The NFL is heading into Week 18, the regular season finale, but for many teams they are focused on the postseason. For some, it is just trying to secure a playoff spot. For others, it is trying to get the best playoff seed/matchup possible. In this article we’ll focus on what the NFC Playoff scenarios are for all teams who are still considered “in the hunt” for the postseason.

NFC Playoffs

Detroit Lions: Current No. 1 seed, can win the NFC North, their conference’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC postseason with a victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night.

An unlikely tie against the Vikings would also deliver the Lions the No. 1 seed thanks to its victory on Monday night vs. the San Francisco 49ers. A Week 18 loss pushes the Lions to the No. 5 seed, where they would face on the road in Round 1 either the Buccaneers, or Falcons.

Philadelphia Eagles: Secured No. 2 Seed, NFC East Champions. They face the Giants Sunday with nothing on the line for playoff seeding.

On Wild Card weekend, the Eagles will host the NFC’s worst Wild Card team. Their opponent will be either the Commanders or Packers.

Los Angeles Rams: Current No. 3 Seed, NFC West Champions. L.A. enters Sunday vs. the Seahawks with a chance to clinch the No. 3 seed with a win. A Week 18 loss wouldn’t lock the Rams out of the third seed. They can achieve that seeding with a loss if the Buccaneers lose against the visiting Saints.

A No. 3 seed would mean the Rams would host either the Packers or Commanders on Wild Card weekend. The Rams could dip to the No. 4 seed if they lose to the Seahawks and the Buccaneers defeat the Saints. A No. 4 seed would put the Rams against either the Vikings or Lions in Round 1 of the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Current No. 4 Seed, they can make the playoffs only as NFC South champions. A win vs. the visiting Saints on Sunday would do just that. Or an Falcons loss to the visiting Panthers.

The Buccaneers could play their way into the No. 3 seed with a victory on Sunday and a loss by the Rams to the visiting Seahawks. As the third-seeded team in the NFC, the Bucs could face the Packers or Commanders in the opening round of the playoffs. If the Bucs remain in the No. 4 seed after Week 18, they would host either the Vikings or Lions over wild-card weekend. The Buccaneers can be eliminated from the postseason race if they fall to the Saints and the Falcons beat the Panthers.

Minnesota Vikings: Current No. 5 Seed, Wild Card No. 1, in the regular-season Sunday night finale, a Vikings victory against the Lions would deliver Minnesota the North divisional title, the No. 1 seed in the NFC and home-field advantage throughout the conference’s postseason play.

A defeat or tie in Motown would lock the Vikings into the No. 5 Wild Card seed, which would put them on the road in Round 1. Their opponents in this scenario would be either the Buccaneers, Rams or Falcons.

Washington Commanders: Current No. 6 Seed, Wild Card No. 2, the Commanders are headed to the postseason as the No. 6 or 7 seed. Washington can take the higher seed if it defeats the Cowboys on Sunday or the Packers lose to the visiting Bears.

As a No. 6 seed in wild-card weekend, the Commanders would play the Rams or Buccaneers.

As a No. 7 seed in wild-card weekend, the Commanders would play the Eagles.

Green Bay Packers: Current No. 7 Seed, Wild Card No. 3, like the Commanders, the Packers are headed to the postseason as a Wild Card team as either the NFC’s No. 6 or 7 seed.

A victory on Sunday against the Bears and a Commanders loss to the Cowboys would give the Packers the No. 6 seed. As a sixth seed, the Packers would open Wild Card weekend at either the Rams or Buccaneers.

If the Packers remain in the No. 7 spot, they’ll face the Eagles on the road in Round 1.

Atlanta Falcons: Currently out of the playoffs. The Falcons must win against the visiting Panthers and the Buccaneers must lose against the visiting Saints for the Falcons to win the NFC South. Atlanta can get into the postseason only as a No. 4 seed.

If the Falcons win the NFC South, they would host either the Vikings or Lions in the Wild Card round.

The Falcons are eliminated from postseason contention with a loss or a Bucs victory on Sunday.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN and FFSN for the latest news and notes surrounding the NFL Playoffs as Week 18 kicks off this weekend.