Week 17 of the 2022 NFL season is just about in the books, with only the Bills visiting the Bengals in a Monday night showdown yet to kick off. So which teams are officially still fighting for playoff spots as we approach Week 18? And how do each of them actually clinch a trip to the postseason? We’re so glad you asked. Below you’ll find an updated rundown of all the latest clinching scenarios for the remaining open playoff spots:
AFC scenarios
No. 1 seed (bye + home-field advantage)
Chiefs clinch with any of the following:
- Win + 1 Bills loss
- 2 Bills losses + Bengals loss
Bills clinch with any of the following:
- 2 wins
- Win at Bengals + Chiefs loss
- Win vs. Patriots + Chiefs and Bengals lose in Week 18
Bengals clinch with any of the following:
AFC South title
- Jaguars (8-8) clinch with: win/tie vs. Titans
- Titans (7-9) clinch with: win at Jaguars
AFC North title
- Bengals (11-4) clinch with: win/tie vs. Bills OR win vs. Ravens
No. 7 seed wild card
- Patriots (8-8) clinch with: win at Bills OR Dolphins loss vs. Jets AND Steelers loss vs. Browns
- Dolphins (8-8) clinch with: win vs. Jets AND Patriots loss at Bills
- Steelers (8-8) clinch with: win vs. Browns AND Dolphins loss vs. Jets AND Patriots loss at Bills
- Jaguars (8-8) clinch with: loss vs. Titans AND losses by Dolphins, Patriots and Steelers
NFC scenarios
No. 1 seed (bye + home-field advantage)
Eagles clinch with any of the following:
- Win/tie vs. Giants
- Cowboys loss/tie at Commanders
- 49ers loss/tie vs. Cardinals
49ers clinch with any of the following:
- Win vs. Cardinals + Eagles loss vs. Giants
Cowboys clinch with any of the following:
- Win at Commanders + Eagles loss vs. Giants + 49ers loss/tie vs. Cardinals
NFC East title
- Eagles (13-3) clinch with: win vs. Giants OR Cowboys loss at Commanders
- Cowboys (12-4) clinch with: win at Commanders AND Eagles loss vs. Giants
No. 7 seed wild card
- Packers (8-8) clinch with: win vs. Lions
- Lions (8-8) clinch with: win at Packers AND Seahawks loss/tie vs. Rams, OR tie vs. Packers AND Seahawks loss vs. Rams, OR tie vs. Packers AND Rams-Seahawks tie AND Commanders win vs. Cowboys
- Seahawks (8-8) clinch with: win vs. Rams AND Packers loss/tie vs. Lions, OR tie vs. Rams AND Lions-Packers tie AND Commanders loss/tie vs. Cowboys
For a complete look at playoff standings, scenarios and projected first-round matchups across the entire NFL, check out our updated postseason forecast right here.
