
On Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and the Baltimore Ravens passed the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place in the AFC North. On Thursday, the Seattle Seahawks stayed alive for a possible NFC West title when they beat the Chicago Bears. And after the NFL gives us three more games on Saturday, nine games on Sunday, and the last Monday game of the year, the playoff picture will be even clearer.
Saturday Games
Los Angeles Chargers (-4.5) at New England Patriots
This is simple for the Los Angeles Chargers: Win as favorites on the road at the New England Patriots, and Jim Harbaugh will have his team in the postseason. They can also get there with a tie, or losses or ties by the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts.
For L.A., winning is the straightest line to the playoffs, and it would do them a world of good. Getting to the fifth-seed is still possible, which would mean a game at the Houston Texans to begin the playoffs. Finishing as the sixth- or seventh-seed sets up a likely matchup with the Buffalo Bills or Baltimore Ravens
Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5)
The Cincinnati Bengals are on the verge of wasting a season for the ages by both Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. Burrow leads the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns, Chase leads in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, and the team is one loss from missing the playoffs.
The Bengals must beat the Denver Broncos to stay alive, because a Denver win means that they get a wild card spot and Cincinnati is eliminated. But even if the Bengals win, they must win again next week and hope the Broncos lose in Week 18 to a Chiefs team that will be resting most of its starters.
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams (-6.5)
The NFC West may come down to strength of victory, which is the fourth tiebreaker on the list. If the Rams win on Saturday at home, and they get at least 3.5 wins from this group of teams – Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, and San Francisco 49ers – then L.A. wins the west.
Yes, Rams fans, you are cheering for the 49ers this week.
If that doesn’t happen, we will get the Seahawks and Rams in Week 18 to decide the division.
Sunday Games
Indianapolis Colts (-7.5) at New York Giants
The Indianapolis Colts aren’t out of the playoff picture yet. They need to beat the New York Giants this week and the Jacksonville Jaguars next week, and then get some help. That begins with both the Chargers and Broncos losing this week. One of those teams wins, and it’s curtains for the Colts.
If the Chargers lose both this week and next (unlikely, since they are playing the Patriots and Raiders), the Colts get in by winning out. If the Broncos lose both this week and next, and the Bengals or Dolphins win out, the Colts are in with two wins.
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (-7)
A win by the Philadelphia Eagles at home against the hated Cowboys wraps up the NFC East for them and keeps them in the running for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. At least until the Detroit Lions play on Monday night.
Although the Eagles loss last week to the Washington Commanders, it does make those hopes for the top seed rather slim.
The Commanders could also make up for damaging those chances with a loss on Sunday night to the Atlanta Falcons, which would also give the Eagles the division.
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-8)
As far as the rest of the NFC South is concerned, the Carolina Panthers have picked an inopportune time to play their best football. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost last week, and lost the lead in the division. Now they need a win against the Panthers this week and the New Orleans Saints next week, and then need to have the Atlanta Falcons lose at least once.
Atlanta plays Washington this week, and then this same Panthers team next week.
Miami Dolphins (-6.5) at Cleveland Browns
If you are a Miami Dolphins fan, you will be rooting for your team to beat the Browns and New York Jets, who combine for the fifth-easiest remaining schedule in the league. That’s the good news.
Then you will root for the Chargers to lose to the Patriots and Raiders, who combine for the second-easiest remaining schedule. That is the bad news.
Green Bay Packers (-1) at Minnesota Vikings
It is the Minnesota Vikings that still have a chance to win the NFC North and get the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. But they are home underdogs to the Green Bay Packers, who are already locked into the wild card.
A win by Minnesota and they will be no worse than the No. 5 seed. A loss by Minnesota and they could fall to No. 6, and the Packers could finish the season as the fifth-seed. Also, a loss by Minnesota and a win by Detroit wins the division and the No. 1 seed for the Lions.
Detroit Lions (-3.5) at San Francisco 49ers – Monday
A win by the Lions in the rematch from last year’s NFC Championship Game, and then a Vikings loss this week, clinches the division and the No. 1 seed for Detroit. It would be their first top seed in the Super Bowl era, as well as back-to-back division titles for the first time in their history.
If either Detroit slips up, or both the Lions and Vikings win, then the two teams meet at Ford Field next week with the division and top seed on the line.

With over 25 years of experience as a distinguished sports writer for renowned platforms such as Fox Sports and ESPN, Kyle Garlett is a sports betting specialist who has been at the forefront of documenting the global surge in sports betting and online gaming. Based in Denver, Colorado, Kyle hosts an NFL betting YouTube show and podcast. Kyle also has two sports books published by HarperCollins.
Kyle graduated the Azusa Pacific University in 1996 with a B.A. Degree in Communication and Journalism.