The NFL has reached its final destination in the 2024 regular season: Week 18. For some, this will mark the end of the road as they'll play out the string and fade off into the offseason. Others will embark on a run toward the playoffs and kickstart a run they all hope will land them in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX.
With the early window in the rearview mirror, the overall playoff picture is starting to crystalize. After the Buccaneers were able to defeat the Saints, Tampa Bay has claimed the NFC South title, ousting the Atlanta Falcons from playoff contention. While that was the lone division locked up in the early slate, we also saw some seeding get determined after the Chicago Bears hit a game-winning field goal as time expired. That solidified the Washington Commanders as the No. 6 seed and the Green Bay Packers as the No. 7 seed in the NFC.
And this is just the start of the action. Still to come, is the massive NFC Showdown between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. The winner of that game will clinch the NFC North title and earn the No. 1 seed in the conference, while the loser will be the No. 5 seed.
Meanwhile, the AFC has one final wild-card spot is still up for grabs, and it'll either be the Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, or Denver Broncos who claim it. The Broncos have the easiest path towards getting that final playoff position as they merely need to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs -- who are resting starters -- and they'll get in. If they lose, however, that opens the door for the Dolphins, who'd get in with a win over the New York Jets in that scenario. If both the Broncos and Dolphins fall, the Bengals would sneak in after defeating the Steelers on Saturday night.
It's going to be a wild dash to the finish line. To make sure you don't miss a thing, check out our playoff live blog, which we'll be updating below throughout the day.
Los Angeles is inching closer to locking up the No. 5 seed in the AFC after taking a 34-13 lead over the Raiders. With a win, they'll be the top wild-card entry and face the Houston Texans during Super Wild Card Weekend.
With the 38-0 win over the Chiefs, the Denver Broncos have clinched a playoff spot and are the No. 7 seed in the AFC. This win by the Broncos also eliminates the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins from playoff contention.
The Seahawks have taken back the lead over the Rams with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith to Noah Fant, who somersaulted into the end zone. After the 2-point conversion failed, it's a 30-25 lead with the Rams looking to solidify the No. 3 seed with a win.
The Rams are now up 25-24 over Seattle as Joshua Karty capped off a seven-play drive with a 38-yard field goal. A win gets the Rams the No. 3 seed in the NFC and would make the Buccaneers the No. 4 seed.
The No. 7 seed is going to go to the Denver Broncos as they have built up a 38-0 lead over the Chiefs. Audric Estime ran through for a goal-line touchdown to further put them out in front. This will eliminate both the Dolphins and Bengals.
After Justin Herbert ripped off a 41-yard run to get the Chargers in the red zone, the QB completed a goal-line touchdown pass to Will Dissly. That increases the L.A. lead to 27-13. The Chargers get the No. 5 seed with a win.
Los Angeles is still sticking around with the Seahawks, despite playing mostly backups. Jimmy Garoppolo found Tyler Johnson for a fourth-quarterback touchdown. That made it a 24-22 Seattle lead after L.A. failed to convert the 2-point attempt. No. 3 seed on the line for the Rams with a win.
With the Broncos leading the Chiefs, the Dolphins playoff hopes are dwindling. However, even if Denver was down, Miami isn't doing itself any favors as the Jets have built a double-digit lead midway through the third quarter. New York now holds an 18-6 lead.
Denver is on its way to clinching a playoff berth as they have now built up a 31-0 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs with just under three minutes to play in the third quarter. Marvin Mims has two touchdowns on the day to help put Denver out in front. With a win, the Broncos are the No. 7 seed in the AFC, while the Dolphins and Bengals are eliminated.
Seattle is now up 24-16 over the Rams in their regular season finale. If the Rams don't mount a come back, they will be the No. 4 seed in the NFC, while the Buccaneers will be the No. 3 seed.
Los Angeles is starting to pull away from the Raiders. After netting a field goal, they are up by double-digits over Las Vegas. Again, if the Chargers -- who have already clinched a playoff spot -- win, they are the No. 5 seed and will take on the Houston Texans in the wild-card round. If they lose, they'll face the Baltimore Ravens as the No. 6 seed.
Miami's fate is tied to the Broncos losing on Sunday, and they are currently up 24-0 over the Chiefs. If Denver somehow blows their game and Miami rallies, the Dolphins would clinch a playoff spot.
The Rams decided to rest starters for this game and find themselves behind by just four at the break. If L.A. comes back and wins this game, they'll be the No. 3 seed in the NFC. If they lose, they'll be the No. 4 seed.
The Chargers snuck ahead of the Raiders with 10 seconds left in the first half. If they hold onto this lead, they'll be the No. 5 seed in the AFC.
With the Broncos holding a commanding lead over the Chiefs this may not matter, but the Jets have gone ahead of the Dolphins with a Rodgers touchdown to Allen Lazard. If the Broncos blow this game, a win by Miami would get them into the playoffs. If both Denver and Miami lose, Cincinnati is in. Again, looks like Denver has this secure.
At halftime, it's all Broncos, who hold a 24-0 lead over the Chiefs. Kansas City elected to rest starters, but this is a massive game for Denver as a win would put them in the playoffs. They are well on their way to securing that and eliminating the Bengals and Dolphins in the process.
Cameron Dicker netted a 49-yard field goal to cut the Raiders lead to a single point with a minute left in the first half. As we noted, the Chargers are playing for seeding as a win would secure the No. 5 seed and a loss would land them as the No. 6 seed.
If Denver holds this lead over the Chiefs, it will send them to the playoffs. It'll also eliminate the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins from contention.
Denver is running away with the No. 7 seed in the AFC, going up over the Chiefs by three scores.
Los Angeles elected to rest key starters, so seeing them fall behind isn't a surprise. That said, D.K. Metcalf hauled in a touchdown to increase Seattle's lead to 14-3. If the Rams lose, they'll be the No. 4 seed in the NFC and the Bucs will be the No. 3 seed.
Jakobi Meyers is torching the Chargers secondary with the latest coming as a 25-yard touchdown to give the Raiders a 10-3 lead. So far today, Meyers has six catches for 86 yards and that score. Again, this game doesn't mean anything for Las Vegas, but it does for the Chargers seeding. They'd be the No. 5 seed with a win and the No. 6 seed with a loss.
The Dolphins are clinging to playoff hopes and are getting a strong effort from running back De'Von Achane. He ripped off a 61-yard gain to get Miami in the red zone. If the Dolphins win and the Broncos lose, they are in the playoffs.
Las Vegas is up 3-0 over the Chargers. L.A. has already solidified a place in the playoffs, but the seeding is still to be determined. If they lose, they are the No. 6 seed. If they win, they are the No. 5 seed. That's the difference between playing the Ravens (No. 6 seed) or Texans (No. 5 seed).
Seattle has jumped out to a 7-0 lead over the Rams with a Jake Bobo touchdown. While this game doesn't mean anything for the Seahawks, it does determine seeding in the NFC. If the Rams lose, they'll be the No. 4 seed. If they win, they'll be the No. 3 seed, flip-flopping with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After connecting on a 47-yard gain, Bo Nix and Courtland Sutton capped off the drive with a touchdown. This gives Denver a commanding 14-0 lead. Again, if the Broncos win, they are in the playoffs as the No. 7 seed.
The Broncos are on the move again after scoring an early touchdown. Bo Nix uncorked a 47-yard pass to Courtland Sutton, who is also eyeing some key incentives. He needed 82 yards to max out a $2 million bonus coming into today.
The Denver Broncos have taken an early 7-0 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs thanks to a 32-yard touchdown from Marvin Mims. If the Broncos simply win this game, they will secure the No. 7 seed in the AFC and eliminate the Bengals and Dolphins.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are your NFC South champions. This comes after a tremendous second half really which erased a double-digit deficit.
