As the 2023 NFL season enters its final week, significant playoff implications are still on the line, with five available playoff spots and four division titles yet to be decided. The culmination of the regular season in Week 18 brings both excitement and uncertainty as teams vie for postseason positions.
The AFC and NFC conferences each have their respective top seeds already secured. The Baltimore Ravens claimed the No. 1 seed in the AFC by winning the AFC North title after defeating the Miami Dolphins in the previous week. On the NFC side, the San Francisco 49ers secured the top seed following victories against the Washington Commanders and an unexpected assist from the Arizona Cardinals, leading to the No. 1 seed for the 49ers.
Teams that have already clinched playoff spots include the AFC’s Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, and Cleveland Browns, while the NFC features the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Los Angeles Rams. These teams await the final seeding based on Week 18 results.
Current standings indicate the following potential playoff participants, with percentages representing their chances to make the playoffs (for teams not already clinched) according to NFL.com:
AFC:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Miami Dolphins
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Jacksonville Jaguars (77%)
- Cleveland Browns
- Buffalo Bills (94%)
- Indianapolis Colts (54%)
- Houston Texans (46%)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (29%)
NFC:
- San Francisco 49ers
- Dallas Cowboys
- Detroit Lions
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (69%)
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers (60%)
- Seattle Seahawks (26%)
- New Orleans Saints (31%)
- Minnesota Vikings (3%)
- Atlanta Falcons (10%)
The potential playoff bracket reveals matchups based on the current standings, though these pairings remain subject to change pending Week 18 outcomes:
AFC:
- Baltimore Ravens (bye)
- Miami Dolphins vs. 7. Indianapolis Colts
- Kansas City Chiefs vs. 6. Buffalo Bills
- Jacksonville Jaguars vs. 5. Cleveland Browns
NFC:
- San Francisco 49ers (bye)
- Dallas Cowboys vs. 7. Green Bay Packers
- Detroit Lions vs. 6. Los Angeles Rams
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. 5. Philadelphia Eagles
While these matchups provide a snapshot, they are contingent on the final Week 18 results. Several division titles, as well as wild card spots, remain undecided in the NFC South, NFC East, AFC South, and AFC East.
The playoff schedule outlines key dates, with Wild Card Weekend scheduled for January 13-15, featuring three games each day. The Divisional Round will follow on January 20-21, setting the stage for the Conference Championships on January 28. Super Bowl 58, slated for February 11, will conclude the season after a bye week for the participating teams.
The NFL playoffs operate on a dynamic bracket system, where the highest remaining seeds enjoy home-field advantage in each round. After the wild-card round, the Ravens and 49ers, as top seeds, will face the lowest seeds remaining in their conferences.
As the regular season concludes, the NFL landscape is filled with anticipation and unpredictability, setting the stage for thrilling playoff matchups and ultimately determining the teams vying for Super Bowl glory in this dynamic and competitive postseason.