NFL Playoffs Updated: AFC, NFC Playoff Picture For Week 17 Of 2022 Season

There are only one week and one game left in the 2022 NFL season. It’s time to continue examining the updated standings and which teams would make the playoffs if the season ended on Sunday of Week 17, even though the AFC and NFC playoff picture won’t be decided until Week 18.

The AFC South, which will depend on a matchup between the Jaguars and Titans in the final week, is the only division that won’t be decided until Week 18.

It goes without saying that just because four playoff positions can be secured in Week 17 does not guarantee that they will be. There are still six teams vying for one wild-card spot in the AFC while five are fighting for two in the NFC, so the path to team clinching is complicated.

Here is a breakdown of the most recent NFL playoff field and seedings as well as a look at the potential playoff participants.

NFL Playoffs Updated: AFC, NFC Playoff Picture For Week 17 Of 2022 Season

AFC playoff picture

1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-3), champions, AFC West. By defeating the Broncos at home on Sunday, the Chiefs increased the pressure on the Bills. They still behind the Bills, who they lost to at home in Week 6, in the head-to-head tiebreaker. In Week 18, the Chiefs will want to finish on top and hope the Bills slip up once to claim the top seed

2. Buffalo Bills (12-3), champions, AFC East. In Week 16, the Bills easily defeated the Bears to clinch their third straight division title. The Bills can now concentrate on beating the Chiefs to keep their home-field advantage and one bye. The Bengals must be defeated on Monday in Cincinnati if that is to happen. The Bills are unable to secure No.1 after chiefs won.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (11-4), first place, AFC North. In Week 16, the Bengals defeated the Patriots to earn their seventh straight victory. They remained in front of the division-winning Ravens and just behind the Bills and Chiefs in the conference as a result. On Monday night, Cincinnati will host Baltimore before hosting Buffalo in Week 17. With a victory after the Ravens’ loss, the Bengals may clinch the division.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8), first place, AFC South. In Week 17, the Jaguars defeated the Texans to secure their stay. Due to their victory in Nashville in Week 14, Jacksonville has a one-game lead over Tennessee and has the advantage in the head-to-head tiebreaker. Even though the Titans lost in Dallas in Week 17, the division is decided in Week 18.

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6), second place, AFC West. The Chargers’ dominant road victory against the Colts in Week 16 gave them a wild-card slot, and they continued to roll over the local Rams in Week 17 to pass the struggling Ravens. With Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, and an improved defence, they appear to be more dangerous.

6. Baltimore Ravens (10-6), second place, AFC North. Without Lamar Jackson, the Ravens were unable to defeat the Steelers at home on Sunday night. As a result, if the Bengals win on Monday, the Ravens’ Week 18 game in Cincinnati will have no significance (aside from seeding). This is because they already have at least the second wild card spot secured.

7. Second-placed New England Patriots (8-8) in the AFC East. By defeating the Dolphins on Sunday, the Patriots evened up their overall records and shared the season series. Because it now has a higher division record (3-2 vs. 2-3), earning it the head-to-head tiebreaker, New England passed Miami in the race for the last wild-card spot.

Who’s in the hunt?

8. Miami Dolphins (8-8), third place, AFC East

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8), third place, AFC North

11. Tennessee Titans (7-9), second place, AFC South

On Sunday night, the Steelers triumphed and the Patriots defeated the Dolphins to keep things intriguing for three teams heading into Week 18. The Steelers must defeat the Browns in Week 18 and hope the Dolphins and Patriots, who also defeated them, suffer defeats. To qualify as the AFC South winners, the Titans will just need to defeat the Jaguars in their season finale.

Who’s out?

10. New York Jets (7-9), last place, AFC East

12. Cleveland Browns (7-9), last place, AFC North

13. Las Vegas Raiders (6-10), third place, AFC West

14. Indianapolis Colts (4-11-1), third place, AFC South

15. Denver Broncos (4-12), last place, AFC West

16. Houston Texans (2-13-1), last place, AFC South

NFC playoff picture

1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3), first place, NFC East. After Sunday’s disappointing home loss to the Saints without Jalen Hurts, the Eagles already secured a playoff spot and will capture the division with one more victory or a Cowboys defeat, which will have to wait until Week 18. Additionally, they need to work on maintaining home-field advantage and the lone bye.

2. San Francisco 49ers (12-4), champions, NFC West. Following their ninth straight victory over the Raiders in overtime in Las Vegas, the 49ers now have a chance at the top seed after passing the Vikings. They simply need to defeat the Cardinals in Week 18 and suffer an Eagles loss to the Commanders.

3. Minnesota Vikings (12-4), champions, NFC North. After losing to the Packers on Sunday and being overtaken by the 49ers, the Vikings are no longer in contention for the top spot. They suffered direct defeats at the hands of the Eagles and Cowboys, and their conference record against the 49ers falls short. They are probably stranded here before the Buccaneers.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8), champions, NFC South. With their comeback victory over the Panthers at home on Sunday, the Buccaneers eventually won the division for a second straight championship. They will host either the Eagles (again) or Cowboys in the wild-card round due to their fixed playoff seed.

5. Dallas Cowboys (12-4), second place, NFC East. By defeating the Titans on Thursday night to start Week 17 and reduce the deficit to one game, the Cowboys increased the pressure on the Eagles. If they defeat the Commanders in Week 18 and the Eagles lose to the Giants, they can still win the division. They parted ways with the Eagles but still control the crucial divisional record tiebreaker (4-1 vs. 3-2). If they win and the 49ers lose, they have a chance to win both the No. 1 seed and the division.

6. New York Giants (9-6-1), third place, NFC East. With their lopsided victory over the Colts on Sunday, the Giants secured a wild-card spot behind the Eagles and Cowboys. As the Commanders lose to be eliminated behind them and the Lions, Seahawks, and Packers are unable to catch them, they are locked into this seed.

7. Seattle Seahawks (8-8), second place, NFC West. The Seahawks are back in this spot because they have the advantage in the three-way tiebreaker over the Lions and Packers, the NFC’s other two.500 teams. They retain the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Lions from a Week 4 victory at Detroit, so if they defeat the Rams in Week 18 and the Packers lose to the Lions, they will advance to the playoffs.

Who’s in the hunt?

8. Detroit Lions (8-8), second place, NFC North

9. Green Bay Packers (8-8), third place, NFC North

The Packers will be in the playoffs as the No. 7 team in the NFC with a win over the Lions. If the Lions win, they would need the Seahawks to lose to the Rams to make the playoffs.

Who’s out?

10. Washington Commanders (7-8-1), last place, NFC East

11. New Orleans Saints (7-9), last place, NFC South

12. Carolina Panthers (6-10), third place, NFC South

13. Atlanta Falcons (6-10), last place, NFC South

14. Los Angeles Rams (5-11), third place, NFC West

15. Arizona Cardinals (4-12), last place, NFC West

16. Chicago Bears (3-13), last place, NFC North

 

FOR MORE NFL UPDATES-

Bucs’ Punter Jake Camarda Saves The Season In Closing Moments Against Panthers