2021 NFL playoff picture, standings: Chiefs take over first in AFC, force Titans to win in Week 18
Written by ABC Audio All Rights Reserved on January 8, 2022
The longest season in NFL history has finally come to a close, starting with a Week 18 Saturday doubleheader that features matchups with playoff implications. The Kansas City Chiefs rallied to defeat the Denver Broncos to clinch a least No. 2 seed in the AFC, forcing the Tennessee Titans to win Sunday in order to lock up home-field advantage in the AFC.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys have their playoff berths clinched. Dallas still has a shot at the No. 2 seed in the NFC while the highest the Eagles can obtain is the No. 6 seed in the conference. Philadelphia is resting several key starters in the Saturday night showdown.
Below, you can find a conference breakdown of the current standings, how each club performed in Week 18 and their playoff matchup and draft pick selection (for the teams eliminated from the playoffs).
AFC
|
y-Chiefs |
12 |
5 |
.706 |
5-1 |
7-5 |
|
|
y-Titans |
11 |
5 |
.688 |
4-1 |
6-5 |
|
|
y-Bengals |
10 |
6 |
.625 |
4-1 |
8-3 |
|
|
y-Bills |
10 |
6 |
.625 |
4-1 |
6-5 |
|
|
x-Patriots |
10 |
6 |
.625 |
3-2 |
8-3 |
|
|
9 |
7 |
.563 |
3-2 |
7-4 |
||
|
9 |
7 |
.563 |
3-2 |
6-5 |
||
|
9 |
7 |
.563 |
2-3 |
7-4 |
||
|
8 |
7 |
1 |
.531 |
3-2 |
6-5 |
|
|
e-Dolphins |
8 |
8 |
.500 |
3-2 |
5-6 |
|
|
8 |
8 |
.500 |
1-4 |
5-6 |
||
|
e-Browns |
7 |
9 |
.438 |
2-3 |
4-7 |
|
|
e-Broncos |
7 |
10 |
.412 |
1-5 |
3-9 |
|
|
e-Jets |
4 |
12 |
.250 |
0-5 |
4-7 |
|
|
e-Texans |
4 |
12 |
.250 |
3-2 |
4-7 |
|
|
e-Jaguars |
2 |
14 |
.125 |
1-5 |
2-9 |
x-clinched playoff berth
y-clinched division title
z-clinched homefield advantage
e-eliminated from playoffs
Kansas City Chiefs
What to know: The Chiefs are currently the No. 1 seed in the AFC after their win over the Broncos and will be at least the No. 2 seed in the conference. Kansas City needs a Tennessee loss in Week 18 to clinch the first-round bye.
Tennessee Titans
What to know: The Titans hold the No. 1 seed in the AFC with the Chiefs’ loss to the Bengals. Tennessee clinches the top seed with a win over Houston in Week 18.
Remaining schedule: at Texans
Cincinnati Bengals
What to know: The Bengals have clinched the AFC North. Cincinnati is the No. 3 seed in the AFC due to having a better conference record than Buffalo.
Remaining schedule: at Browns
Buffalo Bills
What to know: The Bills didn’t lock up the AFC East yet, but clinched a playoff berth. They clinch the AFC East in Week 18 with a win.
Remaining schedule: vs. Jets
New England Patriots
What to know: The Patriots clinched a playoff berth. New England wins the AFC East with a win and a Buffalo loss to New York in Week 18. The Patriots will be at least the No. 5 seed with a win.
Remaining schedule: at Dolphins
Indianapolis Colts
What to know: Indianapolis needs just a win over the Jaguars in Week 18 to lock up a playoff spot. The Colts are the No. 6 seed in the conference, even though they have the same record as the Chargers and Raiders. Indianapolis has the best record in conference games and the Chargers beating the Raiders earlier this year gives Los Angeles the No. 7 spot. The Colts can clinch a playoff berth with a victory against the Jaguars.
Remaining schedule: at Jaguars
Los Angeles Chargers
What to know: The Chargers are currently the No. 7 seed with one week to go, losing a conference record tiebreaker to the Colts but own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Raiders — who they face this week.
Los Angeles clinches a playoff spot with a win over Las Vegas.
Remaining schedule: at Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders
What to know: The Raiders are tied with the Colts and Chargers at 9-7 with one week to go. Las Vegas loses the head-to-head tiebreaker with Los Angeles — currently the No. 7 seed — yet the Raiders play the Chargers next week.
The Raiders can clinch a playoff berth with either of the following:
- Win vs Chargers
- Steelers loss (Week 17 or 18) + Colts loss
Remaining schedule: vs. Chargers
Pittsburgh Steelers
What to know: The Steelers can clinch a playoff berth with a Week 18 win over the Ravens, plus a Colts loss.
Remaining schedule: at Ravens
Miami Dolphins
What to know: The Dolphins are eliminated from the playoffs with their loss to the Titans. Their first-round draft pick goes to the Eagles in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots
Baltimore Ravens
What to know: The Ravens’ playoff hopes are dim. Baltimore is 11th in the conference, and needs a Week 18 win with some help in order to make the playoffs.
The Ravens can clinch a playoff berth with a win, plus losses by the Colts, Browns, Chargers and Dolphins.
Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers
Cleveland Browns
What to know: The Browns were eliminated from the playoffs in Week 17 with the Chargers beating the Broncos and the Bengals clinching the AFC North.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals
Denver Broncos
What to know: The Broncos are eliminated from the playoffs and are in line for the No. 10 pick in the NFL Draft.
New York Jets
What to know: The Jets are eliminated from the playoffs and are in line for the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Remaining schedule: at Bills
Houston Texans
What to know: The Texans are eliminated from the playoffs and currently own the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft.
Remaining schedule: vs. Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars
What to know: The Jaguars are eliminated from the playoffs and currently own the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.
Remaining schedule: vs. Colts
NFC
|
z-Packers |
13 |
3 |
.813 |
4-1 |
9-2 |
|
|
x-Rams |
12 |
4 |
.750 |
3-2 |
8-3 |
|
|
y-Buccaneers |
12 |
4 |
.750 |
3-2 |
7-4 |
|
|
y-Cowboys |
11 |
5 |
.688 |
5-0 |
9-2 |
|
|
x-Cardinals |
11 |
5 |
.688 |
4-1 |
874 |
|
|
49ers |
9 |
7 |
.563 |
1-4 |
6-5 |
|
|
x-Eagles |
9 |
7 |
.563 |
3-2 |
7-4 |
|
|
8 |
8 |
.500 |
3-2 |
6-5 |
||
|
e-Vikings |
7 |
9 |
.438 |
3-2 |
5-6 |
|
|
e-Falcons |
7 |
9 |
.438 |
2-3 |
4-7 |
|
|
e-Washington |
6 |
10 |
.375 |
1-4 |
5-6 |
|
|
e-Bears |
6 |
10 |
.375 |
2-3 |
4-7 |
|
|
e-Seahawks |
6 |
10 |
.375 |
2-3 |
438 |
|
|
e-Panthers |
5 |
11 |
.313 |
2-3 |
3-8 |
|
|
e-Giants |
4 |
12 |
.250 |
1-4 |
3-8 |
|
|
e-Lions |
2 |
13 |
1 |
.156 |
1-4 |
2-9 |
x-clinched playoff berth
y-clinched division title
z-clinched homefield advantage
e-eliminated from playoffs
Green Bay Packers
What to know: The Packers clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Remaining schedule: at Lions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What to know: The Buccaneers are the No. 3 seed in the NFC. They lose the head-to-head tiebreaker to the Rams for the No. 2 spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers
Los Angeles Rams
What to know: The Rams clinch the NFC West with a win over the 49ers in Week 18 or a Cardinals loss to the Seahawks. They are currently the No. 2 seed in the NFC, holding a head-to-head tiebreaker to the Buccaneers.
Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers
Dallas Cowboys
What to know: The Cowboys are the No. 4 seed in the NFC, but have already clinched the NFC East. They can clinch the No. 2 seed in the conference, but need some help.
Remaining schedule: at Eagles
Arizona Cardinals
What to know: The Cardinals will win the NFC West with a win and a Rams loss in Week 18. Arizona can’t be lower than the No. 5 seed in the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers
What to know: The 49ers clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Rams in Week 18 or a Saints loss to the Falcons. San Francisco is currently the No. 6 seed in the NFC, holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over Philadelphia.
Remaining schedule: at Rams
Philadelphia Eagles
What to know: The Eagles clinched a playoff berth, but are still the No. 7 seed since the 49ers own the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: vs. Cowboys
New Orleans Saints
What to know: The Saints are still alive in the NFC playoff race. New Orleans is one game behind Philadelphia and San Francisco for the final playoff spot as the No. 8 seed, but lose the head-to-head tiebreaker to the Eagles.
The Saints clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Falcons and a 49ers loss to the Rams.
Remaining schedule: at Falcons
Minnesota Vikings
What to know: The Vikings are eliminated from the playoffs and are in line for the No. 12 pick in the NFL Draft.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bears
Atlanta Falcons
What to know: The Falcons are eliminated from the playoffs and are in line for teh No. 11 pick in the NFL Draft.
Remaining schedule: vs. Saints
Washington Football Team
What to know: Washington is eliminated from the playoffs and in line for the No. 9 pick in the NFL Draft.
Remaining schedule: at Giants
Chicago Bears
What to know: The Bears are eliminated from playoff contention. Chicago would be in line for the No. 8 pick in the draft, but that is going to the New York Giants from a draft day trade.
Remaining schedule: at Vikings
Seattle Seahawks
What to know: The Seahawks are eliminated from the playoffs and would own the No. 7 pick in the draft, but that goes to the Jets thanks to the Jamal Adams trade.
Remaining schedule: at Cardinals
Carolina Panthers
What to know: The Panthers are eliminated from the postseason. Carolina currently has the No. 6 pick in the draft.
Remaining schedule: at Buccaneers
New York Giants
What to know: The Giants are eliminated from the playoffs and currently own the No. 5 pick in the draft.
Remaining schedule: vs. Washington
Detroit Lions
What to know: The Lions are eliminated from the playoffs and currently own the No. 2 pick in the draft.
Remaining schedule: vs. Packers
KVSP