🔗 Share this article NFL Play-Off Picture: Key Deciders & Scenarios for the Season Finale. Pittsburgh faces off against Pittsburgh to decide the AFC North, while San Francisco and Seattle clash for the top seed in the NFC. Entering the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of postseason berths remain open. Yet, far more is at stake, such as the highly desired #1 rankings in each conference and four divisional crowns. The schedule makers have produced a dramatic ending, with the final two play-off positions to be decided in two direct head-to-head matchups. Current NFL Play-Off Standings AFC Standings Denver (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The victor of the Steelers-Ravens contest will claim the fourth seed and a home game in the wildcard round. At the same time, the Bills and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard entrants. Houston require a win coupled with a Jaguars defeat to jump from the fifth seed to third. Denver will earn the #1 ranking with a win, but a loss could pave the way for the Patriots or the Jaguars to snatch it. NFC Standings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The South division will be claimed by the winner of the Carolina-Tampa Bay game, earning them the #4 position. Notably, Carolina could still win the division even with a loss, contingent on other results. The Packers are set at the seventh seed. The highlight, though, is the battle for the #1 seed in the NFC between the Seahawks and the 49ers, 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 earns a valuable bye week and home games for the duration of the postseason. During the Wild Card round, the remaining six qualified teams compete: the #2 team hosts the seventh, third hosts sixth, and #4 faces #5. In the second round, the #1 seeds enter the fray, facing the lowest surviving team. The AFC and NFC championship games are then hosted by the highest seed, underscoring the immense importance of earning that #1 ranking. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This fierce grudge match reaches its climax in the last contest of the regular season. With the AFC North and a play-off berth at stake, this is a genuine win-or-go-home scenario. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent this season, while the Ravens started poorly but remain in the hunt. Key injuries could be decisive: Pittsburgh may be without star receiver DK Metcalf, while Baltimore's quarterback their MVP QB is questionable with a health issue. Running back Derrick Henry could be the x-factor for the Ravens in what is set up as a hard-hitting, defensive battle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) More than just the division title is at stake when Seattle travels to the 49ers. The winner claims the NFC's top seed and the path to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This game features an high-powered 49ers offense against a dominant Seahawks defense. With QB their young passer came back, the 49ers have been the NFL's highest scorers. Conversely, the Seahawks' defense is rated second best in the NFL. Seattle QB Sam Darnold must avoid mistakes that have plagued him this year. Whoever wins this clash earns a massive edge for the postseason journey. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs enters this game with strong form. The Buccaneers have lost four straight, while the Panthers have squandered recent opportunities to clinch the division. The Panthers it's straightforward: a victory gets them in. The Buccaneers, the situation is trickier. Even with a victory, they need another result from the Atlanta-New Orleans matchup to steal the divisional championship. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (21:25, Sunday) Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the AFC's top seed. A victory over a Chargers team likely to rest key players seals it. Should Denver falter, the door opens for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win combined with a Broncos loss would give the top seed to New England. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the dark horse. They need a triumph and defeats for the Broncos and Patriots to pull off an improbable rise to the top. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could allow them to be overtaken by the Texans in the AFC South. NFL Week 18: Complete Schedule 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 faces off against Pittsburgh to decide the AFC North, while San Francisco and Seattle clash for the top seed in the NFC. Entering the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of postseason berths remain open. Yet, far more is at stake, such as the highly desired #1 rankings in each conference and four divisional crowns. The schedule makers have produced a dramatic ending, with the final two play-off positions to be decided in two direct head-to-head matchups. Current NFL Play-Off Standings AFC Standings Denver (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The victor of the Steelers-Ravens contest will claim the fourth seed and a home game in the wildcard round. At the same time, the Bills and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard entrants. Houston require a win coupled with a Jaguars defeat to jump from the fifth seed to third. Denver will earn the #1 ranking with a win, but a loss could pave the way for the Patriots or the Jaguars to snatch it. NFC Standings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The South division will be claimed by the winner of the Carolina-Tampa Bay game, earning them the #4 position. Notably, Carolina could still win the division even with a loss, contingent on other results. The Packers are set at the seventh seed. The highlight, though, is the battle for the #1 seed in the NFC between the Seahawks and the 49ers, 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 earns a valuable bye week and home games for the duration of the postseason. During the Wild Card round, the remaining six qualified teams compete: the #2 team hosts the seventh, third hosts sixth, and #4 faces #5. In the second round, the #1 seeds enter the fray, facing the lowest surviving team. The AFC and NFC championship games are then hosted by the highest seed, underscoring the immense importance of earning that #1 ranking. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This fierce grudge match reaches its climax in the last contest of the regular season. With the AFC North and a play-off berth at stake, this is a genuine win-or-go-home scenario. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent this season, while the Ravens started poorly but remain in the hunt. Key injuries could be decisive: Pittsburgh may be without star receiver DK Metcalf, while Baltimore's quarterback their MVP QB is questionable with a health issue. Running back Derrick Henry could be the x-factor for the Ravens in what is set up as a hard-hitting, defensive battle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) More than just the division title is at stake when Seattle travels to the 49ers. The winner claims the NFC's top seed and the path to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This game features an high-powered 49ers offense against a dominant Seahawks defense. With QB their young passer came back, the 49ers have been the NFL's highest scorers. Conversely, the Seahawks' defense is rated second best in the NFL. Seattle QB Sam Darnold must avoid mistakes that have plagued him this year. Whoever wins this clash earns a massive edge for the postseason journey. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs enters this game with strong form. The Buccaneers have lost four straight, while the Panthers have squandered recent opportunities to clinch the division. The Panthers it's straightforward: a victory gets them in. The Buccaneers, the situation is trickier. Even with a victory, they need another result from the Atlanta-New Orleans matchup to steal the divisional championship. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (21:25, Sunday) Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the AFC's top seed. A victory over a Chargers team likely to rest key players seals it. Should Denver falter, the door opens for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win combined with a Broncos loss would give the top seed to New England. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the dark horse. They need a triumph and defeats for the Broncos and Patriots to pull off an improbable rise to the top. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could allow them to be overtaken by the Texans in the AFC South. NFL Week 18: Complete Schedule 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)