🔗 Share this article NFL Play-Off Picture: Crucial Matchups & Outcomes for the Season Finale. Baltimore faces off against Pittsburgh to determine the AFC North, while San Francisco and Seattle meet for the top seed in the NFC. As we head into the final week of the regular NFL campaign, only a pair of play-off spots are still up for grabs. However, a great deal more is on the line, such as the coveted top seeds in both conferences and four divisional crowns. The schedule makers have produced a dramatic ending, with the two remaining postseason places to be decided in a pair of winner-take-all contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 American Football Conference Rankings Denver (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The victor of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore contest will claim the fourth seed and a home-field advantage in the first playoff round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard teams. The Texans need a victory coupled with a Jaguars loss to climb from fifth to third. The Broncos will earn the #1 ranking with a triumph, but a loss could open the door for New England or Jacksonville to claim it. NFC Standings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The South division is up for grabs by the winner of the Carolina-Tampa Bay matchup, earning them the fourth seed. Notably, the Panthers could still win the division even with a defeat, depending on other outcomes. Green Bay are locked into the seventh spot. The highlight, though, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between the Seahawks and the 49ers, with a first-round bye and home playoff games on the line. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The top seed in each conference receives a crucial first-round bye and home-field advantage for the duration of the play-offs. During Wildcard Weekend, the remaining six playoff teams compete: the #2 team plays the seventh, third hosts sixth, and #4 faces #5. In the second round, the top seeds enter the fray, hosting the lowest surviving team. The AFC and NFC title games are then played at the best remaining team, underscoring the immense importance of securing that top spot. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This fierce rivalry reaches its climax in the final game of the regular season. The divisional title and a postseason spot at stake, this is a true win-or-go-home scenario. Pittsburgh have been up and down all year, while the Ravens struggled early but are still in the hunt. Player availability may prove critical: Pittsburgh may miss star receiver their top wideout, while the Ravens' quarterback their MVP QB is questionable with a health issue. Star rusher the powerful back could be the x-factor for Baltimore in what promises to be a hard-hitting, low-scoring struggle. Battle for #1 in the NFC Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is at stake when Seattle visits the 49ers. The victorious team secures the conference's #1 spot and the path to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This matchup features an high-powered 49ers offense against a dominant Seattle defense. With QB their young passer returned, the 49ers have been the league's top offense. Conversely, the Seahawks' defense is rated second best in the league. Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold needs to cut down on costly turnovers that have haunted him this year. The team that comes out on top gains a huge advantage for the postseason journey. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team enters this contest with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped seven of eight, while the Panthers have squandered recent opportunities to secure the division. For Carolina it's straightforward: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a win, they require another result from the Atlanta-New Orleans matchup to steal 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) The Denver Broncos hold the cards for the #1 AFC spot. A victory over a L.A. Chargers team expected to sit starters 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. Jacksonville are the long shot. They need a triumph and losses by both Denver and New England to pull off an unlikely rise to the top. More importantly, a Jacksonville defeat could see them passed 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)
Baltimore faces off against Pittsburgh to determine the AFC North, while San Francisco and Seattle meet for the top seed in the NFC. As we head into the final week of the regular NFL campaign, only a pair of play-off spots are still up for grabs. However, a great deal more is on the line, such as the coveted top seeds in both conferences and four divisional crowns. The schedule makers have produced a dramatic ending, with the two remaining postseason places to be decided in a pair of winner-take-all contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 American Football Conference Rankings Denver (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The victor of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore contest will claim the fourth seed and a home-field advantage in the first playoff round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard teams. The Texans need a victory coupled with a Jaguars loss to climb from fifth to third. The Broncos will earn the #1 ranking with a triumph, but a loss could open the door for New England or Jacksonville to claim it. NFC Standings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The South division is up for grabs by the winner of the Carolina-Tampa Bay matchup, earning them the fourth seed. Notably, the Panthers could still win the division even with a defeat, depending on other outcomes. Green Bay are locked into the seventh spot. The highlight, though, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between the Seahawks and the 49ers, with a first-round bye and home playoff games on the line. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The top seed in each conference receives a crucial first-round bye and home-field advantage for the duration of the play-offs. During Wildcard Weekend, the remaining six playoff teams compete: the #2 team plays the seventh, third hosts sixth, and #4 faces #5. In the second round, the top seeds enter the fray, hosting the lowest surviving team. The AFC and NFC title games are then played at the best remaining team, underscoring the immense importance of securing that top spot. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This fierce rivalry reaches its climax in the final game of the regular season. The divisional title and a postseason spot at stake, this is a true win-or-go-home scenario. Pittsburgh have been up and down all year, while the Ravens struggled early but are still in the hunt. Player availability may prove critical: Pittsburgh may miss star receiver their top wideout, while the Ravens' quarterback their MVP QB is questionable with a health issue. Star rusher the powerful back could be the x-factor for Baltimore in what promises to be a hard-hitting, low-scoring struggle. Battle for #1 in the NFC Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is at stake when Seattle visits the 49ers. The victorious team secures the conference's #1 spot and the path to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This matchup features an high-powered 49ers offense against a dominant Seattle defense. With QB their young passer returned, the 49ers have been the league's top offense. Conversely, the Seahawks' defense is rated second best in the league. Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold needs to cut down on costly turnovers that have haunted him this year. The team that comes out on top gains a huge advantage for the postseason journey. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team enters this contest with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped seven of eight, while the Panthers have squandered recent opportunities to secure the division. For Carolina it's straightforward: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a win, they require another result from the Atlanta-New Orleans matchup to steal 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) The Denver Broncos hold the cards for the #1 AFC spot. A victory over a L.A. Chargers team expected to sit starters 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. Jacksonville are the long shot. They need a triumph and losses by both Denver and New England to pull off an unlikely rise to the top. More importantly, a Jacksonville defeat could see them passed 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)