In what has been one of the most captivating and unusual seasons in the NFL that I can remember, we enter the final two weeks of this season with still plenty to be decided in both conferences. In the AFC, the only thing confirmed is that the Kansas City Chiefs will win the AFC West, after that, there are 13 teams in contention for a spot in the playoffs either as a divisional winner, or as one of the three teams earning a Wildcard spot. Over in the NFC, things are a bit more settled with five teams confirmed in the playoffs, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the Packers, Cowboys and Buccaneers all confirmed as divisional winners too. That leave just two more spots in the playoffs up for grabs and there are six teams vying for those coveted positions over the last two weeks of action. You can enjoy great betting on the NFL, including a wide range of Spread, Moneyline and Over/Under bets on each of the games not to mention a host of player and team specials at bet365 Sport every week. If you are based in the United States then BetRivers Sportsbook is a great betting choice across a number of states as it offers great value NFL betting throughout the regular season and also the post-season too. Let’s now take a look at the playoff situation as it stands in the AFC and NFC after almost all of the Week 16 games. Teams confirmed in the playoffs are shown in italics. Divisional winners are shown in bold.

NFL Playoff Standings

AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs – 11-4 (Won AFC West)
2. Tennessee Titans – 10-5 (Leading AFC South – Hold Tie Breaker over Chiefs)
3. Cincinnati Bengals – 9-6 (Leading AFC North)
4. Buffalo Bills – 9-6 – (Leading AFC East)
5. Indianapolis Colts – 9-6 (2^nd in AFC South)
6. New England Patriots – 9-6 (2^nd in AFC East)
7. Baltimore Ravens – 8-7 (2^nd in AFC North)

In Contention

8. Los Angeles Chargers – 8-7 (2^nd in AFC West)
9. Las Vegas Raiders – 8-7 (3^rd in AFC West)
10. Miami Dolphins – 7-7 (3^rd in AFC East)
11. Pittsburgh Steelers – 7-7-1 (3^rd in AFC North)
12. Cleveland Browns – 7-8 (4^th in AFC North)
13. Denver Broncos – 7-8 (4^th in AFC West)

Key Issues To Be Resolved In Weeks 17 and 18 In The AFC

AFC North Any of the four teams in the AFC North could still win the division and/or qualify for the playoffs depending on other results. If the Bengals win out, then they clinch the division, but if the Browns win out and the Ravens lose at least one of their last two, then they clinch the division. Similarly, the Ravens and Steelers can clinch the division with a couple of wins and results in other games going their way. The Steelers face the Browns on Week 17 and the Browns take on the Bengals and the Ravens the Steelers on Week 18 – two games which will likely decide the outcome of all four teams in the division this season. AFC East The Bills and Patriots are going head to head for this division and both have very winnable games for the last two weeks of the season. If the Bills match the Patriots record over that stretch, then they will likely win the title. The only thing that can stop that is if both the Bills and Patriots lose both their final games and Miami win all their last three (including tonight’s Monday Night game with the Saints),  then the Dolphins would jump to the top of the division, but that does look a very unlikely scenario at this present moment in time. AFC South With the Texans and Jaguars already eliminated in this division, this is a straight battle between the in-form Colts and the Titans to win the division. Both teams will feel confident of reaching the post-season given their records, but the Colts need the Titans to lose both their remaining games and the Colts win both, in order to pip their rivals to the AFC Divisional title and the promise of at least one home tie in the playoffs. One win for the Titans at home to Miami or away at the Texans on the final week of the season will be enough for them to finish top of the division and if they win both and the Chiefs lose one of their remaining two, they could finish as the AFC top seed. AFC West With the Chiefs already winning this division, the race is on for the three teams below them to try and clinch a playoff spot. The Chargers and Raiders look most likely to do so, but the Broncos could still cause a surprise, although that does look unlikely.

The Chargers and Raiders face off on Week 18 in what could be a battle to secure a playoff spot.

NFC

1. Green Bay Packers – 12-3 (Won NFC North)
2. Dallas Cowboys – 11-4 (Won NFC East)
3. Los Angeles Rams – 11-4 (Leading NFC West)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 11-4 (Won NFC South)
5. Arizona Cardinals – 10-5 (2^nd in NFC West)
6. San Francisco 49ers – 8-7 – (3^rd in NFC West)
7. Philadelphia Eagles – 8-7 – (2^nd in NFC East)

In Contention

8. New Orleans Saints – 7-7 – (2^nd in NFC South)
9. Minnesota Vikings – 7-8 – (2^nd in NFC North)
10. Atlanta Falcons – 7-8 – (3^rd in NFC South)
11. Washington Football Team – 6-9 (3^rd in NFC East)

Key Issues To Be Resolved In Weeks 17 and 18 In The AFC

NFC North The Packers have wrapped up the North and they will be seeking to secure home field advantage by remaining the top seed in the NFC over the final two weeks of the season. The Vikings will be pushing for the playoffs but finish with two games against the Packers and Bears, which will be tough, especially with a number of teams on similar or better records around the playoff spots. NFC East The Dallas Cowboys have secured this division and the Philadelphia Eagles have moved into the final Wildcard spot with their win this week. The Washington Football Team can still make it into the playoffs but need results to go their way and to win both their remaining games. The key game in this division looks to be the Washington v Eagles game next week. NFC South The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have claimed the division and a place in the playoffs as a result, so I do expect them to perhaps rest some of their key men over these final two games of the season. That leaves the Saints and Falcons battling it out for a potential Wildcard spot although both teams will likely need to win both games in order to stand a chance of that and they face each other in what could be a crucial Week 18 matchup in Atlanta. NFC West The Rams and Cardinals have both qualified for the playoffs, but this week the Rams win and the Cardinals third loss in successive games means the Rams have now taken over top spot in the division and need two more wins in their final two games, or to have the same record as the Cardinals, to win the division. The 49ers are in a strong position for the playoffs, but could need at least one more win from their final two games to ensure a spot and that could come next week against the Texans.

Eliminated Teams (Approximate Draft Order Shown based on Week 16 record)

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13)
2. Detroit Lions (2-12-1)
3. Houston Texans (4-11)
4. New York Giants (4-11)
5. New York Jets (4-11)
6. Seattle Seahawks (5-10)
7. Chicago Bears (5-10)
8. Carolina Panthers (5-10)

The draft order shown above is only based on the record at present and does not take into account any draft picks teams may have received or traded away in the 2022 NFL Draft,  

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