NFL Playoff Picture 2018: Chiefs, Patriots, Rams Favored To Clinch First-Round Byes In Week 17

Heading into Week 17 of the 2018 NFL season, the New Orleans Saints are the only team that has clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs. Seven teams remain in contention for a top-two seed that would automatically put them in the divisional round.

The Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams have the best odds to secure a bye Sunday. The Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears are all long shots to get a free pass on Wild-Card Weekend.

It will be somewhat stunning if the NFL playoff picture doesn’t feature Kansas City as the AFC’s No.1 seed and New England as the No.2 seed in the conference. That’s how things will shake out if both teams are victorious in Week 17. The Chiefs are -900 favorites to win at home against the Oakland Raiders, according to OddsShark. The Patriots have nearly the same odds to defeat the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium.

Assuming there are no ties, the Chargers can only clinch a bye with a win over the Denver Broncos and a Chiefs’ loss. L.A. is a -290 favorite at Mile High.

The Texans need a lot to go right for them to secure a No.1 or a No.2 seed, though it all starts with them beating the Jacksonville Jaguars. In order to clinch home-field advantage until the Super Bowl, Houston needs losses by the Chiefs, Patriots and Chargers.

A win for the Texans and a loss for the Patriots would guarantee Houston no worse than the No.2 seed. A win for the Texans and losses by both the Chiefs and Chargers would do the same. Houston has -300 odds to win at home Sunday.

The Ravens are still looking to secure a postseason berth. If they beat the Cleveland Browns at home as -245 favorites, Baltimore can get the No.2 seed with losses by Houston and New England. The Ravens are out of contention for the No.1 seed.

It’s much more simple in the NFC, where the Saints have already clinched at least a share of the NFL’s best record and home-field advantage through the conference title game. The Los Angeles Rams can clinch the No.2 seed with a win. The Chicago Bears need a win over the Minnesota Vikings and a Rams’ loss to earn a bye.

The Rams are given -440 odds to beat the San Francisco 49ers in L.A. Chicago is the only team in contention for a bye that’s an underdog in Week 17. The Bears have +180 odds to win in Minnesota.

Los Angeles beat San Francisco by 29 points earlier this season. Chicago beat Minnesota by five points in Week 11.