NFL

Who clinched an NFL playoff spot? Here are the wild-card matchups

Elimination Sunday in the NFL has arrived. Here's which teams are headed to the playoffs

Baker Mayfield
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Elimination Sunday has arrived.

The final day of the NFL regular season is providing a postseason appetizer filled with many win-and-in games. Entering Sunday's 14-game slate, four playoff spots and four division titles remained up for grabs.

Here's a look at how each of those spots and titles were claimed on Sunday.

AFC

The Baltimore Ravens (13-4) entered the final week having already clinched the AFC North, the top seed in the AFC and a first-round bye. The Ravens elected to rest Lamar Jackson and other starters during a 17-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and finished the regular season at 13-4.

The Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) enter their final regular-season game against the Los Angeles Chargers having secured the AFC West division title.

The Cleveland Browns (11-6) had already locked up just their second playoff berth since 2002 before their 31-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7), after staying alive Saturday with a 17-10 win over the shorthanded Baltimore Ravens, clinched a playoff berth when the Jacksonville Jaguars lost 28-20 to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The Jaguars (9-8) needed a victory to win the AFC South and make the playoffs.

With the Jaguars' loss, the Houston Texans (10-7) became the AFC South champs. The Texans defeated the Indianapolis Colts 23-19 on Saturday to clinch a playoff berth, becoming the first team since 2012 to do so with a rookie quarterback (C.J. Stroud) and rookie head coach (DeMeco Ryans). 

The Miami Dolphins (11-5) and Buffalo Bills (10-6) have each clinched a playoff spot, but the winner of their matchup on Sunday Night Football will win the AFC East to take the No. 2 seed. A win or tie would give the Dolphins their first division title since 2008. The Bills, who have won the last three division titles, locked up a playoff spot Sunday with the Jaguars' loss to the Titans.

NFC

The San Francisco 49ers (12-4) had nothing to play for in their Week 18 matchup, having locked up the NFC West title, the top seed in the NFC and a first-round bye.

The 49ers play the Los Angeles Rams (9-7), who entered the week having already clinched a playoff spot.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) won the NFC South division title for a third-consecutive season with a 9-0 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

The Bucs' victory denied the New Orleans Saints (9-8) a division title, but the Saints remained in contention for the final NFC wild card spot with their 48-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons (7-10). Until...

The Green Bay Packers (9-8) punched their ticket to the postseason with a 17-9 victory over the Chicago Bears, which eliminated the Saints and Seattle Seahawks.

The Detroit Lions (12-5) entered the week having already won their first division title since 1993. They defeated the Minnesota Vikings 30-20 on Sunday to remain in contention for the No. 2 seed in the NFC East with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.

The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles both entered their respective regular-season finales on Sunday at 11-5. The Cowboys routed the Washington Commanders 38-10 and the Eagles lost to the New York Giants 27-10, giving Dallas the NFC East title and No. 2 seed.

What are the NFL wild card matchups?

NFC Wild-Card Matchups

The AFC wild-card matchups will be determined by the outcome of Sunday's Dolphins-Bills game.

AFC Wild Card Matchups (if Dolphins defeat Bills)

  • No. 7 Buffalo Bills at No. 2 Miami Dolphins
  • No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs
  • No. 5 Cleveland Browns at No. 4 Houston Texans

AFC Wild Card Matchups (if Bills defeat Dolphins)

  • No. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers defeat No. 2 Buffalo Bills
  • No. 6 Miami Dolphins at No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs
  • No. 5 Cleveland Browns at No. 4 Houston Texans
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