NFL Playoff Picture 2018: Eagles, Vikings, Steelers, Ravens, Colts, Titans In Week 17 Postseason Hunt
Nine of the 12 NFL playoff berths have been clinched before Week 17 of the 2018 regular season. Six teams are fighting for the three remaining spots with the final playoff picture to be decided Sunday.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings are fighting for the final NFC playoff spot. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans are battling for two AFC playoff berths.
Every NFC division has been clinched. The AFC West is undecided, but both contenders are already in the postseason. Three teams are alive in the AFC South race, though the first-place Houston Texans are in the playoffs no matter what.
The AFC North doesn’t have a winner, and the runner-up won’t be going to the playoffs. The Baltimore Ravens have a half-game lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers with one game left on the schedule.
The Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans are tied for the second AFC wild-card berth. Indianapolis holds the tiebreaker after Week 16, but that doesn’t matter much since the two teams will meet in Tennessee on "Sunday Night Football." The winner is in the playoffs and the loser will be eliminated.
If the Houston Texans lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17, the winner of the matchup between Tennessee and Indianapolis will become the AFC South champion. Houston is the AFC's No.3 seed after Week 16, but they would get the No.6 seed in that scenario.
Pittsburgh is a game out of the wild-card race. They can only get the No.6 seed if they win and the Colts and Titans play to a tie. It’s all but certain that the Steelers or Ravens will be watching the playoffs from home.
It’ll be the Eagles or Vikings that gets the last wild-card spot in the NFC. Minnesota has a half-game lead over Philadelphia. Anything other than a Vikings’ loss and an Eagles’ win will result in Minnesota making the playoffs.
The Seattle Seahawks have clinched an NFC wild-card berth. Minnesota can still finish with a higher seed than Seattle. Philadelphia can only earn the No.6 seed.
The Vikings, Ravens, Colts and Titans all control their own playoff destiny. The Steelers and Eagles need some help.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.