🔗 Share this article NFL Play-Off Picture: Crucial Matchups & Scenarios for the Season Finale. Baltimore battles Baltimore to determine the AFC North, while Seattle and San Francisco clash for the top seed in the NFC. Entering the final week of the regular NFL campaign, only a pair of play-off spots remain open. Yet, a great deal more is at stake, such as the highly desired #1 rankings in both conferences and four divisional crowns. NFL schedulers have crafted a perfect ending, with the two remaining play-off positions on the line in a pair of winner-take-all matchups. Current NFL Play-Off Standings AFC Standings Denver (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The winner of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore contest will secure the #4 spot and a home-field advantage in the first playoff round. At the same time, the Bills and the Chargers are set as wildcard entrants. Houston need a win and a Jaguars loss to jump from the fifth seed to third. Denver will secure the #1 ranking with a triumph, but a setback could pave the way for the Patriots or Jacksonville to claim it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The South division is up for grabs by the victor of the Panthers-Buccaneers game, granting them the #4 position. However, the Panthers could still win the division even with a defeat, depending on other outcomes. The Packers are locked into the seventh spot. The highlight, however, is the clash for the NFC's top seed between Seattle and San Francisco, with a week off and home playoff games hanging in the balance. How the NFL Postseason Works The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC receives a valuable bye week and home games for the duration of the postseason. During the Wild Card round, the remaining six playoff teams face off: the second seed plays the seventh, #3 plays #6, and #4 faces #5. For the Divisional Round, the #1 seeds join the fray, hosting the weakest surviving team. The AFC and NFC championship games are then played at the best remaining team, highlighting the critical value of earning that #1 ranking. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This fierce rivalry reaches its climax in the last contest of the NFL season. With the AFC North and a postseason spot on the line, this is a true elimination situation. The Steelers have been inconsistent all year, while the Ravens struggled early but remain in the hunt. Player availability could be decisive: The Steelers may be without key target DK Metcalf, while Baltimore's signal-caller their MVP QB is a doubt with a health issue. Running back Derrick Henry might emerge as the x-factor for the Ravens in what promises to be a hard-hitting, low-scoring struggle. Battle for #1 in the NFC San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) Not only the division title is on the line when Seattle travels to the 49ers. The victorious team claims the NFC's top seed and the road to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This game pits an explosive 49ers offense against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback Brock Purdy came back, the 49ers have been the league's highest scorers. On the other hand, the Seahawks' defense is ranked second best in the league. The Seahawks' quarterback Sam Darnold must avoid mistakes that have plagued him this year. Whoever comes out on top earns a massive advantage for the postseason journey. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs comes into this game with strong form. Tampa Bay have dropped seven of eight, while Carolina have squandered chances to clinch 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 need another result from the Falcons-Saints game to steal the divisional championship. AFC's Top Seed Up for Grabs Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (21:25, Sunday) Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers (21:25, Sunday) Denver control their destiny for the AFC's top seed. A win over a Chargers team likely to rest starters seals it. If the Broncos lose, the opportunity arises for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win coupled with a Broncos loss would hand the top seed to New England. Jacksonville are the long shot. They need a triumph and defeats for the Broncos and Patriots to achieve an unlikely ascent to #1. More pressingly, a Jacksonville defeat could see them passed by the Houston 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 Seattle and San Francisco clash for the top seed in the NFC. Entering the final week of the regular NFL campaign, only a pair of play-off spots remain open. Yet, a great deal more is at stake, such as the highly desired #1 rankings in both conferences and four divisional crowns. NFL schedulers have crafted a perfect ending, with the two remaining play-off positions on the line in a pair of winner-take-all matchups. Current NFL Play-Off Standings AFC Standings Denver (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The winner of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore contest will secure the #4 spot and a home-field advantage in the first playoff round. At the same time, the Bills and the Chargers are set as wildcard entrants. Houston need a win and a Jaguars loss to jump from the fifth seed to third. Denver will secure the #1 ranking with a triumph, but a setback could pave the way for the Patriots or Jacksonville to claim it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The South division is up for grabs by the victor of the Panthers-Buccaneers game, granting them the #4 position. However, the Panthers could still win the division even with a defeat, depending on other outcomes. The Packers are locked into the seventh spot. The highlight, however, is the clash for the NFC's top seed between Seattle and San Francisco, with a week off and home playoff games hanging in the balance. How the NFL Postseason Works The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC receives a valuable bye week and home games for the duration of the postseason. During the Wild Card round, the remaining six playoff teams face off: the second seed plays the seventh, #3 plays #6, and #4 faces #5. For the Divisional Round, the #1 seeds join the fray, hosting the weakest surviving team. The AFC and NFC championship games are then played at the best remaining team, highlighting the critical value of earning that #1 ranking. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This fierce rivalry reaches its climax in the last contest of the NFL season. With the AFC North and a postseason spot on the line, this is a true elimination situation. The Steelers have been inconsistent all year, while the Ravens struggled early but remain in the hunt. Player availability could be decisive: The Steelers may be without key target DK Metcalf, while Baltimore's signal-caller their MVP QB is a doubt with a health issue. Running back Derrick Henry might emerge as the x-factor for the Ravens in what promises to be a hard-hitting, low-scoring struggle. Battle for #1 in the NFC San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) Not only the division title is on the line when Seattle travels to the 49ers. The victorious team claims the NFC's top seed and the road to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This game pits an explosive 49ers offense against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback Brock Purdy came back, the 49ers have been the league's highest scorers. On the other hand, the Seahawks' defense is ranked second best in the league. The Seahawks' quarterback Sam Darnold must avoid mistakes that have plagued him this year. Whoever comes out on top earns a massive advantage for the postseason journey. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs comes into this game with strong form. Tampa Bay have dropped seven of eight, while Carolina have squandered chances to clinch 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 need another result from the Falcons-Saints game to steal the divisional championship. AFC's Top Seed Up for Grabs Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (21:25, Sunday) Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers (21:25, Sunday) Denver control their destiny for the AFC's top seed. A win over a Chargers team likely to rest starters seals it. If the Broncos lose, the opportunity arises for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win coupled with a Broncos loss would hand the top seed to New England. Jacksonville are the long shot. They need a triumph and defeats for the Broncos and Patriots to achieve an unlikely ascent to #1. More pressingly, a Jacksonville defeat could see them passed by the Houston 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)