Packers control fate, Steelers remain alive
The NFL playoff picture after Week 17 (and before the postponed Bills-Bengals game had been finished):
AFC
y – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-3), AFC West champions: A Buffalo loss to Cincinnati opens gate for K.C. to snatch No. 1 seed, an objective currently impeded by Chiefs’ Week 6 loss to Bills. Remaining schedule: at Raiders
y – 2. Buffalo Bills (12-3), AFC East champions: Must win at Cincinnati to retain inside track for AFC’s first-round bye and home-field advantage. Fall to the Bengals, and Buffalo could slip to third place in conference. Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Patriots
x – 3. Cincinnati Bengals (11-4), AFC North leaders: If they can beat Buffalo and wind up in a three-way tie with Bills and Chiefs, reigning conference champs would earn home field and first-round bye. A win against Buffalo would convey AFC North championship to Cincinnati. Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, vs. Ravens
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8), AFC South leaders: They ended five-year drought against the Houston Texans with Week 17’s decisive victory ... but it had little bearing on Jags’ playoff chances. The division title will be determined against Tennessee in Week 18. Remaining schedule: vs. Titans
x – 5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6), wild card No. 1: Now fifth in the conference because their record in AFC games is better than Baltimore’s, LA won’t be seeded worse than sixth. Remaining schedule: at Broncos
x – 6. Baltimore Ravens (10-6), wild card No. 2: A Cincinnati loss to Buffalo ensures Ravens and Bengals will play AFC North championship game in Week 18; otherwise Baltimore hits the postseason road. Remaining schedule: at Bengals
7. New England Patriots (8-8), wild card No. 3: Not only staved off elimination by beating Miami, Pats will advance to the playoffs by beating Bills. Remaining schedule: at Bills
8. Miami Dolphins (8-8), out of playoff field: A win coupled with a New England loss will advance Miami. Remaining schedule: vs. Jets
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8), out of playoff field: If Steelers beat Cleveland – and Bills and Jets both win – then Pittsburgh will qualify for AFC’s final wild card. Remaining schedule: vs. Browns
11. Tennessee Titans (7-9), out of playoff field: The matchup at Jacksonville that will determine AFC South crown. Remaining schedule: at Jaguars
NFC
x – 1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3), NFC East leaders: Philly can still wrap up NFC’s No. 1 seed in Week 18 against a Giants team ticketed for sixth seed. Remaining schedule: vs. Giants
y – 2. San Francisco 49ers (12-4), NFC West champions: Escaping from Las Vegas with an overtime win leaves them with chance at NFC’s top spot thanks to their 9-2 record in intraconference games. Niners still need a win coupled with a Philadelphia loss. Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals
y – 3. Minnesota Vikings (12-4), NFC North champions: Crushing loss at Green Bay means they can’t earn No. 1 seed. Remaining schedule: at Bears
y – 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8), NFC South champions: Victory against Carolina eliminated the Panthers and gave Bucs consecutive divisional crowns. Remaining schedule: at Falcons
x – 5. Dallas Cowboys (12-4), wild card No. 1: If they win in Week 18 and Eagles don’t, they take the NFC East throne. Cowboys also have a road to No. 1 seed if they beat Washington and San Francisco also loses at Arizona. Remaining schedule: at Commanders
x – 6. New York Giants (9-6-1), wild card No. 2: Big Blue is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2016 thanks to Sunday’s beatdown of the Colts. Remaining schedule: at Eagles
7. Seattle Seahawks (8-8), wild card No. 3: They must win in Week 18 and hope Packers lose to Detroit. Remaining schedule: vs. Rams
8. Detroit Lions (8-8), out of playoff field: They need a win at Green Bay and a Seahawks defeat. Remaining schedule: at Packers
9. Green Bay Packers (8-8), out of playoff field: If they beat Detroit in Week 18, Pack will be in the playoffs. Remaining schedule: vs. Lions
x – clinched berth; y – clinched division