There are just two weeks of regular-season football left to be played, but the NFL’s playoff picture remains murky.
Entering Week 17, only eight teams had been eliminated from playoff contention in total across the league. That meant that 24 still had a shot to make the playoffs with just two weeks left in the season.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it was likely for all of those teams to make it. Some, like the Bears, face major uphill battles to get there. Others, like the Chiefs, entered the week with a playoff berth all but wrapped up.
Still, any amount of hope is enough to keep NFL fans interested and rooting hard for their teams. And while several more squads are set to fall in Week 17, it should still set up an exciting and impactful Week 18 during which several teams will face win-and-in scenarios.
But who is set to make the postseason? Here’s what to know about the NFL’s playoff picture, tiebreakers and elimination scenarios as Week 17 results come in.
WEEK 17 NFL PICKS: Straight up | Against the spread
This article will be updated periodically to reflect the latest news, updates and results from around the NFL.
NFL playoff standings Week 17
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AFC playoff picture
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched? |
| 1 | Ravens | 13-3 | AFC North, No. 1 seed |
| 2 | Dolphins | 11-5 | Playoff berth |
| 3 | Chiefs | 9-6 | — |
| 4 | Jaguars | 9-7 | — |
| 5 | Browns | 11-5 | Playoff berth |
| 6 | Bills | 10-6 | — |
| 7 | Colts | 9-7 | — |
In the hunt: Texans (9-7), Steelers (8-7), Bengals (8-7), Broncos (7-8)
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NFC playoff picture
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched? |
| 1 | 49ers | 12-4 | NFC West, No. 1 seed |
| 2 | Cowboys | 11-5 | Playoff berth |
| 3 | Lions | 11-5 | NFC North |
| 4 | Buccaneers | 8-8 | — |
| 5 | Eagles | 11-5 | Playoff berth |
| 6 | Rams | 9-7 | — |
| 7 | Seahawks | 8-7 | — |
In the hunt: Saints (8-8), Vikings (7-8), Packers (7-8), Bears (7-9), Falcons (7-9)
NFL tiebreakers, explained
Several teams in the AFC and NFC have the same records. Here’s how the NFL is breaking the ties between the teams still alive in the 2023 NFL playoff race.
AFC tiebreakers
- The Jaguars currently lead the AFC South because of their head-to-head win percentage against the Colts and Texans.
- The Colts are the No. 7 seed because they have a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Texans.
- The Steelers are the No. 9 seed because of their season sweep of the Bengals.
NFC tiebreakers
- The Cowboys are the NFC’s No. 2 seed because they have a superior conference record (8-3) to that of the Eagles (7-4) and because of their head-to-head victory over the Lions.
- The Vikings are the No. 9 seed because of their head-to-head win over the Packers.
- The Bears are the No. 11 seed thanks to their head-to-head win over the Falcons.
MORE: Where Falcons, Patriots rank among best landing spots for Russell Wilson
NFL clinching scenarios Week 17
Baltimore Ravens (13-3)
Games remaining: vs. Steelers
The Ravens have clinched the AFC North title and the AFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and homefield advantage by virtue of their Week 17 win over the Dolphins. They can now rest their starters in Week 18 if they so desire.
Buffalo Bills (10-6)
Games remaining: at Dolphins
Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:
- Bills win and Steelers loss or tie and Bengals loss or tie OR
- Bills win and Steelers loss or tie and Jaguars loss or tie OR
- Bills win and Steelers loss or tie and Texans loss or tie and Colts loss or tie OR
- Bills win and Bengals loss or tie and Jaguars loss or tie OR
- Bills win and Bengals loss or tie and Texans loss or tie and Colts loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Steelers loss and Bengals loss and Jaguars loss OR
- Bills tie and Steelers loss and Bengals loss and Texans loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Steelers loss and Bengals loss and Colts loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Steelers loss and Jaguars loss and Texans loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Steelers loss and Jaguars loss and Colts loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Steelers loss and Texans loss and Colts loss OR
- Bills tie and Bengals loss and Jaguars loss and Texans loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Bengals loss and Jaguars loss and Colts loss or tie OR
- Bills tie and Bengals loss and Texans loss and Colts loss
Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)
Games remaining: at Titans
Jacksonville could have clinched a playoff berth and AFC South title with:
- Jaguars win and Texans loss and Colts loss
While the Jaguars beat the Panthers handily with CJ Beathard at quarterback, the Texans and Colts both won. That will set the division up to be decided in Week 18.
Kansas City Chiefs (9-6)
Games remaining: vs. Bengals, at Chargers
Kansas City clinches playoff berth and AFC West title with:
- Chiefs win or tie OR
- Raiders loss or tie and Broncos loss or tie
Miami Dolphins (11-5)
Games remaining: vs. Bills
Miami could have clinched the AFC East title with:
- Dolphins win or tie OR
- Bills loss or tie
However, the Bills beat the Patriots while the Dolphins were blown out by the Ravens, so that will set up a winner-take-all game for the AFC East in Week 18.
Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
Games remaining: at 49ers
Los Angeles clinches playoff berth with:
- Seahawks loss OR
- Packers/Vikings tie
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
Games remaining: at Giants
Philadelphia could have clinched the NFC East title with:
- Eagles win and Cowboys loss or tie OR
- Eagles tie and Cowboys loss
However, the Cowboys won a nailbiter against the Lions on Saturday while the Eagles shockingly lost to the Cardinals 35-31. The Eagles are now in second place in the NFC East and may end up being a wild-card team.
San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
Games remaining: vs. Rams
San Francisco clinched the NFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and homefield advantage by beating the Commanders and having both the Lions and Eagles lose their respective contests against the Cowboys and Cardinals.
The 49ers are now positioned to rest their starters in Week 18 if they so desire.
Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
Games remaining: vs. Steelers, at Cardinals
Seattle clinches playoff berth with:
- Seahawks win and Packers/Vikings tie
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)
Games remaining: at Panthers
Tampa Bay could have clinched playoff berth and NFC South title with:
- Buccaneers win OR
- Buccaneers tie and Falcons loss
However, the Saints managed to beat the Buccaneers to ensure that the NFC South title won’t be decided until Week 18.
NFL elimination scenarios Week 17
Many teams can be eliminated from playoff contention this week. They are as follows.
The Raiders were eliminated from postseason contention after losing to the Colts. The Broncos also will be eliminated with a loss and can be eliminated if they tie as well.
Denver can also be denied playoff entry even with a win. It would require at least three other teams winning or tying, all of which involve Kansas City. So, Broncos fans should be rooting against the Chiefs even more heartily than usual in Week 17.
The Bengals can also be eliminated from playoff contention. If they lose, the Steelers win and the Bills either win or tie against the Patriots, Cincinnati would be out of the playoffs, as it would lose any tiebreaker scenario involving Pittsburgh.
For the full details on the AFC elimination scenarios, click here.
The Bears can be eliminated from the playoff race with wins by a couple of the teams ahead of it in the wild-card race. If the Seahawks and Rams both win or tie, the Bears will be out. And if just one of them wins or ties, the Bears would need the Packers-Vikings game to end in a tie to stave off elimination.
The Vikings will be out if they lose and both the Seahawks and Rams win. They can also be eliminated in multiple ways if they lose and the Buccaneers tie the Saints.
And finally, the Packers will be eliminated most easily with a loss and a win or tie by the Seahawks or the Rams.
For the full details on the NFC elimination scenarios, click here.
