Heading into Sunday of the NFL’s Week 17, the playoff picture was coming into fuller, if still fuzzy, view. There was only one playoff spot available in each conference, by virtue of the AFC North and NFC South divisional titles still being up for grabs. 

In the early slate on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers could have clinched their postseason berth with a win over the Cleveland Browns. (Their first chance to do so came on Saturday night, but it was foiled by the Baltimore Ravens’ win over the Green Bay Packers, which also allowed the Chicago Bears to clinch the NFC North.) 

However, the Browns eked out a 13-6 win over the Steelers. Thus, the AFC North crown will be decided in Week 18 in a division showdown between the Steelers and the Ravens.  

The Carolina Panthers, meanwhile, could have locked up the NFC South with a win over the Seattle Seahawks. When Carolina wasn’t able to get it done, falling 27-10, it set up a head-to-head, winner-take-all clash in Week 18 between the division rivals. 

In the late afternoon games, the Buffalo Bills lost a heartbreaker to the Philadelphia Eagles, storming back to come within one point at the end of the fourth quarter before failing on a two-point conversion attempt to lose 13-12.

With the loss, as well as a New England Patriots win over the New York Jets in the early slate, the Bills fumbled their chance to win the AFC East and fell to the No. 7 seed. The Houston Texans move to No. 5 and the Los Angeles Chargers, No. 6.

On Sunday Night Football, the San Francisco 49ers’ win over the Chicago Bears had implications for multiple divisions in the conference. The Seahawks and 49ers will contend for the NFC West title in Week 18, while the Los Angeles Rams no longer have a viable path to the No. 1 seed. And with their loss, the Bears don’t, either.

This is where the NFL playoff picture stands as of the conclusion of SNF.