There are 27 players with Utah ties on NFL rosters of teams that have already clinched a spot in the playoffs heading into Week 18.

With two more playoff spots still up for grabs, there’s also the chance for anywhere from three to nine more players with Utah ties to qualify for the postseason this weekend.

Right now, BYU leads the way amongst Utah colleges with eight former players on NFL postseason rosters, just ahead of the University of Utah at seven.

Utah State has three, Weber State two, and Southern Utah and Snow College are each represented by one player.

Those totals will change, as the five NFL teams in contention for the final two playoff spots — one each in the AFC and NFC — each have at least one player with Utah ties on their roster.

Can BYU maintain its lead over Utah?

For years, the Cougars have trailed the Utes in the number of players who made the postseason. The past two seasons, BYU has had one fewer player in the playoffs than Utah.

It will be difficult for the Cougars to maintain their lead.

In the AFC, Denver has five former Utah players and one from BYU, and the Broncos are in the most advantageous spot to earn the last AFC playoff spot.

Even if the Broncos don’t earn that spot, there are two Utes on the Miami Dolphins roster, and they have the second-best odds to earn the final AFC spot.

There is a scenario, though, where BYU would be able to maintain its lead over Utah — if the Cincinnati Bengals earn the final AFC playoff berth.

The Bengals have one former BYU player and a former Ute, and in the NFC, neither Utah nor BYU would gain an advantage over the other, no matter whether Tampa Bay or Atlanta earn the final NFC playoff spot.

Which Utah ties have already secured a place in the postseason with their respective teams, and which ones could be playoff bound if things go their way in Week 18?

Here’s a breakdown of the situation, and a few storylines to follow as the regular season wraps up.

Utah ties on teams that have have clinched a playoff spot

Number in front of team indicates what their seed they would be if the playoffs started today

* indicates team is locked into that playoff seed

AFC

*1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)

• Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU and Orem High
• Siaki Ika, DT, East High (on practice squad)

*2. Buffalo Bills (13-3)

• Cole Bishop, S, Utah
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah

*4. Houston Texans (9-7)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham High
• Kedon Slovis, QB, BYU (on practice squad)

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah
• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State, Snow College and East High
• Eric Rowe, S, Utah (on practice squad)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)

• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton High (on injured reserve)
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem High (on injured reserve)

NFC

1. Detroit Lions (14-2)

• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills High
• Sione Vaki, RB, Utah
• Jonah Williams, DL, Weber State

2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)

• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah and Timpview High (on injured reserve)

3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU and Orem High

5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)

• Taki Taimani, DL, East High (on injured reserve)
• Max Tooley, LB, BYU and Bountiful High (on practice squad)

6. Washington Commanders (11-5)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU
• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State

7. Green Bay Packers (11-5)

• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU and Stansbury High
• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU
• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

Utah ties on teams that could clinch a playoff spot in Week 18

AFC

Denver Broncos (9-7)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah and Brighton High
• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah, Snow College and Westlake High
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah
• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU and Corner Canyon High
• Thomas Yassmin, TE, Utah (on practice squad)

Miami Dolphins (8-8)

• Braeden Daniels, OT, Utah
• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah

Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)

• Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham High
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah (on injured reserve)
• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State (on practice squad)

Denver (Sunday vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 2:25 p.m. MST) clinches a playoff berth with:

1. Denver win or tie
2. Miami loss or tie + Cincinnati loss or tie

Miami (Sunday at New York Jets, 2:25 p.m. MST) clinches a playoff berth with:

1. Miami win + Denver loss

Cincinnati (Saturday at Pittsburgh Steelers, 6 p.m. MST) clinches a playoff berth with:

1. Cincinnati win + Denver loss + Miami loss or tie

NFC

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State and Stansbury High (on injured reserve)

Atlanta Falcons (8-8)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial High
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah

Tampa Bay (Sunday vs. New Orleans Saints, 11 a.m. MST) clinches NFC South division title with:

1. Tampa Bay win or tie
2. Atlanta loss or tie

Atlanta (Sunday vs. Carolina Panthers, 11 a.m. MST) clinches NFC South division title with:

1. Atlanta win + Tampa Bay loss

5 storylines to follow

Will Denver make the playoffs? The Broncos could have secured their postseason berth the past two weeks with a win, but have lost to the Los Angeles Chargers and the Bengals.

Now, they must beat the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18 — though the Chiefs will be resting several key players with the No. 1 AFC seed wrapped up. That includes Carson Wentz starting for Patrick Mahomes at quarterback.

If the Broncos manage to earn a postseason bid, it will be the first time Bolles, the former first-round offensive tackle out of Utah, has made the playoffs. The eighth-year pro has played every season in Denver.

A Broncos win — and playoff berth — would ensure that at least 34 players with Utah ties would make the postseason, including six with Denver. That would be the most in three years; in the 2021 postseason, 34 players with Utah ties also advanced to the playoffs.

Can Tyler Huntley lead the Dolphins to the postseason? Huntley, the former Utah quarterback, is likely to start for a second straight week for Miami in replacing an injured Tua Tagavailoa, according to ESPN.

Last week, he helped keep the Dolphins’ playoff hopes alive by throwing for 225 yards and a touchdown and rushing for a team-high 52 yards and another score in beating Cleveland.

Miami can clinch a playoff spot if Denver loses and the Dolphins win at the New York Jets.

Will the Lions earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed? The Lions, even with a 14-2 record, haven’t wrapped up the NFC North title because the Minnesota Vikings are also 14-2.

Of course, the two teams will play each other Sunday, with the winner earning the NFC’s top seed and a first-round playoff bye, as well as homefield advantage in the postseason.

While both teams have Utah ties on their roster, two with the Lions play prominent roles in Detroit. Former Deseret Hills High offensive tackle Penei Sewell is one of the best young offensive linemen in the game, and former Utah wide receiver Tim Patrick is playing a key role in the Lions’ passing attack in his first year in Detroit.

Can the Falcons make the postseason? While much of the focus in this article has previously been on the AFC playoff picture, there is some intrigue for Utah fans to watch on the NFC side as well.

Tampa Bay, if it wins Sunday against New Orleans, would earn the final NFC playoff berth as the NFC South champion.

If the Buccaneers falter, though, that would open the door for the Falcons, who have three Utah ties on their roster in significant roles, to make the postseason if they beat Carolina.

Who will be the first-round postseason opponents for the Rams, Ravens, Bills and Packers? Prominent Utah ties like Puka Nacua (with the L.A. Rams), Kyle Van Noy and Marcus Williams (Baltimore), Dalton Kincaid, Cole Bishop and Taron Johnson (Buffalo) and Jordan Love (Green Bay) already know they’re headed to the playoffs.

The question is, who will they play in the first round?

Each of these teams will compete in the wild-card round, and as of now, their opponent isn’t set.

Coming Sunday night, though, those first-round matchups will be finalized and the path to the Super Bowl will be known.