There is just one week remaining of the NFL regular season, and there are some big games on tap this weekend. Most of the playoff spots have been claimed by NFL teams, but some spots are still up for grabs.
Since the NFL has added a seventh playoff spot in each conference, it has kept more teams in the postseason race for longer. This has created more drama, and Week 17 was filled with plenty of big games.
The real fun will begin in two weeks when the actual playoffs begin, but this will be a nice warmup in Week 18. With so many seeding possibilities still left on the table, many teams won’t rest their players or take this week off.
The NFC appears to have things more figured out than the AFC, but things can always change in a hurry. Here is a look at the 2022 NFL playoff picture heading into Week 18.
Work Left in the AFC
The Tennessee Titans are holding on to the top spot in the AFC heading into Week 18, but they will have to win the season finale to remain in that position. Kansas City is currently in second place with a record of 11-5, and a win would lock them into a top-two spot.
Three teams enter Week 18 with a record of 10-6, and that is where things really start to get interesting. After that, there are three teams with identical 9-7 records, and there are just two spots left open.
The Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders face off in Week 18, and the winner will likely earn the final playoff spot in the AFC. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are still alive, but they need some help.
NFC Shaping Into Focus
The NFC playoff picture is a little more clear, especially at the top. The Green Bay Packers have clinched the top seed in the conference, but the next few spots could be up for grabs in the final week.
The Los Angeles Rams enter Week 18 with a 12-4 record, and the Arizona Cardinals come in at 11-5. This means that the NFC West is still up for grabs, and the winner of that division could significantly impact the rest of the standings in that conference.
The New Orleans Saints are currently 8-8 and on the outside looking in. A win by the Saints in Week 18 and getting some help could allow them to sneak into the field.
Super Bowl Betting Odds
Now that the playoff picture has started to come into focus, the Super Bowl betting odds have been updated as well. The betting favorite has changed several times throughout the year, but there is a clear favorite heading into the season’s final week.
By earning the number one seed in the NFC, the Green Bay Packers have moved up to the betting favorites at +380. According to the odds below, oddsmakers favor the Kansas City Chiefs to win the AFC and face the Packers in the Super Bowl.
These betting odds don’t have any factor in what takes place on the field once the postseason begins, but it provides a measure of how teams stand heading into the playoffs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Buffalo Bills are next on the list at +750, and they will be tough teams to eliminate as well.
- Green Bay Packers +380
- Kansas City Chiefs +500
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +750
- Buffalo Bills +750
- Los Angeles Rams +950
- Tennessee Titans +1200
- Dallas Cowboys +1200
- Arizona Cardinals +1700
- New England Patriots +1700