The NFL schedule has reached Week 17 and several teams have already secured their playoff spots.
In the AFC, the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers are all postseason bound, with the Chargers doing so with Saturday’s 40-7 win over the New England Patriots. And in the NFC, the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles have clinched berths.
The Chiefs secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye with their Christmas Day win over the Steelers, while the NFC’s top seed is still very much up for grabs.
The Denver Broncos could have clinched a playoff spot Saturday night, but their 30-24 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals means the AFC race will go down to Week 18 with the Broncos, Bengals, Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts all still alive entering Sunday’s action.
Here’s a look at which teams could earn a ticket to the postseason and which games, this weekend, have playoff implications:
Los Angeles Rams (9-6) vs. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, NFL Network
The Rams can clinch the NFC West division title with:
- A win and the Rams’ strength of victory tiebreaker over the Seahawks*
- A tie and Seahawks loss
*Note: The Rams clinch the strength of victory over the Seahawks with 2.5 or more wins from the following teams: Vikings, Bills, 49ers, Commanders and Browns
Eagles (12-3) vs. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Philadelphia clinches the NFC East division title with:
- A win or tie
- A Washington Commanders loss or tie
Atlanta Falcons (8-7) at Washington Commanders (10-5)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
The Falcons can clinch the NFC South division title with:
- A win and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss
The Commanders can clinch a playoff berth with:
- A win or tie
- A Buccaneers loss or tie
Lions (13-2) at San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
The Lions can clinch the NFC North division title, the NFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:
Required reading
(Photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
