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NFL Playoff picture with every seed clinched after Week 18 (Updated)

By Josh Hill

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions sacks Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers during the first half at Lambeau Field on January 08, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions sacks Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers during the first half at Lambeau Field on January 08, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OHIO – JANUARY 08: Ja’Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates his touchdown catch with Tyler Boyd #83 during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO – JANUARY 08: Ja’Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates his touchdown catch with Tyler Boyd #83 during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

NFL Playoff Picture: Updated AFC Standings after Week 18

One of the more controversial things going on Sunday involved the Bengals and a potential home playoff game next weekend. After the Bills-Bengals game was ruled a ‘no contest’, the NFL changed its rules on the fly and decided a coin flip may be needed to determine whether the Bengals or Ravens hosted a Wild Card game.

All Cincinnati needed to do was win to render any such controversy moot, which it did. Despite all the potential competitive chaos, the Bengals will host a playoff game next weekend while the Ravens are locked into the No. 6 seed.

Meanwhile, the Patriots needed to win to clinch the No. 7 seed but found themselves on the wrong side of a Bills team playing with unimaginable emotion. New England’s loss opened the door for the Dolphins and Steelers to sneak into the playoffs, with the Steelers soundly defeating the Browns.

Miami, however, survived an ugly game against the Jets and locked up the final playoff spot.

Here’s what the AFC playoff bracket would look like if the playoffs started today:

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-3) – Clinched AFC West + No. 1 seed
  2. Buffalo Bills (14-3) – Clinched AFC East + No. 2 seed
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (13-4) – Clinched AFC North + No. 3 seed
  4. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) – Clinched AFC South + No. 4 seed
  5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) – Clinched Wild Card
  6. Baltimore Ravens (10-7) – Clinched Wild Card
  7. Miami Dolphins (9-8) – Clinched Wild Card

Based on those standings, here’s what the playoff matchups would look like for the first weekend of action:

  • (2) Buffalo Bills vs. (7) Miami Dolphins
  • (3) Cincinnati Bengals vs. (6) Baltimore Ravens
  • (4) Jacksonville Jaguars vs. (5) Los Angeles Chargers

NFL Playoff Picture: AFC Wild Card standings after Week 18

Here’s what the Wild Card standings look like after Week 18:

5th Seed: Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) – Clinched Wild Card
6th Seed: Baltimore Ravens (10-6) – Clinched Wild Card
7th Seed: Miami Dolphins (9-8) – Clinched Wild Card

NFL Playoffs: Wild Card Weekend TV schedule for AFC matchups

Saturday, January 14th

  • Jaguars vs. Chargers – 8:15 pm ET on NBC

Sunday, January 15th

  • Bills vs. Dolphins – 1 pm ET on CBS
  • Bengals vs. Ravens – 8:15 pm ET on NBC
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