The final week of the 2023 NFL regular season is here. Teams have battling in the standings all season long to make the playoffs in desired spots, from division foes to key interdivision opponents.
Now it's time to settle on the 14 teams, 7 AFC and 7 NFC, who wake up the 2023-2024 playoff field, from the top-four seed division winners to the three wild-card spots in each conference.
As the last games kick off through Saturday and Sunday, here's the latest look at the NFL playoff picture updated in real time throughout Week 18:
POWER RANKINGS: Cowboys, Browns, Steelers climb as Dolphins, Eagles, Seahawks drop for Week 18
NFL standings for Week 18
AFC playoff picture
1. Baltimore Ravens (13-3), AFC North champions (clinched).The Ravens have locked down the top seed along with the lone first-round bye and home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs. They are resting key players, including MVP-to-be Lamar Jackson, vs. the Steelers.
2. Miami Dolphins (11-5), first place, AFC East. The Dolphins' division-winning hopes come down to their Week 18 Sunday night home game vs. the Bills. Miami already has clinched at least.a wild-card spot but needs a win or tie to lock down this second seed behind the Ravens, to whom they lost in Week 17.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6), AFC West champions (clinched). The Chiefs have won another division title but this will be the first time Patrick Mahomes will need to play a true road game in the playoffs, assuming they win their wild-card game at home to advice to the divisional round to play at the AFC East champions, either the Dolphins or Bills.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7), first place, AFC South. The Jaguars are in a virtual tie atop the division with the Colts and Texans, but they hold the key tiebreaker of best division record (4-1) going into their Week 18 finale at the Titans. The Jaguars, with a win, would take their second straight division title. With a tie, they would need the Colts and Texans to also tie to take the South, or can settle for a wild card if the Steelers lose or tie. With a loss, the Jaguars could only get a wild card if the Steelers lose, the Broncos lose or tie and either the Colts or Texans lose.
5. Cleveland Browns (11-5), second place, AFC North (clinched). The Browns are locked into the top wild-card spot behind the division-winning Ravens heading into their Week 18 game against the Bengals. They are set to play in the AFC South winners in the wild-card round, having already beaten the Jaguars, Colts and Texans in the regular season.
6. Buffalo Bills (10-6), second place, AFC East. The Bills know if they can beat the Dolphins, not only would they make the playoffs, they would jump up all the way to No. 2 as repeat division champions. If the Bills don't win, they can clinch at least this same wild-card spot with a tie, a Steelers loss or tie, a Jaguars loss or tie or a Texans-Colts tie.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7), third place, AFC North. The AFC North could be looking at the possibility of having three teams from the division reach the playoffs. Before the end of Saturday, the Steelers will likely fall out of this spot with the Texans and Colts facing off — a tie would clinch a playoff spot for Pittsburgh — since both AFC South teams have playoff tiebreakers over Pittsburgh. But the Steelers could make it in with a loss by either the Bills or Jaguars on Sunday.
Who's in the hunt?
7. Indianapolis Colts (9-7)
8. Houston Texans (9-7)
Either the Colts or Texans would be guaranteed a playoff berth with a win on Saturday night. They could both go as far as winning the AFC South if the Jaguars lose on Sunday.
NFC playoff picture
1. San Francisco 49ers (12-4), NFC West champions (clinched). The 49ers have locked up the top seed, home-field advantage and the lone bye in the NFC playoffs. They will await the lowest seed remaining after the wild-card round after they rest many of their key players in Week 18 vs. the Rams.
2. Dallas Cowboys (11-5), first place, NFC East. The Cowboys, already having clinched at least a playoff berth as the top wild card would clinch the division title with a road win over the Commanders. They can also get it done with a tie or a loss, if the Eagles tie or lose to the Giants. If they don't keep this seed, they would drop to the No. 5 top wild card.
3. Detroit Lions (11-5), NFC North champions (clinched). The Lions have clinched the division title and can finish no lower than this seed. Detroit's chances are slim to move up to No. 2. It needs to beat Minnesota and have both Dallas and Philadelphia head-to-head tiebreaker over either potential NFC East champion.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8), first place, NFC South. The Buccaneers still are in control of the division race going into Week 18, despite being tied with the Saints after losing to that team in Week 17. The Buccaneers would win the division by beating the Panthers. They can also do so by tying the Panthers if the Saints lose or tie at the same time. A Bucs loss would eliminate them from a playoff spot of any form.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5), second place, NFC East. The Eagles have clinched at least a high wild-card playoff berth like the Cowboys but they lost control of the division lead when they were upset by the Cardinals at home in Week 17. They need a win over the Giants and a Cowboys loss or tie to the Commanders to repeat as division champions and boost their NFC championship defense. The Eagles also can take the East with a tie and Cowboys loss.
6. Los Angeles Rams (9-7), second place, NFC West. The Rams clinched a wild-card spot in Week 17 thanks to their close win over the Giants. They are resting players like the 49ers are against them in Week 18.
7. Green Bay Packers (8-8), second place, NFC North. The Packers would clinch the wild-card playoff berth that eluded them last season with a win over the Bears. They also can get in with a loss, but would need the Vikings, Seahawks and either the Saints and Falcons to also lose to still qualify.
Who's in the hunt?
8. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
9. New Orleans Saints (8-8)
10. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
12. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
The Seahawks need to beat the Cardinals and have the Packers to falter to jump back up into playoff position. The Saints' best path is still winning the NFC South, and that's also the Falcons' only path. The Vikings need to win and get a ton of help.