What we know (and don’t know) about the 2023–24 NFL playoffs before the last game of NFL Week 18

There is only one week left in the 2023 NFL season, so there is still a lot that can change about the playoff picture.

There are five open playoff spots in each conference, and 11 teams are still theoretically able to take them. In the race for the last two playoff spots, there are still four division titles to be decided before the end of Week 18. That’s half of the NFL’s divisions.

Before Sunday’s regular season finales, here’s what we know (and don’t know) about the playoffs: the schedule, the bracket, the seeds, and the present standings.

The top teams in each league have been chosen.

There are a lot of spots and places up for grabs in both the NFC and the AFC, but there won’t be a race for the top spot and bye in the playoffs in either conference.

The Ravens won the AFC North title and the top spot in the conference by beating the Dolphins last week. Since 2019, when the Ravens went 14-2 and quarterback Lamar Jackson was named NFL MVP, this is the first time Baltimore has won the division and a bye into the playoffs.

In Week 17, two games decided who would be the top seed in the NFC. The 49ers got a boost from a rival team in their division, which helped them secure a bye into the playoffs. The Commanders lost to San Francisco in Washington, and the Cardinals shocked everyone by beating the Eagles.

This gave San Francisco the No. 1 spot.

Which NFL teams made it to the playoffs this year?

Here are the teams that have already secured a spot in the playoffs after Week 17 of the 2023 season. However, for many of them, their current standing could change depending on how Week 18 goes.

In Week 17, two games decided who would be the top seed in the NFC. The 49ers got a boost from a rival team in their division, which helped them secure a bye into the playoffs. The Commanders lost to San Francisco in Washington, and the Cardinals shocked everyone by beating the Eagles.

This gave San Francisco the No. 1 spot.

Which NFL teams made it to the playoffs this year?

Here are the teams that have already secured a spot in the playoffs after Week 17 of the 2023 season. However, for many of them, their current standing could change depending on how Week 18 goes.

(*) means that a team is locked into its current seed.

NFL standings by conference

With Week 17 over, here’s how things stand in both leagues, along with NFL.com’s predictions for each team’s chances of making the playoffs (if they haven’t already). The teams that are already out of the playoff picture are not on this list.

AFC:

1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Miami Dolphins
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (77%)
5. Cleveland Browns
6. Buffalo Bills (94%)
7. Indianapolis Colts (54%)
8. Houston Texans (46%)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (29%)

NFC:

1. San Francisco 49ers
2. Dallas Cowboys
3. Detroit Lions
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (69%)
5. Philadelphia Eagles
6. Los Angeles Rams
7. Green Bay Packers (60%)
8. Seattle Seahawks (26%)
9. New Orleans Saints (31%)
10. Minnesota Vikings (3%)
11. Atlanta Falcons (10%)

2023-24 NFL playoffs bracket

Based on the current results, this is how the NFL playoff bracket would look.

AFC:

• No. 1 Baltimore Ravens (bye)
• No. 2 Miami Dolphins vs. No. 7 Indianapolis Colts
• No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs vs. No. 6 Buffalo Bills
• No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars vs. No. 5 Cleveland Browns

NFC:

• No. 1 San Francisco 49ers (bye)
• No. 2 Dallas Cowboys vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers
• No. 3 Detroit Lions vs. No. 6 Los Angeles Rams
• No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles

These games haven’t happened yet because of a lack of results. The NFC South, NFC East, AFC South, and AFC East titles have not been decided as of Week 18. The only spots still open are for the wild cards.

2023-24 Plan for the NFL playoffs

The time slots are set, but not the matches. As the playoff picture clears, the NFL will fill every spot. All times are Eastern.

Weekend of Wild Cards

Saturday, January 13: 4:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. NBC and Peacock will show both games.

On Sunday, January 14, at 1, 4:30, and 8:15 p.m. The first two games will be shown on either CBS or FOX. The night game will be shown on NBC.

Monday, January 15 at 8:15 p.m. on ABC and ESPN.

Divisional round

All times are TBA.

On Saturday, January 20, and Sunday, January 21, there will be one clash between teams from the NFC and one between teams from the AFC.

Conference championships

January 28th, Sunday:

• AFC championship game: 3 p.m. on CBS
• NFC championship game: 6:30 p.m. on FOX

Super Bowl 58

In between games, both teams had a week off. Super Bowl 58 will start on CBS on February 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Halftime show at the Super Bowl:Usher is the latest big name to lead a halftime show with a lot of other famous people.

How does the dynamic draw for the NFL Playoffs work?

The NFL playoffs are dynamic, which means that the field changes as the games go on. When it comes to the next round, the top seeds always get to play at home.

The Ravens and 49ers will play the lowest seed left in their conference after the wild-card round. It could be the No. 4 seed, the No. 7 seed, or any other seed in between. It would be between the second-highest seed and the second-lowest seed.

If either the Ravens or the 49ers lose in the divisional round, the team that is the next best seed after them would get to host their conference championship game. It doesn’t have to be the team that beat them.