NFL playoff picture after Week 17
y – 1. Tennessee Titans (11-5), AFC South champions: They move to the top of the conference standings due to Kansas City's loss. Week 7 defeat of the Chiefs means a Tennessee victory in Week 18 will give the Titans the AFC'S bye and home-field advantage. Remaining schedule: at Texans
y – 2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-5), AFC West champions: They lost control of first place in the AFC. K.C. needs a win in Week 18 plus a Tennessee loss to earn the No. 1 seed. Remaining schedule: at Broncos
y – 3. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6), AFC North champions: Division winners for the first time since 2015, they've still got a shot at the conference's top seed. Remaining schedule: at Browns
x – 4. Buffalo Bills (10-6), AFC East leaders: Buffalo is headed to the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The Bills trail Cincinnati due to an inferior record in AFC games (6-5) but will win the division with a victory next weekend because their AFC East record (4-1) trumps New England's. Remaining schedule: vs. Jets
x – 5. New England Patriots (10-6), wild card No. 1: The Pats are back in postseason after one-year, post-tom Brady hiatus. Beat the Dolphins in Week 18 and hope the New York Jets can ambush Buffalo, and the Patriots would reclaim the AFC East throne. They also have an outside shot at the AFC'S top spot. Remaining schedule: at Dolphins
6. Indianapolis Colts (9-7), wild
card No. 2: Loss to Las Vegas cost Indy an ability to clinch a playoff berth and also knocked the the Colts out of the running for the AFC South crown. Remaining schedule: at Jaguars
7. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7), wild card No. 3: The Bolts can't afford to slip up in the regular-season finale. Remaining schedule: at Raiders
8. Las Vegas Raiders (9-7), out of playoff field: The Raiders are officially into the Super Bowl tournament by beating the Bolts at the Death Star in Week 18. Remaining schedule: vs. Chargers
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7-1), out of
playoff field: They remain on life support but the crucial win over Cleveland – perhaps QB Ben Roethlisberger's last at Heinz Field – gives them a shot. Remaining schedule: at Ravens
10. Baltimore Ravens (8-8), out of playoff field: Their mathematical viability has dwindled to almost nothing. Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers
NFC
yz – 1. Green Bay Packers (13-3), NFC North champions: Have league's best record and a first-round bye and homefield advantage. Remaining schedule: at Lions
x – 2. Los Angeles Rams (12-4), NFC West leaders: They are only one win (or Arizona loss) from beginning their quest to play Super Bowl 56 at Sofi Stadium.
Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers
y – 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4), NFC South champions: They managed to beat the Jets and move up to the third seed while simultaneously appearing to unravel amid more Antonio Brown shenanigans. Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers
y – 4. Dallas Cowboys (11-5), NFC East champions: A relatively disastrous loss to the Cardinals cost them a shot at the No. 1 seed. Remaining schedule: at Eagles
x – 5. Arizona Cardinals (11-5), wild card No. 1: Timely win over the Cowboys means the Cards still have a chance to win the NFC West with a Rams loss. Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks
6. San Francisco 49ers (9-7), wild card No. 2: Win and they're in. Remaining schedule: at Rams
x – 7. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7), wild card No. 3: The Vikings' loss at Green Bay put Philly into the playoffs. The Eagles' 7-4 record in conference games gave them tiebreaker insurance even though they suffered a head-to-head loss to the 49ers. Remaining schedule: vs. Cowboys
8. New Orleans Saints (8-8), out of playoff field: Need a win and a Niners loss to advance. Remaining schedule: at Falcons
x – clinched berth; y – clinched division;
z – clinched first-round bye and home-field advantage