The Saturday games settled one AFC wild card game, but opened the door for the final playoff spot.
Saturday’s triple header of NFL games featured two AFC showdowns to get everything started before an all-NFC night game. The first two games settled one of the remaining AFC playoff teams, but left the door open for a potential Week 18 showdown to settle who will make the postseason. The Los Angeles Chargers beat the New England Patriots in the early game, locking themselves into the playoffs. But, the late game, and the chaos that was its ending, has the conference poised for four teams to be battling for the final position.
The Denver Broncos needed a win or a tie against the Cincinnati Bengals in the middle game of the triple header to lock in their position in the AFC playoff picture, eliminating the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, and Bengals in the process. Cincinnati claimed the lead multiple times during the game, including with a touchdown with just 1:29 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Broncos would not go away, however, as they scored a tying touchdown with just eight seconds remaining in the contest.
In overtime, the Bengals started with the ball, but had to punt. The Broncos matched the punt before Cincinnati drove down for a 33-yard field goal attempt – only to have the ball hit the upright and fall away from the game winning score. The Broncos, needing a first down to kill the clock and settle for a playoff-clinching tie, only picked up two yards in 23 seconds, leading to a punt. The Bengals finally put the game away with a touchdown with 1:07 remaining in overtime.
The win keeps the playoff hopes alive for the Colts, Dolphins, and Bengals. They will all still need the Broncos to lose again next week, where a win over the Kansas City Chiefs would lock in Denver, but there is still hope for four teams.
How does the AFC playoff picture look through Saturday’s games? What has to happen for the Dolphins to claim their playoff position? We take a look.
2024 NFL Playoff Standings
AFC Playoff Picture (through Week 17 Saturday games):
1 – Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West champion)+=*
2 – Buffalo Bills (12-3, AFC East champion)+
3 – Baltimore Ravens (11-5,AFC North leader)^*
4 – Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South champion)+*
5 – Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, Wild Card 1 position)^*
6 – Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, Wild Card 2 position)*
7 – Denver Broncos (9-7, Wild Card 3 position)*
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)*
Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
Miami Dolphins (7-8)
Eliminated from playoffs:
New York Jets (4-11)
Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)*
Cleveland Browns (3-12)
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)
Tennessee Titans (3-12)
New England Patriots (3-13)*
^ Playoffs clinched
+ Division championship clinched
= Homefield advantage and bye clinched
*Week 17 game played
Tie breaks:
- Steelers over Chargers based on head-to-head results
- Colts over Dolphins based on head-to-head results
- Three-way tie: Raiders over Browns and Jaguars based on head-to-head sweep; Divisional tie: Jaguars over Titans based on head-to-head results
- Browns over Jaguars based on head-to-head sweep; Divisional tie: Jaguars over Titans based on head-to-head results
- Jaguars over Titans based on head-to-head results
AFC playoff scenarios:
Denver Broncos
Scenario 1:
-
Broncos win/tie at Bengals (Week 17)OR - Broncos win/tie vs Chiefs (Week 18)
Scenario 2:
- Dolphins lose/tie at Browns (Week 17) OR at Jets (Week 18) AND
- Colts both lose/tie at Giants (Week 17) OR vs Jaguars (Week 18) AND
- Bengals lose/tie at Steelers (Week 18)
Scenario 3:
- Dolphins lose at Browns (Week 17) OR at Jets (Week 18) AND
- Bengals lose/tie at Steelers (Week 18) AND
- Chargers win/tie vs Patriots (Week 17) OR vs Raiders (Week 18)
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts entered Week 17 with three paths to the playoffs. One scenario included the Chargers losing both of their remaining games, making that path irrelevant moving forward. The remaining paths are:
Scenario 1:
- Win at Giants (Week 17) AND
- Win vs Jaguars (Week 18) AND
- Dolphins win at Browns (Week 17) AND
- Dolphins win at Jets (Week 18) AND
- Broncos lose at Bengals (Week 17) AND
- Broncos lose vs Chiefs (Week 18)
Scenario 2:
- Win at Giants (Week 17) AND
- Win vs Jaguars (Week 18) AND
- Bengals win vs Broncos (Week 17) AND
- Bengals win at Steelers (Week 18) AND
- Broncos lose vs Chiefs (Week 18)
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins entered Week 17 with three paths to the playoffs. The first two scenarios included the Chargers losing both of their remaining games, making those irrelevant moving forward. The only path remaining for Miami is:
- Win at Browns (Week 17) AND
- Win at Jets (Week 18) AND
- Broncos lose at Bengals (Week 17) AND
- Broncos lose vs Chiefs (Week 18) AND
- Colts lose/tie at Giants (Week 17) OR vs Jaguars (Week 18)
If any of these do not happen, the Dolphins will be eliminated from post season contention.
Cincinnati Bengals
- Win vs Broncos (Week 17) AND
- Win at Steelers (Week 18) AND
- Broncos lose vs Chiefs (Week 18)
- Dolphins lose at Browns (Week 17)
- Dolphins lose at Jets (Week 18)
- Colts lose/tie at NYG (Week 17) OR vs JAX (Week 18)