The NFL regular season concluded for the National Football Conference (NFC) on Saturday, with all playoff seedings confirmed. In contrast, 12 of the 14 postseason seeding positions in the American Football Conference (AFC) remained undecided entering the final day of Week 18, including the No. 1 overall seed and its associated first-round bye.
NFC Playoff Standings Finalized
Following the conclusion of Saturday's Week 18 games, the National Football Conference's playoff picture was set. The Seattle Seahawks secured the top seed in the conference, earning a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, after their victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
NFC Division Leaders:
- 1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3): Clinched NFC West and the No. 1 seed.
- 2. Chicago Bears (11-6): Secured NFC North and the No. 2 seed.
- 3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6): Secured NFC East and the No. 3 seed after a loss to the Washington Commanders, a game in which the Eagles rested multiple key starters, including quarterback Jalen Hurts.
- 4. Carolina Panthers (8-9): Clinched NFC South and the No. 4 seed. This outcome was determined by the Atlanta Falcons' victory over the New Orleans Saints.
NFC Wild Card Teams:
- 5. Los Angeles Rams (12-5): Secured the No. 5 seed following a win against the Arizona Cardinals.
- 6. San Francisco 49ers (12-5): Secured the No. 6 seed.
- 7. Green Bay Packers (9-7-1): Confirmed as the No. 7 seed, set to play the No. 2 seed on the road. The Packers lost their final regular season game to the Minnesota Vikings while starters were rested.
NFC Teams Eliminated from Playoff Contention:
- Minnesota Vikings (9-8)
- Detroit Lions (9-8)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
- Atlanta Falcons (8-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)
- New Orleans Saints (6-11)
- Washington Commanders (5-12)
- New York Giants (4-13)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-14)
AFC Playoff Scenarios Entering Final Day
The American Football Conference's playoff seeding remained entirely open, with all seven seeds, including the No. 1 overall seed and first-round bye, dependent on Sunday's Week 18 outcomes. Six teams had clinched playoff berths, but their specific seeding was not yet determined.
AFC Teams Clinched, Seed Not Set:
- Denver Broncos (13-3) — AFC West
- New England Patriots (13-3) — AFC East
- Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) — Playoff berth
- Houston Texans (11-5) — Playoff berth
- Buffalo Bills (11-5) — AFC Wild Card berth
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) — AFC Wild Card berth
Contenders for No. 1 Seed (First-Round Bye):
The Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and Jacksonville Jaguars are the teams in contention for the AFC's No. 1 seed.
- Denver Broncos secure No. 1 with a win, or a tie if New England loses or ties, or if New England loses and Jacksonville loses or ties.
- New England Patriots secure No. 1 with a win and a Denver loss or tie, or a tie if Denver loses.
- Jacksonville Jaguars secure No. 1 with a win, a Denver loss, and a New England loss.
Key Divisional Scenarios and Matchups:
- AFC East: The New England Patriots (13-3) face the Miami Dolphins (7-9). The Buffalo Bills (11-5) play the New York Jets (3-13). Buffalo's potential seeding ranges from No. 5 to No. 7.
- AFC North: The Baltimore Ravens (8-8) play the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) in a game that will determine the division champion and No. 4 seed.
- AFC South: The Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) face the Tennessee Titans (3-13). The Houston Texans (11-5) play the Indianapolis Colts (8-8). The winner of Texans-Colts could be the No. 3 seed if Jacksonville loses. The Jaguars could finish anywhere from No. 1 to No. 7.
- AFC West: The Denver Broncos (13-3) host the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5). The Chargers are projected to secure either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed; quarterback Justin Herbert is not expected to play in the game.
Range of Possible Seedings for Teams:
Many AFC teams have a wide range of potential final seeds based on Week 18 outcomes:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Could finish as No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 5, No. 6, or No. 7.
- Denver Broncos: Could finish as No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3.
- New England Patriots: Could finish as No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3.
- Houston Texans: Could finish as No. 3, No. 5, No. 6, or No. 7.
- Buffalo Bills: Could finish as No. 5, No. 6, or No. 7.
- Los Angeles Chargers: Could finish as No. 5, No. 6, or No. 7.