Week 18 NFL playoff scenarios: How to bet with teams resting starters

While some teams are tanking, others’ playoff hopes and jobs ride on their teams’ performances in Week 18.

So who is in and who is out?

We know teams like the 49ers, Ravens and Chiefs are sitting most of their key starters to rest for the playoffs.

But what about the fringe contenders?

This is all about the playoff scenarios and how to bet Week 18.

How to bet Week 18, playoff scenarios

Teams resting major starters

Ravens

• Most of the team is resting, expect Odell Beckham Jr. to play, though.

Chiefs

• Patrick Mahomes sitting alongside a bevy of other starters.

49ers

• Sam Darnold starts ahead of Brock Purdy; don’t expect extended minutes for any critical starters.

Browns

• No Joe Flacco, nothing to gain for Cleveland.

Rams

• Got lucky with win over Giants, get to sit starters as a result. Puka Nacua may play as well.

Lions?

• What happens here? Dan Campbell went for a two-point conversion from the seven-yard line, and no one knows what he will do.

Desperate for victory

Steelers

• Pittsburgh clinches a playoff berth with a Buffalo loss and a win.
• OR win plus Jaguars loss.
• OR win, plus Texans-Colts tie.
• OR Jaguars loss plus Broncos win, Texans-Colts doesn’t end in tie.

Colts

• Colts win plus Jaguars loss (win AFC South division).
• Colts tie plus Jaguars loss (win AFC South division).
• Colts win (make playoffs).
• Colts tie plus Steelers loss or tie (make playoffs).

Texans

• Win (AFC South division win).
• Jaguars loss (win AFC South division).
• Houston tie plus Jaguars loss plus Steelers loss or tie (make playoffs).

Jaguars

• Win (win AFC South division).
• Tie plus Pittsburgh loss or tie (make playoffs).
• Steelers loss plus Denver loss or tie plus Colts-Texans non-tie.

Vikings

• Win plus Packers loss plus Seahawks loss plus Buccaneers loss.
• Win plus Packers loss plus Seahawks loss plus Saints loss.

Falcons

• Win plus Buccaneers loss.

Saints

• Win plus Buccaneers loss or tie (win NFC South division).
• Tie plus Buccaneers loss (win NFC South division).
• Saints win plus Seahawks loss or tie plus Packers loss or tie (make playoffs).
• Saints tie plus Seahawks loss plus Packers loss.

Buccaneers

• Win (win NFC South division).
• Buccaneers tie plus Saints loss or tie (win NFC South division).
• Tie plus Seahawks and Packers losses (make playoffs).

Packers

• Win and in.
• Tie plus losses or ties from Seahawks and Packers.
• Tie plus losses from Seahawks and Buccaneers.
• Tie plus Seahawks tie and loss or tie by Buccaneers.
• Vikings loss or tie plus losses by Seahawks and Buccaneers.
• Vikings loss or tie plus losses by Seahawks and Buccaneers.

Eagles

Clinched playoff berth

• Win plus Cowboys loss (clinch NFC East division)
• Eagles tie plus Cowboys loss

Seahawks

• Win plus Packers loss.
• Tie plus Packers loss plus Buccaneers loss.
• Tie plus losses by Packers and Saints.

Cowboys

Clinched playoff berth

• Win (clinch NFC East division).
• Tie plus Eagles tie or loss.

Bills

• Win and clinch AFC East division.
• Bills tie (make playoffs).
• Steelers loss or tie.
• Jaguars loss.
• Texans-Colts tie.

Dolphins

Clinch playoff berth

• Win and clinch AFC East division.