NFL standings, Week 17: Jaguars still atop three-way AFC South tie

The Jacksonville Jaguars finally got a December win, but didn’t get the help they needed to clinch the AFC South.

Instead the division will be decided in Week 18 after all three teams tied for the lead got wins Sunday. Jacksonville ended its four-game losing streak by beating the Carolina Panthers, the Indianapolis Colts held off a late surge from the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Houston Texans beat the brakes off the Tennessee Titans.

With only one week of regular season action left for each of the three teams, the Jaguars need only a Week 18 win against the Titans to lock up the title. If Jacksonville stumbles next week, the battle between the Colts and Texans in Indianapolis will crown the AFC South champ.

Elsewhere in the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens laid claim to the No. 1 seed in the conference with a demolition of the Miami Dolphins. With all of the AFC’s teams done with Week 17, here’s how the standing look across the conference with one week left:

AFC South

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1. Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-7
2. Indianapolis Colts: 9-7
3. Houston Texans: 9-7
4. Tennessee Titans: 5-11

The Jaguars will be the AFC South champion if they beat the Titans in Nashville next week. If Jacksonville loses, the winner of a game between the Colts and Texans will be crowned the division champ.

AFC East

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1. (x) Miami Dolphins: 11-5
2. Buffalo Bills: 10-6
3. New York Jets: 6-10
4. New England Patriots: 4-12

(x clinched playoff berth)

It wasn’t the smoothest effort from the Bills, but their Week 17 win against the Patriots was enough to set up a battle for the division title next week. Buffalo’s win against Miami earlier in the year means the Bills and Dolphins will play for the AFC East title next week.

AFC North

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1. (y) Baltimore Ravens: 13-3
2. (x) Cleveland Browns: 11-5
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7
4. Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8

(y clinched division title)
(x clinched playoff berth)

The AFC North race officially ended Sunday with the Ravens’ blowout of the Dolphins. All four teams are still in the mix for the playoffs, though.

AFC West

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1. (y) Kansas City Chiefs: 10-6
2. Denver Broncos: 8-8
3. Las Vegas Raiders: 7-9
4. Los Angeles Chargers; 5-10

(y clinched division title)

The Broncos put the pressure on, but the Chiefs wrapped up the AFC West with a 25-17 win against the Bengals.

AFC Playoff Picture

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1. (yz) Baltimore Ravens: 13-3
2. (x) Miami Dolphins: 11-5
3. (y) Kansas City Chiefs: 10-6
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-7
5. (x) Cleveland Browns: 11-5
6. Buffalo Bills: 10-6
7. Indianapolis Colts: 9-7

(x clinched playoff berth)
(y clinched division title)
(z clinched No. 1 seed)

In the hunt:

• Houston Texans: 9-7
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7

The playoff race in the AFC isn’t so complicated anymore. Four teams have clinched and there’s five teams left battling for three spots.