NFL 2024 playoff picture, standings in Week 18: Cowboys win NFC East; Packers clinch playoff berth
Written by CBS SPORTS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED on January 7, 2024
The final week of the 2023 NFL regular season is down to just one game, with the playoff races determined. The AFC East is the last piece of the playoff puzzle as the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins square off for the division title on Sunday night.
In the NFC, the NFC East and NFC South were up for grabs entering Sunday. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took care of business, however, with a 9-0 win over the Panthers to clinch the South. The Dallas Cowboys sealed the East with a win over the Commanders. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth with a win over the Bears.
Below is a breakdown of the final standings prior to the Bills-Dolphins game.
AFC playoff picture
| Seed | Team | W | L | T | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | z-Ravens | 13 | 4 | .765 | |
| 2 | x-Dolphins | 11 | 5 | .688 | |
| 3 | y-Chiefs | 11 | 6 | .647 | |
| 4 | y-Texans | 10 | 7 | .588 | |
| 5 | x-Browns | 11 | 6 | 0 | .647 |
| 6 | x-Bills | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 |
| 7 | x-Steelers | 10 | 7 | 0 | .588 |
| 8 | e-Bengals | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 |
| 9 | e-Jaguars | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 |
| 10 | e-Colts | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 |
| 11 | e-Broncos | 8 | 9 | 0 | .500 |
| 12 | e-Raiders | 8 | 9 | 0 | .500 |
| 13 | e-Jets | 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 |
| 14 | e-Titans | 6 | 11 | 0 | .353 |
| 15 | e-Chargers | 5 | 12 | 0 | .333 |
| 16 | e-Patriots | 4 | 13 | 0 | .235 |
z-clinched home-field advantage
x-clinched playoff berth
y-clinched division
e-eliminated
Baltimore Ravens
What to know: The Ravens clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They have the first-round bye.
Miami Dolphins
What to know: Miami is the No. 2 seed in the AFC and plays Buffalo for the AFC East title, but have already clinched a playoff spot. The Dolphins are the No. 2 seed with a win and the No. 6 seed with a loss.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bills
Kansas City Chiefs
What to know: The Chiefs wrapped up the AFC West title and are locked into the No. 3 seed.
Houston Texans
What to know: The Texans clinched the AFC South with the Jaguars’ loss and the No. 4 seed. They’ll play host to the Browns in the wild card round.
Cleveland Browns
What to know: The Browns are locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC. They’ll face the Texans in the wild card round.
Buffalo Bills
What to know: The Bills clinched a playoff spot with the Jaguars’ loss to the Titans. A win over the Dolphins gives the Bills the AFC East title — and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The Bills will be the No. 7 seed with a loss.
Pittsburgh Steelers
What to know: The Steelers clinched a playoff spot with the Jaguars’ loss. Pittsburgh will get the No. 7 seed if the Bills beat the Dolphins and the No. 6 seed with a Dolphins win.
Jacksonville Jaguars
What to know: The Jaguars were eliminated from the playoffs with their loss to the Titans. The Texans clinched the AFC South.
Indianapolis Colts
What to know: The Colts were eliminated from the playoffs with their loss to the Texans.
NFC playoff picture
| Rank | Team | W | L | T | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | z-49ers | 12 | 5 | .706 | |
| 2 | y-Lions | 12 | 5 | 0 | .706 |
| 3 | x-Cowboys | 12 | 5 | 0 | .706 |
| 4 | 9 | 8 | .529 | ||
| 5 | x-Eagles | 11 | 6 | 0 | .647 |
| 6 | x-Rams | 10 | 7 | 0 | .588 |
| 7 | Packers | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 |
| 8 | Saints | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 |
| 9 | Seahawks | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 |
| 10 | e-Bears | 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 |
| 11 | e-Vikings | 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 |
| 12 | e-Falcons | 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 |
| 13 | e-Giants | 6 | 11 | 0 | .313 |
| 14 | e-Cardinals | 4 | 13 | 0 | .250 |
| 15 | e-Commanders | 4 | 13 | 0 | .250 |
| 16 | e-Panthers | 2 | 15 | 0 | .118 |
z-clinched home-field advantage
x-clinched playoff berth
y-clinched division
e-eliminated
San Francisco 49ers
What to know: The 49ers clinched home-field advantage in the NFC. They’ll have the first-round bye.
Dallas Cowboys
What to know: The Cowboys clinched the NFC East and the No. 2 seed.
Detroit Lions
What to know: The Lions clinched the NFC North and No. 3 seed
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What to know: The Buccaneers won the NFC South with their victory over the Panthers. They will be the No. 4 seed in the playoffs.
Philadelphia Eagles
What to know: The Eagles are the No. 5 seed in the NFC.
Los Angeles Rams
What to know: The Rams are the No. 6 seed in the conference.
New Orleans Saints
What to know: The Saints were eliminated from the playoffs.
Green Bay Packers
What to know: The Packers clinched a playoff berth with a win over the Bears.
Seattle Seahawks
What to know: Seattle was eliminated.
Minnesota Vikings
What to know: The Vikings were eliminated from the playoffs.
Atlanta Falcons
What to know: The Falcons were eliminated from the playoffs.
The post NFL 2024 playoff picture, standings in Week 18: Cowboys win NFC East; Packers clinch playoff berth first appeared on CBS Sports.
