The Sunday night matchup will be a battle for the AFC East title, with the winner of Bills-Dolphins being crowned the division champion. However, the stakes could be higher for Buffalo, which may still need a victory to get into the playoffs at that point. If Miami loses, it will reach the postseason as a wild card.
The AFC South mix is more crowded, as the Jaguars, Colts and Texans each has a chance to win the division title in Week 18. Jacksonville is in control of the race, though, as it will capture the AFC South crown with a win at Tennessee.
But if the Jags lose, then the winner of Saturday night's contest between Indianapolis and Houston will end up claiming the division title. Regardless, the victor of the Colts-Texans matchup will clinch a playoff berth, which would be a wild-card spot if the Jaguars win.
So the four teams that haven't yet clinched that control their own postseason destiny are Buffalo, Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Houston. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh needs help to sneak into the playoffs.
The only way the Steelers will seize a wild-card spot is if they win in Baltimore and the Bills lose in Miami. Buffalo can only miss the playoffs if it loses and both Pittsburgh and Jacksonville are victorious.
NFC
The Cowboys snapped a two-game losing streak with a win over the Lions in Week 17. And now, Dallas controls the race for the NFC East title.
In Week 18, the Cowboys can clinch the division crown with either a win at Washington or an Eagles loss at New York. The only way Philadelphia can take the NFC East title is with a victory and a Dallas loss. Whichever of the two division rivals doesn't take the crown will be the top NFC wild card as the No. 5 seed.
Three teams remain alive in the battle for the NFC South title: Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Atlanta. The Buccaneers control the race, though, as they can capture the crown with a win at Carolina.
If the Bucs lose, then the winner of the Falcons-Saints contest will be the NFC South champion. That is Atlanta's only path to the postseason. However, a Tampa Bay win doesn't eliminate New Orleans, which could still make it as a wild card with a victory and losses by both Green Bay and Seattle.
The Packers control their own playoff destiny, as they can clinch a wild-card berth with a home win over the Bears. Meanwhile, the Seahawks and Vikings both need assistance.
Seattle will reach the postseason if it beats Arizona and Green Bay loses to Chicago. Minnesota needs even more help, as the only way it can get into the playoffs is with a win at Detroit and losses by Green Bay, Seattle and New Orleans.
