Every week for the duration of the 2024 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture − typically starting after Sunday afternoon’s late games and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday’s and Thursday’s games or Saturday’s, if applicable.)

What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, Jan. 5.

Here’s where things stand with Week 17 of the 2024 season underway:

NFC playoff picture

x – 1. Detroit Lions (13-2), NFC North leaders: Last week, they were in a three-way tie atop the conference and deadlocked for the division lead with Minnesota. But Philadelphia’s Week 16 defeat makes it increasingly likely the Lions and Vikings will be playing for all the important regular-season marbles in Week 18. Winning out gives the Lions everything they want, including home-field advantage. So would a win at San Francisco on Monday night combined with a Minnesota loss to Green Bay. Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Vikings

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x – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3), NFC East leaders: They’re coming off a rough Sunday. They lost their 10-game winning streak, an opportunity to wrap up the division and fell a game behind Detroit and Minnesota in the race for home-field advantage. Also, concussed QB Jalen Hurts won’t play Sunday. But the Eagles are still just one win or Commanders loss from locking up the division and at least the No. 2 seed. Remaining schedule: vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants

3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6), NFC West leaders: Neither they nor the Seahawks have a pathway to a wild-card berth. If both the Rams and Seattle wind up 10-7, the currently undetermined strength-of-victory tiebreaker will come into play, likely in LA’s favor – and it could actually allow the Rams to clinch the division Sunday if they first take care of business against Arizona on Saturday. Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks

4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7), NFC South leaders: Rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. won his starting debut against the lowly Giants. But the real payoff came last Sunday night, when the Bucs – they were swept earlier in the season by Atlanta – lost at Dallas. The Falcons can win the division in Week 17 with another victory and another Tampa Bay loss. Remaining schedule: at Commanders, vs. Panthers

x – 5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2), wild card No. 1: Like Detroit, they control their own potentially high-yield fate – win out, and the NFC North and No. 1 seed are Minnesota’s. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, at Lions

x – 6. Green Bay Packers (11-4), wild card No. 2: Getting swept by Detroit and losing once already to Minnesota relegated the Pack to wild-card status … though Monday’s whitewash of the Saints was the latest reminder that this might actually be the last NFC North team you want to see in January. But given Packers are guaranteed to open the playoffs on the road, it will be interesting to see how much they play their key starters over the next two weeks given the limited upside to doing so. Remaining schedule: at Vikings, vs. Bears

7. Washington Commanders (10-5), wild card No. 3: Despite beating the Eagles, they didn’t quite clinch a postseason berth in Week 16 – but did remain alive in the NFC East while eliminating both the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers from the playoff picture. A win in Week 17 puts Washington into the dance. A loss could be highly problematic in the tiebreaker space as it would open an alternate avenue for the Bucs, who beat Washington in Week 1. Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, at Cowboys

8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7), in the hunt: They’re going to need help to win the NFC West after a heartbreaking loss to Minnesota last Sunday. Thursday night’s win at Chicago got the Seahawks back on track … to a degree. Seattle’s best-case scenario involves a Rams loss Saturday and then beating them in Week 18. If both teams wind up 10-7, the undetermined strength-of-victory tiebreaker will prove pivotal, likely in LA’s favor. The Seahawks can be eliminated this weekend by a Rams win and a loss of the strength-of-victory tiebreaker, which will still be in flux Sunday. Remaining schedule: at Rams

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7), in the hunt: The Bucs could see their aspirations to keep the NFC South throne die this weekend. However, if Atlanta beats Washington, then Tampa Bay has a more favorable shot at the NFC’s final wild-card slot. Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, vs. Saints

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AFC playoff picture

yz – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), AFC West champions: By crushing Pittsburgh on Christmas Day, they secured home-field advantage and a first-round bye – and really two-plus weeks off in actuality depending on whom they want to play in what’s now a meaningless Week 18 contest for the champs. Remaining schedule: at Broncos, BYE

y – 2. Buffalo Bills (12-3), AFC East champions: Now out of the running for the No. 1 seed, finishing second in the conference should still have meaning given the road to Super Bowl 59 could go through Western New York if the Chiefs lose their playoff opener. A win would also ensure Buffalo wouldn’t have to go on the road for a playoff game unless the AFC championship is staged in Kansas City. Remaining schedule: vs. Jets, at Patriots

x – 3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5), AFC North leaders: Catching fire? Probably an understatement. The Steelers’ loss before Baltimore’s Christmas kickoff vaulted the Ravens atop the division, and their dominant win over Houston keeps them there. A win or tie in Week 18 clinches it. Remaining schedule: vs. Browns

y – 4. Houston Texans (9-7), AFC South champions: They rule a weak division for the second straight year, however Wednesday’s loss locked them into the fourth seed … which will likely mean a tough wild-card matchup, albeit in Houston, against an AFC North team. Remaining schedule: at Titans

x – 5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6), wild card No. 1: That’s three losses in a row, Wednesday’s flat performance against Kansas City costing them first place in the AFC North. However they can capture the divisional title by winning in Week 18 if Baltimore also loses to Cleveland. Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals

x – 6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6), wild card No. 2: Saturday’s rout of the Patriots locked Bolts into the field and ensures Jim Harbaugh has been a playoff participant in four of his five NFL seasons as a head coach. Yet, having lost to the Ravens and Steelers earlier this season, the Chargers will most likely be the sixth seed – and probably head to Baltimore or Pittsburgh for a rematch. Remaining schedule: at Raiders

7. Denver Broncos (9-6), wild card No. 3: They had a win-and-in scenario last week to stamp their first postseason trip since winning Super Bowl 50 nine years ago. Still, one more victory will advance Denver to the playoffs. Possibly major trouble ahead if they lose to Cincinnati on Saturday … though the Broncos’ Week 18 game against Kansas City now means basically nothing to the Chiefs. Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Chiefs

8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8), in the hunt: Technically alive after winning in Week 16 and with a soft schedule on the way out. Their record in AFC games (6-5) is better than Miami’s (5-5) and Cincinnati’s (4-6). Indianapolis clinches if it winds up in a three- or four-way tie of teams with 9-8 record. A two-way tie with Denver would mean the Broncos advance due to their Week 15 win over the Colts. Remaining schedule: at Giants, vs. Jaguars

9. Miami Dolphins (7-8), in the hunt: Technically alive after winning in Week 16 and with a soft schedule on the way out. They advance if tied with any combination of 9-8 teams that does not include the Colts. Remaining schedule: at Browns, at Jets

10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8), in the hunt: Technically alive after winning in Week 16. Though they appear like the best team outside the postseason field, they’ll need the most help to get in, including at least one loss by both the Colts and Dolphins. Cincinnati also needs to win Saturday, beat Pittsburgh in Week 18 and hope Denver loses its final regular-season game. Remaining schedule: vs. Broncos, at Steelers

NFL playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 17

Detroit clinches NFC North and NFC’s No. 1 seed (first-round bye and home-field advantage) with:

Win + Minnesota loss

Atlanta clinches NFC South with:

Win + Tampa Bay loss

Philadelphia clinches NFC East with:

Win or tie
Washington loss or tie

Los Angeles Rams clinch NFC West with:

Win while clinching strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Seattle

(Note: Rams clinch strength-of-victory tiebreaker with 3½ or more wins from the following teams: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Minnesota, San Francisco and Washington. A tie equates to a half-win in this formula.)

Denver clinches playoff berth with:

Win or tie

Washington clinches playoff berth with:

Win or tie
Tampa Bay loss or tie

NFL playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 18 (incomplete)

Baltimore clinches AFC North with:

Win or tie

Pittsburgh clinches AFC North with:

Win + Baltimore loss

NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention in 2024

x – clinched playoff berth

y – clinched division

z – clinched home-field advantage, first-round bye

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis

With his team awaiting a matchup with Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, and with Beck sidelined after undergoing a season-ending surgical procedure, the Georgia quarterback announced on social media Saturday that he’ll be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.

In a lengthy post in which he thanked his teammates, coach Kirby Smart and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, among others, Beck described his time with the Bulldogs as “nothing short of a dream come true.”

“I will forever cherish the memories that have been made,” Beck wrote. “Thank you Dawg Nation for the time I’ve been here and to those who’ve supported and believed in me, thank you. It’s been an incredible journey and all these moments have ultimately led me to take the next step in my football career.”

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He added that he’ll be around to support Georgia “however I can.”

A redshirt senior, Beck guided the Bulldogs to a 10-2 regular season and a spot in the SEC championship game. Once there, and with his team tied at six with Texas just before halftime, Beck suffered an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) that required surgery and ended his season.

In his second season as a starter, Beck threw for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He finished the season third among all SEC quarterbacks in passing yards.

Once considered a top NFL prospect, Beck has seen his draft stock slip this season. A Nov. 13 mock draft from USA TODAY Sports did not include Beck in the first round. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, at No. 2 overall to the New York Giants, and Miami’s Cam Ward, at No. 5 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, were the only quarterbacks included among the top 32 picks.

With Beck out, Georgia will lean on sophomore Gunner Stockton at quarterback in Wednesday’s Sugar Bowl and for the remainder of the season. Stockton, a Tiger, Georgia native, completed 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards, no touchdowns and an interception after taking over for Beck in the Bulldogs’ 22-19 overtime victory against Texas in the SEC title game.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers reunited with one of the best defenders in their franchise’s history as they continue their push for a playoff spot.

Outside linebacker Shaquil ‘Shaq’ Barrett signed with the Bucs on a one-year contract on Saturday, two days after the Miami Dolphins waived him.

Barrett, who set the Tampa Bay franchise record for sacks in a single season (19.5) in 2019, played for the Buccaneers for five years – from 2019 to 2023. The team cut the veteran pass rusher in March as part of their salary cap management efforts, and he went on to sign with the Dolphins.

Barrett announced his retirement from the NFL in July, before he had even played a game for Miami. But in late November, the 32-year-old applied for reinstatement with the intention to play for the Dolphins. Miami declined to activate the edge rusher off its reserve/retired list and ultimately waived him the day after Christmas.

All things Buccaneers: Latest Tampa Bay Buccaneers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

When Barrett cleared waivers on Friday, his former team swooped in to offer a chance at a reunion. The two sides agreed to terms, and the veteran signed his new contract on Saturday.

The outside linebacker will not be active for the Buccaneers’ Week 17 clash with the Carolina Panthers, but he could be ready to play in Week 18 against the New Orleans Saints.

Tampa Bay is currently tied for first place in the NFC South with the Atlanta Falcons, but Atlanta holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Buccaneers will need to gain some ground on either the Falcons or the Washington Commanders – the current owners of the third wild-card spot – in the next two weeks to make the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season.

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone weighed in on the abrupt firing of Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown on Friday night before his team took on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Malone had some things to say about his former employer.

According to KXTV’s Matt George, the Kings informed Brown of his termination before the team boarded a flight to Los Angeles ahead of the Kings’ matchup against the Lakers on Saturday. Brown had just run a full practice for the team and talked to the media for 15 minutes before he was ultimately let go, George added.

Malone said the Kings organization displayed ‘no class’ and ‘no balls’ in handling the situation.

All things Kings: Latest Sacramento Kings news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

‘What really pissed me off about it was that they lost last night, fifth game in a row,’ Malone said. ‘They have practice this morning, (Brown) does his post-(practice) media, and he’s in his car going to the airport to fly to L.A.,’ Malone said. ‘And they call him on the phone. No class. No balls.’

Michale Malone ‘not surprised’ by Kings

Malone has been in Brown’s shoes before. He was hired as Sacramento’s head coach in June 2013 and his team finished 28-54 in his first season. Malone was fired 24 games into his second season as head coach after the Kings got off to an 11-13 start. Malone was hired by the Nuggets in June 2015 and is now in his 10th season with a championship on his resume.

‘At first, I was really shocked and surprised,’ Malone said about Brown’s firing on Friday. ‘Then I caught myself. … I’m not surprised Mike Brown got fired, because I got fired by the same person.’

Brown, who previously was a head coach for Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers and spent six seasons as an assistant with Golden State under Steve Kerr, was 107-88 in two-plus seasons with the Kings. He led the Kings to the playoffs with a 48-34 record in 2022-23, ending a 16-year postseason drought.

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle ‘shocked’

Malone wasn’t the only NBA head coach to weigh in. Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said he was ‘absolutely shocked’ the Kings fired Brown.

“The firing of Mike Brown today was just shocking to me,’ Carlisle said. ‘I view him as one of the standard bearers for integrity for our profession, and I’m just, just absolutely shocked.’

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez pointed out that Brown was Coach of the Year in 2023.

“He’s very good at what he does. In my opinion, one of the best. I wouldn’t be here without him,’ Fernandez said. ‘It’s sad news. I don’t like it. It’s part of the business. A year and a half ago he’s Coach of the Year and now this situation happens”

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Former NL Cy Young award winner Corbin Burnes has reached an agreement with the Arizona Diamondbacks on a six-year, $210 million free agent contract, according to multiple people with knowledge of the deal.

The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal is not yet official.

Burnes’ deal, the richest in Diamondbacks history, includes an opt-out after two years.

After six years in Milwaukee, Burnes pitched last season for the Baltimore Orioles, winning a career-high 15 games and posting an ERA of 2.92.

In an age of diminished starting pitching, Burnes, a four-time All-Star, is an outlier — making at least 32 starts and tossing at least 190 innings each of the past three seasons. His durability is a major selling point for the Diamondbacks and the 30-year-old right-hander gives them a high-quality starter for their 2025 rotation.

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A fourth-round pick of the Brewers in the 2016 MLB draft, Burnes established his place in Milwaukee’s starting rotation during the shortened 2020 season. He went 4-1 with a 2.11 ERA in 12 appearances (nine starts) and finished sixth in the NL Cy Young balloting.

The following season he emerged as an ace, making the NL All-Star team for the first time, finishing with an 11-5 record and 2.43 ERA, and edging Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler for the Cy Young award.

In 2022, Burnes led the NL in strikeouts with 243 and he followed it up with another strong season for the Brewers in 2023.

But that offseason, with the Brewers looking like non-contenders and Burnes in his final season before becoming a free agent, he was traded to Baltimore for left-hander DL Hall and infielder Joey Ortiz.

His time with the Orioles, though brief, was quite successful. He never missed a start, going 15-9 as the Orioles made the playoffs as a wild-card team. In the AL wild-card series opener, Burnes allowed one run in eight innings, but lost 1-0 to the Kansas City Royals and the O’s were eliminated the following day.

There’s never a dull moment in the NBA and Friday night was no different.

An on-court scuffle between members of the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns led to multiple ejections in the second half.

The Mavericks had built up a 60-44 lead with 9:02 left in the third quarter when the fight broke out.

Here’s what happened on Friday night:

Who was ejected after Mavericks-Suns fight?

Forwards Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington of the Mavericks were ejected for their role in the scuffle. Center Jusuf Nurkić of the Suns was also removed from the game for his actions.

What happened during Mavericks-Suns fight?

Nurkic was called for an offensive foul after hooking Mavericks center Daniel Gafford on a post move.

Nurkić then walked up to Marshall and initiated the fight by smacking Marshall in the head. Marshall would quickly retaliate by throwing a punch at Nurkić.

Washington inserted himself in the matter by shoving the Suns’ big man to the ground.

The situation was mostly diffused after that and the players were ejected from the game.

Dallas star Kyrie Irving said afterward he’d cover any fines Marshall and Washington receive.

‘That’s part of basketball sometimes,’ Irving said of the incident, adding: ‘Haven’t seen it (in a while). Maybe that’s just the way we end 2024, where somebody actually swings in the NBA.’

‘Maybe that will help our ratings,’ Irving cracked.

Longtime CBS Sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel has died. He was 78.

‘It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel,’ Gumbel’s wife Marcy and daughter Michelle announced in a statement to CBS Sports, where Gumbel has served as a broadcaster and host for decades. ‘He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer. Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace, and positivity.’

Gumbel’s family continued: ‘He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten. Greg’s memory will forever be treasured by his family, dearest friends, colleagues and all who loved him.’

The legendary broadcaster first started with CBS Sports in 1989, where he pulled double duty as an NFL play-by-play announcer and an in-studio host for college basketball, including the NCAA Tournament. Gumbel was not part of the 2024 men’s NCAA Tournament coverage earlier this year due to a ‘family health issues,’ CBS announced at the time.

Gumbel, the older brother of sportscaster Bryant Gumbel, was born May 3, 1946 in New Orleans and grew up in Chicago. Gumbel left a medical sales job for broadcasting after his brother informed him of an open sportscaster position in Chicago. Gumbel had stints at Chicago’s WMAQ-TV, Madison Square Garden Network, ESPN and WFAN radio before landing at CBS Sports in October 1989. 

Gumbel quickly became a fixture at CBS Sports, where he hosted ‘The NFL Today’ alongside Terry Bradshaw from 1990 to 1993, including Super Bowl 26 in 1992. He also served as the primetime anchor for the network’s coverage of the 1994 Olympic Winter Games and co-anchored CBS Sports’ weekday-morning broadcasts of the 1992 Olympic Winter Games. Not only did he host various events, including CBS’ coverage of Daytona International Speedway in 1999, Gumbel served as a play-by-play announcer for the College World Series, Major League Baseball and college basketball.

‘I like the variety,’ Gumbel said in December 2017. ‘I like the fact that I’m not always in the studio or not always at the games, but March Madness is a really special event… It is hectic but at the same time, I wouldn’t change places with anyone.’

Gumbel worked for NBC Sports from 1994-98 before returning for his second stint with CBS Sports as the studio host for the network’s March Madness coverage. He also served as a play-by-play announcer and host for the NFL. CBS Sports celebrated Gumbel’s 50th anniversary in broadcasting in 2022 and signed Gumbel to a contract extension in March 2023 to allow him to continue March Madness coverage while stepping away from NFL duties.

‘The CBS Sports family is devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel,’ David Berson, the president & CEO of CBS Sports said in a statement. ‘There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television. He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague.’

Gumbel became the first Black play-by-play announcer to call a U.S major championship sporting event when he called the Baltimore Ravens’ win over the New York Giants in Super Bowl 35 in 2000. He was awarded the Pat Summerall Award for sports broadcasting excellence in 2007.

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Chess great Magnus Carlsen quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York on Friday after governing body FIDE barred the Norwegian from participating in a round at the tournament for wearing jeans.

In a statement, FIDE said its dress code regulations were designed to ‘ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants’.

The body added that it had issued Carlsen a $200 fine and given him an opportunity to change into the correct attire, which the world number one rejected.

Carlsen, world champion between 2013 and 2023, said he had a lunch meeting before the round and had to change quickly.

‘I put on a shirt, jacket and honestly like I didn’t even think about jeans, even changed my shoes,’ Carlsen told Take Take Take.

‘I didn’t even think about it… First of all, I got a fine which is fine, and then I got a warning that I would not be paired if I didn’t go change my clothes. They said that I could do it after the third round today.

‘I said ‘I’ll change tomorrow if that’s OK, I didn’t even realize it today’, but they said, ‘Well you have to change now’. At that point it became a bit of a matter of principle for me.’

The 34-year-old added that he would not appeal the decision, saying: ‘Honestly, I am too old at this point to care too much.

‘If this is what they want to do… I guess it goes both ways, right – nobody wants to back down – and this is where we are. It’s fine by me. I’ll probably head off to somewhere where the weather is a bit nicer than here.’