Ian JohnThis past weekend, the NFL regular season finally closed and the last few teams to make the playoff spots were decided. 14 teams will go on to contest the playoffs, while for the other 18, it is time to start rebuilding for the future.
The playoffs start next weekend with the Super Wildcard Weekend, as the teams seeded 2nd to 7th in each Conference play off to decide who will make it through to the Divisional Weekend alongside the two number 1 seeds the week after.
We will bring you more details on these games, plus the latest odds from bet365 Sport on the playoff matches later in this article, but first let’s quickly take a look at how the final week of NFL action played out.
NFL Week 18 – Results
- Kansas City Chiefs 31-13 Las Vegas Raiders
Another easy win for the Chiefs as they locked up the provisional number 1 spot in the playoffs against a poor Raiders team. The Chiefs can now rest up as being top seed grants them a place in the Divisional Round automatically.
- Tennessee Titans 16-20 Jacksonville Jaguars
The Titans blew a 7-3 record to finish 7-10 losing their last seven including twice to the Jags as Jacksonville became AFC South Champions with this win, clinching a playoff spot and a home game to boot.
- Cleveland Browns 14-28 Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers needed to win and both the Patriots and Dolphins to lose to have a chance at the playoffs, and despite the win and the Pats loss, the Dolphins win means that the Steelers miss out this year, but do finish with a winning record.
- Baltimore Ravens 16-27 Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals avoid a coin toss against the Ravens to decide who wins the division and they confirm themselves as the third seed in the AFC and AFC North Champions with the win here.
- Minnesota Vikings 29-13 Chicago Bears
The Bears loss means that with the Texans win, the Bears now pick 1st in the 2023 NFL Draft, while the Vikings locked up 3rd seed in the NFC with the win.
- New England Patriots 23-35 Buffalo Bills
In an emotionally charged game Nyheim Hines was the hero as he ran back two kick offs for touchdowns as the Bills ensured they won’t have to play a playoff game on the opponent’s home ground. The defeat leaves New England out of the playoffs after Miami’s win.
- New York Jets 6-11 Miami Dolphins
A dour defensive battle, but Miami did just enough to secure the win and with it a place in the playoffs in a game that did not see either team score a touchdown.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17-30 Atlanta Falcons
Tampa had little to play for having already qualified for the Playoffs, but for the Falcons it was encouraging display with three rookies, QB Ridder, RB Allgeier and WR London all making huge contributions in the win.
- Carolina Panthers 10-7 New Orleans Saints
Here’s an oddity for you, the results of the Bucs v Falcons and Panthers v Saints games meant that in the NFC South, the Bucs won it with a losing 8-9 record, while all three other teams finished 7-10.
- Houston Texans 32-31 Indianapolis Colts
The Texans did themselves out of a first pick in the 2023 Draft with this narrow win over the Colts. I think Lovie Smith and Davis Mills may well have known their time in Houston was up before this game.
- Arizona Cardinals 13-38 San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers claim the second seed spot in the NFC as JJ Watt retired from football on the back of a two-sack game against April’s Mr Irrelevant in the NFL Draft, Brock Purdy.
- Dallas Cowboys 6-26 Washington Commanders
Washington finish the season with a better record than Divisional Winners the Buccaneers after this superb win over a very lacklustre Dallas who now must face the Bucs in their Wildcard game next week.
- Los Angeles Rams 16-19 Seattle Seahawks (OT)
The Seahawks almost were out of this until Quandre Diggs season saving interception allowed them to move the ball downfield and kick a game winning field goal in overtime. They still needed help from the Lions against the Packers, and the Lions duly obliged.
- New York. Giants 16-22 Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts return from injury saw him lead the Eagles to the NFC East Divisional Title and the top seed spot in the NFC, giving himself and his team mates time to heal. The Giants are also playoff bound and Brian Daboll rested key starters for this game.
- Los Angeles Chargers 28-31 Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson finally found some form as he led the Broncos to only their fifth win of the season. The Chargers had already qualified for the playoffs and are fifth seeds in the AFC.
- Detroit Lions 20-16 Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers needed to win to jump above the Lions and pip the Seahawks to the seventh seed spot in the NFC, but the Lions produced a tenacious display to land the win, sending Seattle into the playoffs.
NFL Final Regular Season Standings After Matchday 18
| NFC North | NFC West | NFC East | NFC South | ||||
| Vikings | 13-4 | 49ers | 13-4 | Eagles | 14-3 | Buccaneers | 8-9 |
| Lions | 9-8 | Seahawks | 9-8 | Cowboys | 12-5 | Panthers | 7-10 |
| Packers | 8-9 | Rams | 5-12 | Giants | 9-7-1 | Saints | 7-10 |
| Bears | 3-14 | Cardinals | 4-13 | Commanders | 8-8-1 | Falcons | 7-10 |
| AFC North | AFC West | AFC East | AFC South | ||||
| Bengals* | 12-4 | Chiefs | 14-3 | Bills* | 13-3 | Jaguars | 9-8 |
| Ravens | 10-7 | Chargers | 10-7 | Dolphins | 9-8 | Titans | 7-10 |
| Steelers | 9-8 | Raiders | 6-11 | Patriots | 8-9 | Colts | 4-12-1 |
| Browns | 7-10 | Broncos | 5-12 | Jets | 7-10 | Texans | 3-13-1 |
- Teams qualified for the playoffs are shown in Italics.
- Teams confirmed as Divisional Winners are shown in Bold.
- *Bengals and Bills played just 16 games after their Week 17 game was postponed.
This week’s results meant that we ended up with the following playoff seedings.
NFC Seedings
- Philadelphia Eagles – 14-3 – Bye for Week 1 of the Playoffs
- San Francisco 49ers – 13-4
- Minnesota Vikings – 13-4
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 8=9
- Dallas Cowboys – 12-5
- New York Giants – 9-7-1
- Seattle Seahawks – 9-8
AFC Seedings
- Kansas City Chiefs* – 14-3 – Bye for Week 1 of the Playoffs
- Buffalo Bills* – 13-3
- Cincinnati Bengals* – 12-4
- Jacksonville Jaguars – 9-8
- Los Angeles Chargers – 10-7
- Baltimore Ravens – 10-7
- Miami Dolphins – 9-8
An important thing to note is that since the Bills v Bengals game was cancelled on Week 17, Roger Goodell has announced that if the top two seeds in the AFC meet in the Conference Championship game, then this match will be played at a neutral venue decided by the Commissioner.
Black Monday – Who Has Gone And Who Could Be Going?
The Monday after the final round of regular season games is called Black Monday in the NFL given that it often is the day that teams will dispense with their head coaches or other members of their coaching staff following a poor season.
The current situation in the NFL at the moment is as follows:
Teams Without A Permanent Head Coach Already – Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos
Head Coaches Sacked On Black Monday – Kliff Kingsbury (Cardinals), Lovie Smith (Texans)
The Tennessee Titans sacked offensive co-ordinator Todd Downing, as well as a number of other coaches on offense, though Mike Vrabel retained his position as head coach. The Titans are also looking for a new General Manager after sacking John Robinson in mid-season.
Teams Of The Season – AFC & NFC
AFC
Head Coach – Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs)
Offensive Coordinator – Ken Dorsey (Buffalo Bills)
Defensive Coordinator – Jeff Ulbrich (New York Jets)
AFC – Offense
- QB – Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)
- RB 1 – Josh Jacobs (Las Vegas Raiders)
- RB 2 /FB – Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans)
- TE – Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs)
- WR 1 – Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins)
- WR 2 – Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals)
- LT – Terron Armstead (Miami Dolphins)
- LG – Quenton Nelson (Indianapolis Colts)
- C – Creed Humphrey (Kansas City Chiefs)
- RG – Joel Bitonio (Cleveland Browns)
- RT – Orlando Brown Jr. (Kansas City Chiefs)
AFC – Defense
- EDGE/DE – Myles Garrett (Cleveland Browns)
- DT – Chris Jones (Kansas City Chiefs)
- DT/NT – Jeffrey Simmons (Tennessee Titans)
- EDGE/DE – Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders)
- OLB – T.J.Watt (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- ILB – C.J.Moseley (New York Jets)
- OLB – Khalil Mack (Los Angeles Chargers)
- CB 1 – Sauce Gardner (New York Jets)
- CB 2 – Patrick Surtain II (Denver Broncos)
- SS – Jordan Poyer (Buffalo Bills)
- FS – Minkah Fitzpatrick (Pittsburgh Steelers)
AFC – Special Teams
- K – Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens)
- P – Ryan Stonehouse (Tennesee Titans)
- PR – Devin Duvernay (Baltimore Ravens)
NFC
- Head Coach – Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Offensive Coordinator – Shane Steichen (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Defensive Coordinator – Dan Quinn (Dallas Cowboys)
NFC – Offense
- Quarterback – Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Running Back 1 – Saquon Barkley (New York Giants)
- RB 2 /FB – Tony Pollard (Dallas Cowboys)
- Tight End – T.J.Hockenson (Minnesota Vikings)
- Wide Receiver 1 – A.J.Brown (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Wide Receiver 2 – Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings)
- Left Tackle – Trent Williams (San Francisco 49ers)
- Left Guard – Zack Martin (Dallas Cowboys)
- Center – Jason Kelce (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Right Guard – Landon Dickerson (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Right Tackle – Tristan Wirfs (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
NFC – Defense
- EDGE/DE – Nick Bosa (San Francisco 49ers)
- DT – Jonathan Allen (Washington Commanders)
- DT/NT – Dexter Lawrence (New York Giants)
- EDGE/DE – Brian Burns (Carolina Panthers)
- OLB – Micah Parsons (Dallas Cowboys)
- ILB – Fred Warner (San Francisco 49ers)
- OLB – Haason Reddick (Philadelphia Eagles)
- CB 1 – Trevon Diggs (Dallas Cowboys)
- CB 2 – Darius Slay (Philadelphia Eagles)
- SS – Budda Baker (Arizona Cardinals)
- FS – Quandre Diggs (Seattle Seahawks)
NFC – Special Teams
- K – Jason Myers (Seattle Seahawks)
- P – Tress Way (Washington Commanders)
- PR – KaVontae Turpin (Dallas Cowboys)
NFL Super Wildcard Weekend Playoff Fixtures & Moneyline Tips
- Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers – 49ers to win (2/11)
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Jacksonville Jaguars – Chargers to win (20/23)
- Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills – Bills to win (2/13)
- New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings – Vikings to win (20/33)
- Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals – Bengals to win (20/61)
- Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Cowboys to win (4/6)
Who do you think will make it through to the Divisional Round next week?
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