NFL Playoff Picture - Week 17: Postseason seeds, projected draft order
NFL Playoff Picture is a weekly look at the teams jockeying to secure their shot to make it to Super Bowl LVII.
AFC| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chiefs (y) | West | 13-3 |
| 2 | Bills (y) | East | 12-3 |
| 3 | Bengals (x) | North | 11-4 |
| 4 | Jaguars | South | 8-8 |
| 5 | Chargers (x) | West | 10-6 |
| 6 | Ravens (x) | North | 10-6 |
| 7 | Patriots | East | 8-8 |
x = clinched playoff berth
y = clinched division title
z = clinched first-round bye
The top spots of the AFC playoff picture are wide-open, with a highly anticipated matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals coming on Monday Night Football. Buffalo entered Week 17 as the No. 1 seed but has lost the spot - at least momentarily - to the Kansas City Chiefs. But Buffalo, which defeated the Chiefs earlier this campaign and owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over K.C., will reclaim the top spot with a win over Cincy.
The Bengals have won seven straight, including a Week 13 clash versus the Chiefs. They also have a chance of clinching a first-round bye in the playoffs. Cincinnati would get the conference's top seed with wins in its final two games (Bills and Baltimore Ravens) and a Kansas City defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18.
The New England Patriots claimed a major home victory over the Tua Tagovailoa-less Miami Dolphins in Week 17 to jump into the No. 7 seed. The Patriots will make the playoffs for the second straight year with a win in Buffalo next week, but New England could also earn a wild-card spot even with a loss depending on a combination of results that includes Week 18 losses from the Dolphins (versus New York Jets), Tennessee Titans (at Jacksonville Jaguars), and Pittsburgh Steelers (versus Cleveland Browns).
The winner of Titans-Jaguars will clinch the AFC South title and host a game in the wild-card round. Jacksonville beat Tennessee 36-22 in Week 14. A loss would make things very complicated for Jacksonville, but it wouldn't necessarily end its playoff chances; the Jaguars would then need New England, Miami, and Pittsburgh all to lose to advance as the No. 7 seed.
In the hunt| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Dolphins | East | 8-8 |
| 9 | Steelers | North | 8-8 |
| 11 | Titans | South | 7-9 |
*The Jets, currently the AFC's No. 10 seed, have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Things aren't looking good for the Dolphins, having lost five in a row and unsure if Tagovailoa will clear concussion protocol before their regular-season finale. Backup Teddy Bridgewater is dealing with a finger injury and could miss time, which would put rookie Skylar Thompson in line to start the team's must-win Week 18 game.
Don't look now, but the Steelers are coming and might sneak in once again. With Sunday night's victory over Baltimore, Pittsburgh will get in at 9-8 if it beats Cleveland in Week 18 and Miami and New England both lose.
NFC| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eagles (x) | East | 13-3 |
| 2 | 49ers (y) | West | 12-4 |
| 3 | Vikings (y) | North | 12-4 |
| 4 | Buccaneers (y) | South | 8-8 |
| 5 | Cowboys (x) | East | 12-4 |
| 6 | Giants (x) | East | 9-6-1 |
| 7 | Seahawks | West | 8-8 |
x = clinched playoff berth
y = clinched division title
z = clinched first-round bye
A lot could still happen in the NFC after the Philadelphia Eagles, once seemingly a lock to secure the conference's No. 1 seed, suffered their second consecutive loss in Week 17. Philly only needs a win over the New York Giants to clinch the top spot. But things could get interesting if Philadelphia loses next week, as the Dallas Cowboys would then be a win over the Washington Commanders away from claiming the NFC East. At least Philadelphia is likely to have quarterback Jalen Hurts back after a shoulder injury sidelined him for two games.
Another Philadelphia loss would also open the door for the Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, hosting the Arizona Cardinals next, to take the conference's No. 1 seed. If both the 49ers and Cowboys are 13-4 next week, San Francisco will get the edge for having a better win percentage in conference games.
There's only one playoff spot available in the NFC after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants punched their tickets on Sunday. Tampa Bay will host a wild-card game as the champion of the South, while New York has the No. 6 seed locked up in its first playoff appearance since 2016. Though the Seattle Seahawks head into Week 18 as the No. 7 seed, they don't control their destiny. Seattle needs a victory over the Los Angeles Rams and a Green Bay Packers loss to the Detroit Lions to secure its spot.
In the huntHeading into Week 18 for NFC Playoffs:
- Joe Ferreira (@JoeNFL) January 2, 2023
Heading into Week 18....
The ONLY Seed positions determined in the NFC is:
- TAMPA as #4 seed
- NY GIANTS as the #6 seed.
PHI can be 1, 2 or 5
SF can be 1, 2 or 3
MIN can be 2 or 3
DAL can be 1, 2 or 5
The 7 Seed will be SEA or DET or GB
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Lions | North | 8-8 |
| 9 | Packers | North | 8-8 |
Who would've thought the Packers - 4-8 entering December - would be a win away from earning their fourth straight postseason berth? The Packers' resurgence is the biggest storyline of the NFC playoff picture right now, as they've won four in a row and will reach the playoffs if they take down the Lions in a pivotal game at Lambeau Field.
Detroit's put together its own turnaround this campaign, and a postseason berth is within reach. Despite starting the season 1-6, the Lions will book a playoff ticket with a win and a Seattle loss.
Projected NFL draft order| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Texans |
| 2 | Bears |
| 3 | Seahawks (via Broncos) |
| 4 | Cardinals |
| 5 | Colts |
| 6 | Lions (via Rams) |
| 7 | Falcons |
| 8 | Raiders |
| 9 | Panthers |
| 10 | Eagles (via Saints) |
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