NFL Playoff Picture 2022: NFC, AFC Bracket, Wild-Card Standings For Week 18

The 2022 NFL playoff picture is almost complete with one week left on the regular-season schedule. Two wild-card berths in the final AFC postseason bracket are open. There’s only one NFC spot up for grabs, though a division title is still undecided between a pair of playoff teams.

The Green Bay Packers (13-3) sit atop the overall standings and have clinched the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The Los Angeles Rams (12-4), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4) and Dallas Cowboys (11-5) are in the playoffs and only fighting for seeding in their Week 18 games. The Arizona Cardinals (11-5) and Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) have also clinched postseason berths.

Either the San Francisco 49ers (9-7) or New Orleans Saints (8-8) will claim the final NFC wild-card berth. San Francisco is a game ahead of New Orleans in the standings and clinches a playoff spot with a win or a Saints loss in Week 18.

The Rams enter the season finale atop the NFC West with a one-game lead over the Cardinals. Unless Arizona wins and Los Angeles loses in Week 18, the Rams will claim the division title.

There’s more uncertainty in the AFC, where three division titles have been clinched and five teams are vying for two wild-card spots. The conference’s first-round bye won’t be determined until Sunday afternoon.

NFC has one Wild Card spot remaining — 9-7 Niners or 8-8 Saints.

49ers at Rams, who need to win to win the NFC West.

Saints at Falcons, who have nothing to play for other than knocking out the Saints. pic.twitter.com/ZVoLvwgjxK
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) January 3, 2022

WEEK 18 AFC #1 Seed Scenarios:

TEN:
1) TEN Win
2) TEN Tie KC L/T
3) KC L CIN L/T NE L/T
4) KC L CIN L/T BUF W

KC:
1) KC Win TEN L/T
2) KC Tie TEN L

CIN:
1) CIN Win KC L TEN L Either NE L/T OR BUF W

NE :
1) NE Win BUF L/T KC L TEN L

BUF can't get #1
— Joe Ferreira (@JoeNFL) January 3, 2022

The Tennessee Titans (11-5) are the AFC’s No.1 seed and in control of their own destiny. The Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) and Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) are division champions in need of some help to grab the top spot in the conference standings.

The Buffalo Bills (10-6) and New England Patriots (10-6) are both in the final playoff picture. Buffalo clinches the AFC East title with a win or a New England loss.

The Indianapolis Colts (9-7) and Los Angeles Chargers (9-7) are seeded No. 6 and No. 7, respectively. If they win in Week 18, they are both in the postseason.

The Las Vegas Raiders (9-7) and Baltimore Ravens (8-8) are still alive in the wild-card race. The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7-1) must beat the Cleveland Browns (7-8) Monday night to avoid elimination and keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Miami Dolphins (8-8) are technically ahead of the Ravens in the standings, but have been eliminated because of tiebreaker scenarios.