FiveThirtyEight Releases Final AFC Playoff Spot Odds
With the final AFC playoff spot up for grabs in Week 18, FiveThirtyEight has released its final playoff odds for the Dolphins, Patriots and Steelers entering the final weekend of the regular season.
The analytics site has New England with the best odds at 35%, while the Dolphins have a 32% chance and the Steelers have a 27% chance of reaching the postseason.
The Patriots need a victory over the Bills on Sunday to clinch a playoff spot. Their path is cut and dry, so it makes sense that they enter Sunday with the best odds out of the three teams to clinch a playoff spot.
The Dolphins can advance to the postseason with a win and a Patriots loss/tie or (in an unlikely scenario) a tie and a Patriots loss and a Steelers loss/tie.
The Steelers can clinch a spot with a win and a Dolphins loss/tie and a Patriots loss/tie. The Steelers can also clinch if they tie the Browns on Sunday and the Dolphins and Patriots both lose.
It should shake out to be an eventful Sunday across the NFL, with plenty of playoff spots still up for grabs around the league.