🔗 Share this article NFL Play-Off Picture: Key Deciders & Outcomes for the Season Finale. Pittsburgh battles Pittsburgh to determine the AFC North, while Seattle and Seattle clash for the #1 spot in the NFC. Entering the final week of the regular NFL campaign, just two play-off spots are still up for grabs. However, a great deal more is on the line, including the coveted #1 rankings in each conference and several division titles. The schedule makers have crafted a dramatic ending, with the two remaining play-off positions on the line in two direct head-to-head matchups. Current NFL Play-Off Standings American Football Conference Rankings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The winner of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore game 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 entrants. Houston need a victory and a Jaguars loss to climb from fifth to the third seed. Denver will secure the top seed with a win, but a loss could pave the way for New England or Jacksonville to claim it. NFC Standings Seattle (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay (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 Panthers-Buccaneers game, earning them the fourth seed. However, Carolina could still win the division even with a loss, depending on other results. Green Bay are locked into the seventh spot. The highlight, however, is the battle for the #1 seed in the NFC between Seattle and the 49ers, with a week off and home-field advantage hanging in the balance. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The top seed in each conference receives a valuable bye week and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. During the Wild Card round, the other six qualified teams face off: the second seed plays the #7 team, #3 plays #6, and #4 faces #5. For the second round, the #1 seeds join the competition, facing the weakest surviving team. The conference title games are then hosted by the highest seed, highlighting the immense value of securing that #1 ranking. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This bitter grudge match reaches its climax in the final game of the NFL season. With the AFC North and a play-off berth at stake, this is a genuine elimination scenario. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent all year, while Baltimore struggled early but are still in the hunt. Key injuries could be decisive: Pittsburgh may miss key target DK Metcalf, while Baltimore's quarterback Lamar Jackson is a doubt with a health issue. Running back Derrick Henry might emerge as the x-factor for Baltimore in what promises to be a hard-hitting, low-scoring battle. Battle for #1 in the NFC San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is on the line when Seattle travels to the 49ers. The victorious team secures the NFC's top seed and the path to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This game pits an high-powered 49ers offense against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback their young passer came back, the 49ers have been the league's top offense. On the other hand, Seattle's defense is rated second best in the NFL. Seattle quarterback their passer needs to cut down on mistakes that have haunted him this season. The team that wins this clash gains a huge edge for the playoff run. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs enters this contest with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped seven of eight, while Carolina have missed chances to clinch the division. For Carolina it's simple: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a victory, they require help from the Atlanta-New Orleans game to claim the division crown. 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) The Denver Broncos control their destiny for the AFC's top seed. A victory over a L.A. Chargers team expected to sit key players gets it done. Should Denver falter, the opportunity arises for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win combined with a Denver defeat would give the #1 ranking to New England. Jacksonville are the dark horse. They need a win and defeats for both Denver and New England to achieve an unlikely rise to the top. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could see them passed 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 battles Pittsburgh to determine the AFC North, while Seattle and Seattle clash for the #1 spot in the NFC. Entering the final week of the regular NFL campaign, just two play-off spots are still up for grabs. However, a great deal more is on the line, including the coveted #1 rankings in each conference and several division titles. The schedule makers have crafted a dramatic ending, with the two remaining play-off positions on the line in two direct head-to-head matchups. Current NFL Play-Off Standings American Football Conference Rankings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The winner of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore game 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 entrants. Houston need a victory and a Jaguars loss to climb from fifth to the third seed. Denver will secure the top seed with a win, but a loss could pave the way for New England or Jacksonville to claim it. NFC Standings Seattle (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay (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 Panthers-Buccaneers game, earning them the fourth seed. However, Carolina could still win the division even with a loss, depending on other results. Green Bay are locked into the seventh spot. The highlight, however, is the battle for the #1 seed in the NFC between Seattle and the 49ers, with a week off and home-field advantage hanging in the balance. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The top seed in each conference receives a valuable bye week and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. During the Wild Card round, the other six qualified teams face off: the second seed plays the #7 team, #3 plays #6, and #4 faces #5. For the second round, the #1 seeds join the competition, facing the weakest surviving team. The conference title games are then hosted by the highest seed, highlighting the immense value of securing that #1 ranking. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This bitter grudge match reaches its climax in the final game of the NFL season. With the AFC North and a play-off berth at stake, this is a genuine elimination scenario. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent all year, while Baltimore struggled early but are still in the hunt. Key injuries could be decisive: Pittsburgh may miss key target DK Metcalf, while Baltimore's quarterback Lamar Jackson is a doubt with a health issue. Running back Derrick Henry might emerge as the x-factor for Baltimore in what promises to be a hard-hitting, low-scoring battle. Battle for #1 in the NFC San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is on the line when Seattle travels to the 49ers. The victorious team secures the NFC's top seed and the path to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This game pits an high-powered 49ers offense against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback their young passer came back, the 49ers have been the league's top offense. On the other hand, Seattle's defense is rated second best in the NFL. Seattle quarterback their passer needs to cut down on mistakes that have haunted him this season. The team that wins this clash gains a huge edge for the playoff run. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs enters this contest with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped seven of eight, while Carolina have missed chances to clinch the division. For Carolina it's simple: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a victory, they require help from the Atlanta-New Orleans game to claim the division crown. 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) The Denver Broncos control their destiny for the AFC's top seed. A victory over a L.A. Chargers team expected to sit key players gets it done. Should Denver falter, the opportunity arises for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win combined with a Denver defeat would give the #1 ranking to New England. Jacksonville are the dark horse. They need a win and defeats for both Denver and New England to achieve an unlikely rise to the top. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could see them passed 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)