There is just one game left of Week 17 of the NFL season and that game comes tonight as the Cincinnati Bengals host the Buffalo Bills in a game that could have massive implications as to which team will be the top seed in the AFC.
A win for the Bills would see them head into Week 18 of the season as the top seed elect in the AFC.
A win for the Bengals would put them in a position to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs (13-3) for the top seed spot on the final week of season and leave the Bills needing the Chiefs and the Bengals to lose their final game next week in order to land the top spot.
Of course, such a huge game between two of the powerhouses in the AFC will attract plenty of betting interest and you can enjoy a wealth of betting on tonight’s game with bet365 Sport.
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However, regardless of the result of the final Week 17 match tonight, there will be a significant number of games on the final week of the regular season that have great significance for at least one of the teams involved.
That may be trying to secure a divisional title (and with it a place in the playoffs and a home Wildcard game), trying to secure top seed in a conference (and thus a Bye Week on Wildcard weekend) or even just scraping into the playoffs themselves.
So let’s take a look ahead towards the final week of fixtures in the NFL and highlight which games are the ones that matter and why, as well as some of the latest betting you can get with bet365 Sport on each game.
But first, let’s show you which teams have confirmed their playoff spots, which teams are still in with a chance, and which teams are out of the reckoning.
NFL Playoff Picture
Key:
*indicates they have clinched their division and have a home Wild Card tie.
Italics indicate the team has a chance of being the conference top seed.
AFC
Clinched A Playoff Spot
- Kansas City Chiefs – (13-3)*
- Buffalo Bills – (12-3)*
- Cincinnati Bengals (11-4)
- To Be Decided (currently Jacksonville Jaguars)
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
- Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
- To Be Decided (currently New England Patriots)
In Contention
- Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)
- New England Patriots (8-8)
- Miami Dolphins (8-8)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)
- Tennessee Titans (7-9)
Teams Eliminated
- Houston Texans (2-13-1)
- Denver Broncos (4-12)
- Indianapolis Colts (4-11-1)
- Las Vegas Raiders (6-10)
- Cleveland Browns (7-9)
NFC
Clinched A Playoff Spot
- Philadelphia Eagles – 13-3
- San Francisco 49ers – 12-4*
- Minnesota Vikings – 12-4*
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 8-8*
- Dallas Cowboys – 12-4
- New York Giants – 9-6-1
- To Be Decided (currently Seattle Seahawks)
In Contention
- Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
- Detroit Lions (8-8)
- Green Bay Packers (8-8)
Teams Eliminated
- Chicago Bears (3-13)
- Arizona Cardinals (4-12)
- Los Angeles Rams (5-11)
- Atlanta Falcons (6-10)
- Carolina Panthers (6-10)
- New Orleans Saints (7-9)
Key NFL Week 18 Match Ups & Why
Top Seed In The NFC
- Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers
- Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears
- New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles
- Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Commanders
Who claims the top seed spot in the NFC depends on the outcome of four games.
If the Eagles beat the Giants, then the Eagles will be top seed regardless of the result of any of the other games.
If the Eagles lose to the Giants then who will win the top seed spot depends on the results of the other games.
If the Eagles lose or draw and the 49ers win, then the 49ers will be top seed in the NFC regardless of other results.
If the Eagles and 49ers lose or draw and the Vikings win, then the Vikings will be top seed regardless of other results.
If the Eagles, 49ers and Vikings lose or draw and the Cowboys win, then Dallas could be the NFC top seed with a win and would clinch the NFC West with a win in this scenario too.
Top Seed In The AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders
- New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills
- Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals (if the Bengals beat the Bills on Week 17)
First off, if the Bengals are to be involved in this showdown, they need to beat the Bills tonight (Week 17) to move to 12-4. That would also put the Bills on 12-4 and leave the Chiefs on 13-3.
However, if the Bills win, they would leapfrog the Chiefs to go top of the AFC Seedings on head to head record (both 13-3) and that would eliminate the Bengals (who would be 11-5) from being top seed in the AFC on Week 18.
NFC West Divisional Title
- New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles
- Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Commanders
It’s odd to think that the team with the joint-best record in the NFL has not officially tied up their division, but in the ultra-competitive NFC West, that is the case.
Only the Eagles and Cowboys could win the division, the Eagles must beat the Giants to clinch, but if they slip to their third defeat in three games, then a win for the Cowboys over the Commanders would give Dallas the NFC West division and a shot at the top seed spot in the NFC.
AFC South Divisional Title
- Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s a straight showdown in Duval County, Florida as the Titans and Jaguars clash with the AFC South divisional title, and a place in the playoffs, on the line. The Titans rested several key starters in their defeat to the Cowboys last week with one eye on this game, but it does mean that Tennessee has now lost all their last six games.
In contrast, the Jaguars have gone from 2-6 to 8-8 after a fine run of games which included a win over the Titans in Nashville a few weeks back. A win or tie would be enough for the Jaguars to make the post-season, which would be an incredible turnaround from Doug Petersen’s team.
AFC Wildcard Playoff Spot
- New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills
- New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins
- Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers
With one wildcard spot available in the AFC and it is a battle between the Patriots, Dolphins and Steelers for that spot. The Patriots hold the position currently and will seal it with a win, but they face a Buffalo team going all-out for the top seed spot in the AFC.
That could open the door for the Dolphins or even the Steelers who have crept into the playoff picture on the back of a string of wins over the last few weeks.
Patriots clinch with a win over Buffalo.
Dolphins clinch if the Patriots lose or draw and the Fins beat the Jets.
The Steelers need the Pats and Fins to lose and also they must beat Cleveland in order to clinch a playoff spot.
NFC Wildcard Playoff Spot
- Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers
- Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
Just one open spot remains in the NFC Wildcard spot but three teams remain in contention for the spot.
A win for Seattle over the Rams would see them clinch the position, but if the Rams were to land the win or tie, then the winner of the Lions @ Packers clash would clinch the spot ahead of the Seahawks.
Our Predictions for the Key Games And Playoff Positions
Here is how we see both the AFC and NFC Playoffs looking:
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs – 14-3
- Cincinnati Bengals – 13-4
- Buffalo Bills – 13-4
- Jacksonville Jaguars – 9-8
- Los Angeles Chargers – 11-6
- Baltimore Ravens – 10-7
- Miami Dolphins – 9-8
NFC
- Philadelphia Eagles – 14-3
- San Francisco 49ers – 13-4
- Minnesota Vikings – 13-4
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 9-8
- Dallas Cowboys – 13-4
- New York Giants – 9-7-1
- Seattle Seahawks – 9-8
AFC Wildcard Weekend Playoffs Predictions
Bye – Kansas City Chiefs
- Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals
- Baltimore Ravens @ Buffalo Bills
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
NFC Wildcard Weekend Playoffs
Bye – Philadelphia Eagles
- Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers
- New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings
- Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Let’s see how close these predictions are to what happens next weekend and tune in tomorrow for our review of Week 17, and our Week 18 preview including our latest and penultimate Power Rankings of the season.
