Live-tracking the NFL playoff picture: Chargers, Raiders and Steelers still alive for final two AFC spots
We’re following playoff hunts through the final regular-season game. Who is in — or out — based on ESPN’s Football Power…
ESPN staff
Two NFL playoff spots are still in play in Week 18 heading into the night game. We’re projecting the final 14 postseason teams and their seedings all day long.
The No. 1 seeds belong to the Packers and Titans. The Bills won the AFC East on Sunday, and the Rams clinched the NFC West. That means all eight divisions are locked up. In the late window, the 49ers secured the final NFC wild-card spot, but three teams — the Chargers, Raiders and Steelers — are battling for the last two playoff spots in the AFC. The Colts, Ravens and Saints were eliminated on Sunday. Lastly, on the other side of the standings, the Jaguars — despite winning themselves — clinched the No. 1 pick in April’s NFL draft with the Lions’ win on Sunday.
Sunday night’s Chargers-Raiders game will be a win-and-in spot for each team. And in a weird twist, it’s also a tie-and-in scenario — for both teams. Each team could just take a knee for 60 minutes and secure a playoff spot, but Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said this week, “We kind of just want to play this game.”
We’re tracking the playoff picture in both the AFC and the NFC on Sunday. We will update playoff chances and projected seedings from ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) periodically throughout the final game of the regular season, showing how the playoff landscape is changing for the final two spots. Clinching scenarios are provided for each team, as well. Keep checking back all day long for the most up-to-date view of the playoff teams and seedings based on those FPI projections.
LAST UPDATED: Sunday, 9:19 p.m. ET
Teams in contention:
ARI | BUF | CIN | DAL | GB
KC | LV | LAC | LAR | NE
PHI | PIT | SF | TB | TEN
Projected AFC playoff standings
The Titans are in the playoffs, and they won the AFC South crown in Week 17 for their second straight division title. They clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed on Sunday with their 28-25 win over Houston. Tennessee will not play until the divisional round on the weekend of Jan. 22-23.
Wild-card game matchup: Bye
The Chiefs are in the playoffs and are the AFC West champions for the sixth consecutive season. On Saturday, they finished off their regular season with a 28-24 win over the Broncos and will have the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
Current projected wild-card game matchup: vs. Steelers
The Bills secured a playoff spot in Week 17 and clinched the AFC East. They will be the No. 3 seed in the AFC and enter the playoffs coming off a 27-10 win against the Jets.
Current projected wild-card game matchup: vs. Chargers
The Bengals are in the playoffs after winning the AFC North in Week 17. It’s their first playoff berth and first division title since 2015. They closed their regular season with a 21-16 loss to Cleveland. They will be the No. 4 seed in the AFC.
Current projected wild-card game matchup: vs. Patriots
The Patriots are in the playoffs, returning after a one-year hiatus, but they failed to overtake the Bills for the AFC East. They will be either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the AFC. New England closed its regular season with a 33-24 loss to Miami.
Current projected wild-card game matchup: at Bengals
The Chargers can’t win the AFC West, but they still have plenty of hope for a wild-card spot. And Los Angeles controls its fate. Regardless of other results, the Chargers will make the playoffs if they win or tie. But a loss eliminates them.
What ESPN’s FPI is saying: Los Angeles has a 60% chance to make the playoffs.
Follow live: LAC-LV
Current projected wild-card game matchup: at Bills
The Steelers can’t win the AFC North, but they are a near lock to make the playoffs after their 16-13 overtime win against Baltimore on Sunday. To reach the playoffs, Pittsburgh needs Sunday night’s Chargers-Raiders game to not end in a tie.
What ESPN’s FPI is saying: The Steelers have a 99% chance to make the playoffs.
Follow live: LAC-LV
Current projected wild-card game matchup: at Chiefs
0:52
Ben Roethlisberger finds Ray-Ray McCloud for the huge fourth-down conversion, setting up Chris Boswell’s game-winning field goal.
Currently projected outside of the playoffs
The Raiders can’t win the AFC West, but a playoff spot is very much still on the table. Las Vegas can clinch the playoffs with either a win or a tie.
What ESPN’s FPI is saying: The Raiders have a 41% chance to make the playoffs.
Follow live: LAC-LV
NFC playoff standings
The Packers won the NFC North and clinched the conference’s No. 1 seed — which includes a bye in the wild-card round. Green Bay will be the NFC’s top team going into the playoffs and will not play until the divisional round on the weekend of Jan. 22-23. It finished the regular season with a 37-30 loss to Detroit.
Wild-card game matchup: Bye
The Buccaneers are in the playoffs and the NFC South champions for the first time since 2007. They will be the No. 2 seed in the NFC after winning 41-17 against the Panthers.
Wild-card game matchup: vs. Eagles
The Cowboys are NFC East champions for the fourth time in the past eight seasons. They finished their regular season with a 51-26 win against the Eagles on Saturday. They will be the No. 3 seed in the conference.
Wild-card game matchup: vs. 49ers
The Rams are in the playoffs and won the NFC West, despite their 27-24 overtime loss to the 49ers on Sunday. They will be the No. 4 seed in the conference.
Wild-card game matchup: vs. Cardinals
The Cardinals are in the playoffs but couldn’t beat out the Rams for the NFC West title. Instead, Arizona will be the No. 5 seed in the NFC. The Cardinals lost 38-30 to Seattle in Week 18.
Wild-card game matchup: at Rams
The Niners secured the final wild-card spot in the NFC after beating the Rams 27-24 in overtime. They will be the No. 6 seed in the NFC.
Wild-card game matchup: at Cowboys
The Eagles are in the playoffs. They closed out their regular season with a 51-26 loss to the Cowboys on Saturday. Philadelphia will finish with the No. 7 seed.
Wild-card game matchup: at Buccaneers
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