NFL Week 18 clinching scenarios: Everything you need to know

National Football League

Published Jan. 4, 2024 5:12 p.m. ET

Just one week remains in the NFL‘s regular season. Several teams already have secured a spot in the postseason, while 11 teams are fighting for just five remaining playoff berths.

Here’s a look at which AFC and NFC teams can clinch either playoff spots or division titles in Week 18 games.

AFC

Already clinched:

Baltimore Ravens (13-3) have clinched the AFC North title and the No. 1 seed.
Miami Dolphins (11-5) have clinched a playoff berth; they will clinch the AFC East with a win or tie against the Buffalo Bills.
Cleveland Browns (11-5) have clinched a playoff berth.
Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) have clinched the AFC West title.

How Bills can clinch a playoff berth:

Bills tie OR
Pittsburgh Steelers loss or tie OR
Jacksonville Jaguars loss or tie OR
Houston Texans–Indianapolis Colts tie

* Buffalo can also clinch the AFC East title with a win against the Dolphins.

How Texans can clinch a playoff berth:

Texans win OR
Texans tie + Jaguars loss + Steelers loss or tie

* Houston can also clinch the AFC South title with a win AND a Jacksonville loss or tie.

How Colts can clinch a playoff berth:

Colts win OR
Colts tie + Steelers loss or tie

* Indianapolis can also clinch the AFC South title with a win AND a Jacksonville loss or tie, OR a tie and Jacksonville loss.

How Jaguars can clinch a playoff berth:

Jaguars tie + Steelers loss or tie OR
Steelers loss + Denver Broncos loss or tie + Texans-Colts doesn’t end in tie.

* Jacksonville can also clinch the AFC South with a win, OR Jaguars tie + Texans-Colts tie.

How Steelers can clinch a playoff berth:

Steelers win + Bills loss OR
Steelers win + Jaguars loss or tie OR
Steelers win + Texans-Colts tie OR
Steelers tie + Jaguars loss + Texans-Colts doesn’t end in tie OR
Jaguars loss + Broncos win + Texans-Colts doesn’t end in tie

NFC

Already clinched:

San Francisco 49ers(12-4) have clinched the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed.
Detroit Lions (11-5) have clinched the NFC North title.
Dallas Cowboys (11-5) have clinched a playoff berth; they will win the NFC East with a win, OR a tie + Philadelphia Eagles loss, OR an Eagles loss.
Eagles (11-5) have clinched a playoff berth; they will win the NFC East with a win + Cowboys loss or tie, OR a tie + Cowboys loss.
Los Angeles Rams (9-7) have clinched a playoff berth.