The Commanders' win allows the Rams to clinch the NFC West

Each week during the 2024 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates on the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture – typically starting after late games on Sunday afternoon and continuing through the remainder of the week (through Monday and Thursday). games or Saturdays, if applicable.)

What just happened? What does it mean? What relevant factors (and perhaps the deciding factors) will play a prominent role as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to emerge? Everything will be explained and analyzed until the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, January 5th.

Here’s where things stand, Week 17 of the 2024 season is almost complete:

NFC playoff picture

x – 1. Minnesota Vikings (14-2), NFC North leaders: They weathered Green Bay’s late surge to pull off a huge win on Sunday – a win that puts the Vikes atop the conference and gives them a Week 18 win after completing the division, home-field advantage and a first-round bye the NFC brings. Who saw this coming? (Detroit will regain that position with a win Monday night against the 49ers, but it all comes down to the regular-season finale.) Remaining schedule: at Lions

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J – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3), NFC East champions: Despite being down to their third quarterback, they secured the division title and the No. 2 seed on Sunday. There’s not much to gain in Week 18, other than possibly RB Saquon Barkley’s single-season rushing record. Remaining schedule: vs. Giants

J – 3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6), NFC West champions: They took care of business on Saturday against Arizona, and the Commanders secured the win strength tiebreaker – i.e. the division – for LA on Sunday night. Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7), NFC South leaders: Their loss to the Panthers put them back in first place, and Atlanta’s overtime loss keeps them there. If they win next week, the Bucs will clinch their fourth straight division title. Remaining schedule: against saints

x – 5. Detroit Lions (13-2), Wild Card No. 1: They don’t play until Monday night, but this break – at least temporarily – knocks them out of the lead of the NFC North and the conference overall due to Minnesota’s win on Sunday. But the Lions can still achieve everything they want from the regular season, including home-field advantage and the NFC North title, by beating the Vikes in Week 18. A win or loss in Monday night’s game in Northern California will have no impact on Detroit’s prospects. Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Vikings

x – 6. Washington Commanders (11-5), wildcard No. 3: A thrilling overtime win puts them on the field… and maybe QB Jayden Daniels will win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. (The result also clinched the NFC West for the Rams.) Washington’s 8-3 record in NFC games is two better than Green Bay’s. Remaining schedule: at cowboys

x – 7. Green Bay Packers (11-5), Wild Card No. 2: With losses to Detroit and Minnesota, the Pack was relegated to wild card status before Week 17. It should be remarkable how hard they are working to set up a match with the No. 3 seed next week instead of facing a trip to Philadelphia. Remaining schedule: against bears

8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7), eliminated: They have a better record than Atlanta, but no path to the playoffs. Remaining schedule: at Rams

9. Atlanta Falcons (8-8), in the hunt: A bitter loss to the Commanders means they have to beat Carolina in Week 18 and hope the Bucs lose to win the NFC South. Remaining schedule: against Panthers

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AFC playoff image

yz – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), AFC West champions: By beating Pittsburgh on Christmas, they secured home-court advantage and a first-round bye – and, in effect, more than two weeks off, depending on who they choose to face in the now-meaningless Contest of Champions in Week 18. Remaining schedule: at Broncos, BYE

J – 2. Buffalo Bills (13-3), AFC East champions: They secured the No. 2 seed by embarrassing the Jets on Sunday. Second place in the conference should still matter considering the road to Super Bowl 59 could come via Western New York if the Chiefs lose their playoff opener. Buffalo doesn’t have to go on the road for a playoff game unless the AFC Championship is in Kansas City. Remaining schedule: at Patriots

x – 3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5), AFC North leaders: Catch fire? Probably an understatement. The Steelers’ Christmas kickoff loss in Baltimore moved the Ravens to the top of the division, and their dominant win over Houston keeps them there. A win or draw in Week 18 will decide. Remaining schedule: vs. Browns

J – 4. Houston Texans (9-7), AFC South champions: They’re reigning over a weak division for the second straight year, but Wednesday’s loss locked them into fourth place… which will likely mean a tough wild-card matchup against an AFC North team, albeit in Houston. Remaining schedule: at Titans

x – 5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6), Wild Card No. 1: That’s three straight losses, and Wednesday’s poor performance against KC cost them first place in the AFC North. However, they can clinch the division title by winning in Week 18 If Baltimore also loses to Cleveland. Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals

x – 6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6), Wild Card No. 2: The Patriots’ loss on Saturday tied Bolts to the field and ensured Jim Harbaugh was a playoff contender in four of his five NFL seasons as a head coach. But after losing to the Ravens and Steelers earlier this season, the Chargers will most likely be the sixth seed – and likely travel to Baltimore or Pittsburgh for a rematch. Remaining schedule: at Raiders

7. Denver Broncos (9-7), wild card No. 3: They had win-and-in scenarios in their last two games and lost both times. But another win – or draw – would put Denver in the playoffs for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50 with Peyton Manning and Von Miller nearly nine years ago. The Broncos’ Week 18 game against Kansas City essentially means nothing to the Chiefs – which could be a real advantage for Denver, which can’t do better than the seventh seed. Remaining schedule: vs Chiefs

8. Miami Dolphins (8-8), in the hunt: After beating the Browns on the road – and without injured QB Tua Tagovailoa – they’ll advance if they win and the Broncos lose in Week 18. Miami’s record in AFC play (6-5) is one better than Denver and Cincinnati. Remaining schedule: at Jets

9. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8), in the hunt: Still alive thanks to a four-game winning streak, including Saturday’s overtime thriller against Denver. Although they seem like the best team outside of the postseason, the Bengals still need the most help getting in, including at least a loss to the Dolphins after the Indianapolis Colts were eliminated on Sunday. Cincinnati also has to beat Pittsburgh in Week 18 and hope Denver loses again. Although the Bengals overtook Miami on Saturday, the Dolphins hold the tiebreaker (AFC record) that would take them past Cincinnati if they win again. Remaining schedule: at Steelers

NFL playoff win scenarios for Week 18 (incomplete)

Detroit secures NFC North and No. 1 seed in NFC (first-round bye and home advantage) with:

▶ Win

Minnesota secures NFC North and No. 1 seed in NFC (first-round bye and home-field advantage) with:

▶ Win

Tampa Bay wins NFC South with:

▶ Win or draw

Atlanta wins NFC South with:

▶ Win + loss in Tampa Bay

Baltimore wins AFC North with:

1. Win or draw

2. Pittsburgh loss

Pittsburgh wins AFC North with:

▶ Win + Baltimore loss

Denver secures the playoff spot with:

1. Win or draw

2. Cincinnati loss + Miami loss

Miami secures the playoff spot with:

▶ Win + Denver loss

Cincinnati secures the playoff spot with:

▶ Win + Denver loss + Miami loss

NFL teams will be eliminated from the playoffs in 2024

▶New York Giants

▶ Las Vegas Raiders

▶New England Patriots

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