win Super Bowl: 48% / 25%


2. Dallas Cowboys (12-5)

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched + NFC East title)

Make/win Super Bowl: 15% / 7%


3. Detroit Lions (12-5)

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched berth + NFC North title)

Make/win Super Bowl: 15% / 7%


4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8)

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched + NFC South title)

Make/win Super Bowl: 3% / 1%


5. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched)

Make/win Super Bowl: 12% / 6%


6. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched)

Make/win Super Bowl: 4% / 2%


7. Green Bay Packers (9-8)

Playoff odds: 100% (clinched)

Make/win Super Bowl: 2% / 1%

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