NFL Playoff Paths
What every team needs to win its division, make the playoffs, or earn the No. 1 seed and the bye — worked out over every possible result of every remaining game.
Updated Mon, Oct. 26, 3:24 a.m. CT
Reading a team. Each card lists every record the team can still finish with and what that record gets it. Locked in means no combination of other results can stop it. In unless tied means nobody can finish ahead, but a team could tie and the tiebreakers would decide. Possible means some combination of other results gets it there. Only via tiebreaker means it needs a tie to go its way. Out means no combination works.
Rooting guide. For each game this week, root against the bigger threat to your team: division rivals first, then other teams in your conference, and among equals the one with the better record. It's a rule of thumb, not a simulation.
Basis. Results and schedules from a live scores feed, every game confirmed from both teams' schedules and every record matched to the standings feed. "If the season ended today" applies the full NFL tie-breaking procedures. The what-it-takes answers consider every remaining game; future tie games aren't modeled. No odds are shown.