Check out the entire playoff scenario here.
AFC playoffs
Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson and the team can clinch the AFC North with a win against the Cleveland Browns or a loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals. Both of these games will be played on Saturday. The Ravens have already clinched a playoff spot.
The final game of the regular season will determine whether the Ravens will visit home as the AFC’s No. 3 seed or face the Houston Texans as the No. 5 seed and wild card on Wild Card Weekend.
If the Ravens win the AFC North, they will host either the Los Angeles Chargers or the Steelers.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Even if the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday and lose to the visiting Cleveland Browns, they still have a chance to win the AFC North championship.
Pittsburgh has already clinched a playoff spot. The final game of the regular season will determine whether they will host Wild Card weekend as district champions or travel as the No. 5 or No. 6 wild card seed.
If the Steelers win the AFC North, they will host the Los Angeles Chargers in the first round of the playoffs. If the Steelers earn the No. 5 seed, they will face the Houston Texans. If they fall to the No. 6 seed, they will face the rival Ravens.
NFC playoffs
Minnesota Vikings: NFL schedule makers couldn’t have dreamed of anything better. A Vikings victory over the host Detroit Lions in Sunday night’s final regular-season game would give Minnesota the North title, the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and home-field advantage for all of the conference’s postseason play. It turns out.
A loss at Motown would secure the Vikings the No. 5 wild-card seed and advance to Round 1. The opponents in this scenario would be either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, or Atlanta Falcons.
Los Angeles Rams: As the NFC West champions, LA heads into Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks with a chance to clinch the No. 3 seed with a win. A loss in Week 18 won’t lock the Rams out of the No. 3 seed. If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose to the visiting New Orleans Saints, they will still receive seeding despite the loss.
As a No. 3 seed, the Rams will host either the Green Bay Packers or Washington Commanders during wild-card weekend.
If the Rams lose to the Seahawks and the Buccaneers beat the Saints, they could drop to the No. 4 seed.
As a No. 4 seed, the Rams would face either the Minnesota Vikings or Detroit Lions in the first round of the playoffs.
