For five AFC teams, Week 18’s NFL playoff scenarios are the only hope of winning a Super Bowl this season. The Miami Dolphins are already in but must wrap up the AFC East. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens (#1), Kansas City Chiefs (#3), and Cleveland Browns (#5) are locked into their spots.
This weekend is the best part of football season. When NFL playoff scenarios have teams desperate and watching the scoreboard. Here is how the six AFC franchises not locked into a spot can secure their postseason seed, assuming that they aren’t sent packing into a long offseason.
NFL Playoff Scenarios by Team: AFC Edition
Houston Texans
To win the AFC South:
- HOU win + JAX loss or tie
To clinch wild-card berth:
- HOU win
- HOU tie + JAX loss + PIT loss or tie
Indianapolis Colts
To win the AFC South:
- IND win + JAX loss or tie
- IND tie + JAX loss
To clinch wild-card berth:
- IND win
- IND tie + PIT loss or tie
Pittsburgh Steelers
To clinch wild-card berth:
- PIT win + BUF loss
- PIT win + JAX loss or tie
- PIT win + HOU vs. IND tie
- PIT tie + JAX loss + HOU vs. IND non-tie
- JAX loss + DEN win + HOU vs. IND non-tie
Miami Dolphins
To win the AFC East:
- MIA win or tie
Buffalo Bills
To win the AFC East:
- BUF win
To clinch wild-card berth:
- BUF tie
- PIT loss or tie
- JAX loss or tie
- HOU vs. IND tie
Jacksonville Jaguars
To win the AFC South:
- JAX win
- JAX tie + HOU vs. IND tie
To clinch wild-card berth:
- JAX tie + PIT loss or tie
- PIT loss + DEN loss or tie + HOU vs. IND non-tie
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