🔗 Share this article NFL Play-Off Picture: Crucial Matchups & Outcomes for the Season Finale. Baltimore battles Baltimore to determine the AFC North, while San Francisco and Seattle clash for the #1 spot in the NFC. Entering the final week of the regular NFL campaign, only a pair of postseason berths are still up for grabs. However, a great deal more is at stake, such as the coveted #1 rankings in each conference and four divisional crowns. The schedule makers have produced a dramatic finale, with the two remaining play-off positions on the line in two direct winner-take-all contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 American Football Conference Rankings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The victor of the Steelers-Ravens game will claim the fourth seed and a home game in the first playoff round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and the Chargers are locked in as wildcard teams. The Texans need a win and a Jaguars loss to climb from the fifth seed to third. Denver will earn the top seed with a win, but a setback could open the door for the Patriots or the Jaguars to claim it. NFC Standings Seattle (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The NFC South is up for grabs by the winner of the Carolina-Tampa Bay game, granting them the #4 position. Notably, Carolina could still win the division even with a defeat, depending on other results. Green Bay are set at the seventh spot. The highlight, though, is the clash for the #1 seed in the NFC between the Seahawks and the 49ers, with a first-round bye and home-field advantage hanging in the balance. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC receives a crucial first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the play-offs. On Wildcard Weekend, the remaining six playoff teams face off: the second seed plays the seventh, #3 plays #6, and fourth hosts fifth. In the second round, the #1 seeds join the competition, facing the lowest surviving team. The conference title games are then hosted by the highest seed, highlighting the critical value of securing that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This bitter grudge match reaches its climax in the last contest of the regular season. The divisional title and a play-off berth on the line, this is a true win-or-go-home scenario. Pittsburgh have been up and down all year, while the Ravens started poorly but are still in the hunt. Key injuries could be decisive: The Steelers may miss star receiver DK Metcalf, while Baltimore's quarterback their MVP QB is a doubt with a back injury. Star rusher Derrick Henry might emerge as the difference-maker for the Ravens in what is set up as a hard-hitting, low-scoring struggle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) More than just the NFC West is on the line when the Seahawks visits the 49ers. The winner secures the NFC's top seed and the road to the championship game that it provides. This game features an explosive San Francisco attack against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback Brock Purdy came back, San Francisco have been the NFL's top offense. On the other hand, the Seahawks' defense is ranked among the best in the NFL. The Seahawks' QB Sam Darnold must avoid costly turnovers that have haunted him this season. Whoever wins this clash gains a huge advantage for the postseason journey. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team comes into this game with strong form. The Buccaneers have lost four straight, while the Panthers have missed recent opportunities to clinch the division. For Carolina it's straightforward: a victory gets them in. The Buccaneers, the scenario is more complex. Even with a victory, they need another result from the Falcons-Saints game to steal the divisional championship. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans (18:00, Sunday) New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (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. If the Broncos lose, the door opens for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win combined with a Denver defeat would hand the top seed to Bill Belichick's team. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the dark horse. They need a win and losses by the Broncos and Patriots to achieve an improbable rise to the top. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could allow them to be overtaken by the Texans in the division standings. 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)
Baltimore battles Baltimore to determine the AFC North, while San Francisco and Seattle clash for the #1 spot in the NFC. Entering the final week of the regular NFL campaign, only a pair of postseason berths are still up for grabs. However, a great deal more is at stake, such as the coveted #1 rankings in each conference and four divisional crowns. The schedule makers have produced a dramatic finale, with the two remaining play-off positions on the line in two direct winner-take-all contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 American Football Conference Rankings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The victor of the Steelers-Ravens game will claim the fourth seed and a home game in the first playoff round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and the Chargers are locked in as wildcard teams. The Texans need a win and a Jaguars loss to climb from the fifth seed to third. Denver will earn the top seed with a win, but a setback could open the door for the Patriots or the Jaguars to claim it. NFC Standings Seattle (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The NFC South is up for grabs by the winner of the Carolina-Tampa Bay game, granting them the #4 position. Notably, Carolina could still win the division even with a defeat, depending on other results. Green Bay are set at the seventh spot. The highlight, though, is the clash for the #1 seed in the NFC between the Seahawks and the 49ers, with a first-round bye and home-field advantage hanging in the balance. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC receives a crucial first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the play-offs. On Wildcard Weekend, the remaining six playoff teams face off: the second seed plays the seventh, #3 plays #6, and fourth hosts fifth. In the second round, the #1 seeds join the competition, facing the lowest surviving team. The conference title games are then hosted by the highest seed, highlighting the critical value of securing that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This bitter grudge match reaches its climax in the last contest of the regular season. The divisional title and a play-off berth on the line, this is a true win-or-go-home scenario. Pittsburgh have been up and down all year, while the Ravens started poorly but are still in the hunt. Key injuries could be decisive: The Steelers may miss star receiver DK Metcalf, while Baltimore's quarterback their MVP QB is a doubt with a back injury. Star rusher Derrick Henry might emerge as the difference-maker for the Ravens in what is set up as a hard-hitting, low-scoring struggle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) More than just the NFC West is on the line when the Seahawks visits the 49ers. The winner secures the NFC's top seed and the road to the championship game that it provides. This game features an explosive San Francisco attack against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback Brock Purdy came back, San Francisco have been the NFL's top offense. On the other hand, the Seahawks' defense is ranked among the best in the NFL. The Seahawks' QB Sam Darnold must avoid costly turnovers that have haunted him this season. Whoever wins this clash gains a huge advantage for the postseason journey. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team comes into this game with strong form. The Buccaneers have lost four straight, while the Panthers have missed recent opportunities to clinch the division. For Carolina it's straightforward: a victory gets them in. The Buccaneers, the scenario is more complex. Even with a victory, they need another result from the Falcons-Saints game to steal the divisional championship. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans (18:00, Sunday) New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (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. If the Broncos lose, the door opens for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win combined with a Denver defeat would hand the top seed to Bill Belichick's team. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the dark horse. They need a win and losses by the Broncos and Patriots to achieve an improbable rise to the top. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could allow them to be overtaken by the Texans in the division standings. 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)