NFL Playoff Picture 2024-25: Every Official Final Seeding, Clinch Scenario Released

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVDecember 30, 2024

Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Only two spots are up for grabs in the 2024 NFL playoff race heading into Week 18, but the stakes remain reasonably high with a lot left to determine in terms of seeding.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero shared all of the various possibilities for this Saturday and Sunday.

Tom Pelissero @TomPelisseroEvery NFL seeding scenario entering Week 18, via @RealJackAndrade: pic.twitter.com/5EkM16aRM6

Tom Pelissero @TomPelisseroAnd here are the Week 18 clinch scenarios: pic.twitter.com/R0c2TxM89h

Three of the top four seeds are secured in the AFC, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills leading the top of the conference and the AFC South champion Houston Texans locked in at No. 4. There’s less certainty in the NFC, where the Philadelphia Eagles are the only team that already knows its fate. Even the Detroit Lions, the No. 1 seed entering Week 17, could lose the NFC North and slip to the fifth seed with a loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Minnesota vs. Detroit getting flexed into the Sunday Night Football slot is a sign of how it’s arguably the single biggest clash in the final week.

Their previous meeting went down to the wire, with Jake Bates nailing a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining to give the Lions a 31-29 victory.

Detroit Lions @LionsCLUTCH @jakebates30!#DETvsMIN | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/0h4IAxgA5o

Beyond just winning the division, completing the season sweep of Minnesota would affirm Detroit is a championship contender despite all of the injuries it has had to important players.

Should the Lions lose, on the other hand, it would generate some angst that all of their hard work in the regular season will ultimately be for naught in terms of reaching the Super Bowl.

Over in the AFC, the battle for the last wild-card spot will be the story to follow because of the implications for whoever misses out.

Should the current standings hold, the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals would be going home.

While Miami signed head coach Mike McDaniel to a multiyear extension in August, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported on Dec. 11 that “some have their eye on Miami and wonder whether there’s a change if things end badly this season.” At the very least, McDaniel might be opening 2025 on the hot seat if he only has two Wild Card Round exits to show for his first three years at the helm.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also reported on Dec. 4 that Bengals coach Zac Taylor was facing similar questions with his team sitting at 4-8. While Cincy is riding a four-game winning streak, going two straight years without playoff football would raise obvious concerns about the franchise’s direction under Taylor.

The Dolphins and Bengals entered the season with high expectations, and one or both of them is bound to come away disappointed Sunday.