NFL playoffs guide: The Patriots are the No. 2 seed in the AFC
The AFC and NFC playoff matchups are nearly locked in.
The NFL’s playoff matchups are virtually set.
The road to Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta got much clearer through Sunday’s day games, with 11 of 12 playoff teams now locked in. The Patriots clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs Sunday by virtue of their 38-3 win over the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium.
Kansas City locked up the top spot in the conference, the Chiefs slotting themselves No. 1 following their 35-3 win over the Oakland Raiders. Both the Chiefs and Patriots secured first-round byes.
While we’ll have to wait until late Sunday night then to pencil in all the teams, we do already know the schedule. Here’s a look.
Playoff schedule
Wild-card round, Jan. 5-6:
There will be two games each day, one from each conference on both Saturday and Sunday. The No. 3 seed will host the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed will host the No. 5 seed.
Divisional round, Jan. 12-13: Same deal as the wild-card round: Two games each day, one from each conference on both Saturday and Sunday. The top two seeds from each conference will serve as the home teams. The No. 1 seed with play the lowest remaining seed (No. 4, 5 or 6) while the No. 2 seed will host the highest remaining seed (No. 3, 4, or 5).
Conference championships, Sunday, Jan. 20: The NFC championship game will be on FOX at 3:05 p.m., while the AFC will air on CBS at 6:40 p.m. The highest remaining seed will host.
Super Bowl LII, Sunday Feb. 3: 6:30 p.m. on CBS at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Playoff scenarios
AFC1. Chiefs (12-4):
Despite losing two in a row heading into Week 17, the Chiefs clinched the No. 1 seed with a 35-3 win over the Raiders Sunday.
2. Patriots (11-5): The Patriots wrapped up the AFC East last week, and secured a first-round bye and the No. 2 seed in the AFC with a win over the Jets Sunday.
3. Texans (11-5): The Texans clinched the AFC South and the No. 3 seed in the conference with a 20-3 win over the Jaguars Sunday.
4. Ravens (10-6):
With a 26-24 win over the Browns, the Ravens clinched the NFC North.
5. Chargers (12-4): The Chargers needed the Chiefs to lose Sunday to clinch the top seed in the AFC, but it didn’t happen.
The winner of Sunday night’s game between the Titans (9-6) and the Colts (9-6) will reach the playoffs. The Steelers (9-6-1) will surpass both teams and earn a wild-card spot in the event of a tie.
NFC
The NFC playoff field is set.
1. Saints (14-2): The Saints clinched the NFC South and the No. 1 seed.
2. Rams (13-3): Having already wrapped up the NFC West, the Rams clinched the No. 2 seed with a 48-32 win over the 49ers.
3. Bears (12-4): The Bears are the No. 3 seed, having clinched the NFC North.
4. Cowboys (10-6): The Cowboys won the NFC East and are the No. 4 seed.
5. Seahawks (10-6): The Seahawks are a wild-card team and took the No. 5 seed with a 27-24 win over Arizona.
6. Eagles (9-7): The defending Super Bowl champions beat the Redskins and benefited from a Vikings loss to secure the NFC’s final playoff spot.
