🔗 Share this article NFL Play-Off Picture: Key Deciders & Scenarios for the Season Finale. Pittsburgh battles Baltimore to determine the AFC North, while Seattle and Seattle meet for the top seed in the NFC. As we head into the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of play-off spots remain open. However, a great deal more is at stake, such as the highly desired top seeds in both conferences and several division titles. The schedule makers have produced a perfect finale, with the two remaining postseason places to be decided in two direct head-to-head contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 AFC Standings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The winner of the Steelers-Ravens contest will claim the #4 spot and a home game in the first playoff round. At the same time, Buffalo and the Chargers are set as wildcard entrants. The Texans need a victory and a Jacksonville loss to climb from fifth to the third seed. The Broncos will earn the #1 ranking with a win, but a setback could pave the way for the Patriots or Jacksonville to claim it. NFC Standings Seattle (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The South division will be claimed by the victor of the Panthers-Buccaneers matchup, earning them the fourth seed. However, the Panthers could still win the division even with a loss, depending on other results. Green Bay are set at the seventh spot. The highlight, though, is the clash for the NFC's top seed between the Seahawks and San Francisco, with a week off and home playoff games on the line. How the NFL Postseason Works The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC receives a valuable first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. During Wildcard Weekend, the other six qualified teams compete: the second seed hosts the #7 team, third hosts sixth, and fourth hosts fifth. In the Divisional Round, the top seeds join the competition, facing the lowest remaining seed. The conference championship games are then played at the best remaining team, highlighting the critical value of earning that #1 ranking. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This fierce grudge match reaches its climax in the last contest of the NFL season. With the AFC North and a play-off berth at stake, this is a genuine win-or-go-home scenario. The Steelers have been up and down all year, while the Ravens struggled early but remain in the hunt. Player availability may prove critical: The Steelers may be without key target DK Metcalf, while the Ravens' quarterback their MVP QB is questionable with a health issue. Star rusher the powerful back might emerge as the difference-maker for the Ravens in what promises to be a physical, low-scoring battle. Battle for #1 in the NFC Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is on the line when Seattle visits San Francisco. The victorious team secures the NFC's top seed and the path to the championship game that it provides. This matchup pits an high-powered 49ers offense against a stingy Seattle defense. With QB their young passer returned, the 49ers have been the league's highest scorers. Conversely, the Seahawks' defense is ranked second best in the league. Seattle quarterback their passer needs to cut down on mistakes that have plagued him this year. The team that wins this clash gains a massive edge for the playoff run. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team comes into this contest with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped seven of eight, while Carolina have squandered chances to secure the division. For Carolina it's simple: win and they're in. For Tampa Bay, the scenario is more complex. Even with a win, they require help from the Atlanta-New Orleans matchup to claim the division crown. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (21:25, Sunday) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the #1 AFC spot. A victory over a Chargers team likely to rest key players gets it done. If the Broncos lose, the opportunity arises for the Patriots. A New England victory combined with a Broncos loss would hand the #1 ranking to New England. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the dark horse. They need a triumph and defeats for the Broncos and Patriots to achieve an unlikely ascent to #1. More importantly, a Jaguars loss could allow them to be overtaken by the Texans in the AFC South. Full Slate of Final Week Games Saturday, 3 January Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30) Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Sunday, 4 January New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons (18:00) Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals (18:00) Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings (18:00) Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants (18:00) Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00) Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans (18:00) New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills (21:25) Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (21:25) Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears (21:25) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25) Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders (21:25) Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams (21:25) Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles (21:25) Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday)
Pittsburgh battles Baltimore to determine the AFC North, while Seattle and Seattle meet for the top seed in the NFC. As we head into the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of play-off spots remain open. However, a great deal more is at stake, such as the highly desired top seeds in both conferences and several division titles. The schedule makers have produced a perfect finale, with the two remaining postseason places to be decided in two direct head-to-head contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 AFC Standings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The winner of the Steelers-Ravens contest will claim the #4 spot and a home game in the first playoff round. At the same time, Buffalo and the Chargers are set as wildcard entrants. The Texans need a victory and a Jacksonville loss to climb from fifth to the third seed. The Broncos will earn the #1 ranking with a win, but a setback could pave the way for the Patriots or Jacksonville to claim it. NFC Standings Seattle (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The South division will be claimed by the victor of the Panthers-Buccaneers matchup, earning them the fourth seed. However, the Panthers could still win the division even with a loss, depending on other results. Green Bay are set at the seventh spot. The highlight, though, is the clash for the NFC's top seed between the Seahawks and San Francisco, with a week off and home playoff games on the line. How the NFL Postseason Works The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC receives a valuable first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. During Wildcard Weekend, the other six qualified teams compete: the second seed hosts the #7 team, third hosts sixth, and fourth hosts fifth. In the Divisional Round, the top seeds join the competition, facing the lowest remaining seed. The conference championship games are then played at the best remaining team, highlighting the critical value of earning that #1 ranking. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This fierce grudge match reaches its climax in the last contest of the NFL season. With the AFC North and a play-off berth at stake, this is a genuine win-or-go-home scenario. The Steelers have been up and down all year, while the Ravens struggled early but remain in the hunt. Player availability may prove critical: The Steelers may be without key target DK Metcalf, while the Ravens' quarterback their MVP QB is questionable with a health issue. Star rusher the powerful back might emerge as the difference-maker for the Ravens in what promises to be a physical, low-scoring battle. Battle for #1 in the NFC Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is on the line when Seattle visits San Francisco. The victorious team secures the NFC's top seed and the path to the championship game that it provides. This matchup pits an high-powered 49ers offense against a stingy Seattle defense. With QB their young passer returned, the 49ers have been the league's highest scorers. Conversely, the Seahawks' defense is ranked second best in the league. Seattle quarterback their passer needs to cut down on mistakes that have plagued him this year. The team that wins this clash gains a massive edge for the playoff run. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team comes into this contest with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped seven of eight, while Carolina have squandered chances to secure the division. For Carolina it's simple: win and they're in. For Tampa Bay, the scenario is more complex. Even with a win, they require help from the Atlanta-New Orleans matchup to claim the division crown. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (21:25, Sunday) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the #1 AFC spot. A victory over a Chargers team likely to rest key players gets it done. If the Broncos lose, the opportunity arises for the Patriots. A New England victory combined with a Broncos loss would hand the #1 ranking to New England. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the dark horse. They need a triumph and defeats for the Broncos and Patriots to achieve an unlikely ascent to #1. More importantly, a Jaguars loss could allow them to be overtaken by the Texans in the AFC South. Full Slate of Final Week Games Saturday, 3 January Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30) Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Sunday, 4 January New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons (18:00) Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals (18:00) Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings (18:00) Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants (18:00) Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00) Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans (18:00) New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills (21:25) Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (21:25) Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears (21:25) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25) Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders (21:25) Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams (21:25) Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles (21:25) Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday)