NFL Playoff Picture 2018: Dolphins, Colts In Wild-Card Race, Patriots, Chiefs Nearly Division Champs

The NFL playoff picture is really starting to shape up in the NFC, where two divisions are already clinched and most of the other postseason teams are already known. That’s not the case in the AFC, and the final three weeks of the 2018 season can go in any number of ways.

The Kansas City Chiefs became the first AFC team to clinch a playoff spot Sunday. They are the conference’s No.1 seed, though they still have work to do to clinch the division title. Kansas City has a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Chargers with an important “Thursday Night Football” matchup with L.A. looming.

The Chiefs do own the tiebreaker over the Chargers, so they would still control their chances of winning the AFC West even with a loss to their rivals. A win in Week 15 would give Kansas City their third straight AFC West title.

The New England Patriots fell two games behind Kansas City in Week 14. They are still in the driver’s seat for a first-round bye, but their stunning loss to the Miami Dolphins cost them a chance to clinch the AFC East title. With a two-game lead in the division, the Patriots are expected to finish in first place for a 10th straight season.

The Houston Texans also lost a key game to a division rival to cut their lead down to two games. Houston is two games ahead of the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans in the AFC South. The Texans have the same record as the Patriots, but New England owns the No.2 seed because they beat Houston in Week 1.

The AFC North is very much up for grabs following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss to the Oakland Raiders. They are only a half-game up on the Baltimore Ravens, who have the second wild-card spot.

Los Angeles is in firm control of the No.5 seed. No.6 Baltimore owns the tiebreaker over the Dolphins, Colts and Titans, all of whom are 7-6. Miami, Indianapolis and Tennessee stayed in the wild-card race by winning in Week 14. The Denver Broncos probably ended their playoff chances by losing Sunday.

Baltimore currently has the tiebreaker with a 6-4 conference record. The Dolphins also have four conference losses, but they are the No.8 seed behind the No.7 seed Colts, for now, because Indianapolis beat Miami head-to-head.

The Titans are 5-6 in the AFC and unlikely to win any tiebreakers. They lost to the Ravens earlier this season. Tennessee was defeated by Indianapolis a few weeks ago, but the division rivals will meet in the season finale.