🔗 Share this article NFL Play-Off Picture: Crucial Matchups & Scenarios for the Season Finale. Baltimore battles Pittsburgh to decide the AFC North, while Seattle and Seattle meet for the top seed in the NFC. As we head into the final week of the NFL regular season, only a pair of play-off spots are still up for grabs. Yet, far more is on the line, including the coveted top seeds in each conference and four division titles. NFL schedulers have produced a dramatic finale, with the final two postseason places on the line 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 (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The winner of the Steelers-Ravens game will claim the #4 spot and a home game in the wildcard round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard teams. The Texans require a victory coupled with a Jaguars defeat to jump from the fifth seed to the third seed. The Broncos will secure the #1 ranking with a win, but a setback could open the door for New England or Jacksonville to snatch it. NFC Standings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The NFC South will be claimed by the winner of the Carolina-Tampa Bay matchup, granting them the #4 position. However, the Panthers could still win the divisional title even with a defeat, contingent on other outcomes. Green Bay are set at the seventh spot. The marquee matchup, however, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between Seattle and San Francisco, with a week off and home playoff games on the line. How the NFL Postseason Works The top seed in both the AFC and NFC earns a valuable bye week and home-field advantage throughout the play-offs. On Wildcard Weekend, the other six qualified teams compete: the #2 team plays the seventh, #3 plays #6, and fourth hosts fifth. In the Divisional Round, the #1 seeds join the fray, facing the weakest remaining seed. The AFC and NFC title games are then hosted by the highest seed, highlighting the immense value of securing that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This fierce rivalry comes to a head in the final game of the NFL season. With the AFC North and a play-off berth at stake, this is a genuine elimination situation. The Steelers have been inconsistent this season, while the Ravens started poorly but are still in the hunt. Player availability could be decisive: The Steelers may miss star receiver DK Metcalf, while the Ravens' signal-caller Lamar Jackson is questionable with a health issue. Running back the powerful back could be the x-factor for the Ravens in what promises to be a physical, low-scoring struggle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is on the line when the Seahawks travels to San Francisco. The winner claims the NFC's top seed and the road to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This matchup features an high-powered San Francisco attack against a dominant Seahawks defense. Since quarterback their young passer returned, the 49ers have been the NFL's top offense. Conversely, the Seahawks' unit is rated among the best in the NFL. The Seahawks' quarterback their passer must avoid costly turnovers that have plagued him this season. Whoever wins this clash earns a massive edge for the postseason journey. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team enters this contest with strong form. Tampa Bay have dropped four straight, while Carolina have missed recent opportunities to clinch the title. The Panthers it's straightforward: a victory gets them in. The Buccaneers, the situation is trickier. Even with a win, they require another result from the Atlanta-New Orleans matchup to claim the division crown. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (21:25, Sunday) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the #1 AFC spot. A win over a Chargers team likely to rest starters seals it. Should Denver falter, the door opens for the Patriots. A New England victory coupled with a Denver defeat would hand the top seed to New England. Jacksonville are the long shot. They need a win and defeats for the Broncos and Patriots to achieve an unlikely rise to the top. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could allow them to be overtaken 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 battles Pittsburgh to decide the AFC North, while Seattle and Seattle meet for the top seed in the NFC. As we head into the final week of the NFL regular season, only a pair of play-off spots are still up for grabs. Yet, far more is on the line, including the coveted top seeds in each conference and four division titles. NFL schedulers have produced a dramatic finale, with the final two postseason places on the line 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 (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The winner of the Steelers-Ravens game will claim the #4 spot and a home game in the wildcard round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard teams. The Texans require a victory coupled with a Jaguars defeat to jump from the fifth seed to the third seed. The Broncos will secure the #1 ranking with a win, but a setback could open the door for New England or Jacksonville to snatch it. NFC Standings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The NFC South will be claimed by the winner of the Carolina-Tampa Bay matchup, granting them the #4 position. However, the Panthers could still win the divisional title even with a defeat, contingent on other outcomes. Green Bay are set at the seventh spot. The marquee matchup, however, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between Seattle and San Francisco, with a week off and home playoff games on the line. How the NFL Postseason Works The top seed in both the AFC and NFC earns a valuable bye week and home-field advantage throughout the play-offs. On Wildcard Weekend, the other six qualified teams compete: the #2 team plays the seventh, #3 plays #6, and fourth hosts fifth. In the Divisional Round, the #1 seeds join the fray, facing the weakest remaining seed. The AFC and NFC title games are then hosted by the highest seed, highlighting the immense value of securing that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This fierce rivalry comes to a head in the final game of the NFL season. With the AFC North and a play-off berth at stake, this is a genuine elimination situation. The Steelers have been inconsistent this season, while the Ravens started poorly but are still in the hunt. Player availability could be decisive: The Steelers may miss star receiver DK Metcalf, while the Ravens' signal-caller Lamar Jackson is questionable with a health issue. Running back the powerful back could be the x-factor for the Ravens in what promises to be a physical, low-scoring struggle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is on the line when the Seahawks travels to San Francisco. The winner claims the NFC's top seed and the road to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This matchup features an high-powered San Francisco attack against a dominant Seahawks defense. Since quarterback their young passer returned, the 49ers have been the NFL's top offense. Conversely, the Seahawks' unit is rated among the best in the NFL. The Seahawks' quarterback their passer must avoid costly turnovers that have plagued him this season. Whoever wins this clash earns a massive edge for the postseason journey. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team enters this contest with strong form. Tampa Bay have dropped four straight, while Carolina have missed recent opportunities to clinch the title. The Panthers it's straightforward: a victory gets them in. The Buccaneers, the situation is trickier. Even with a win, they require another result from the Atlanta-New Orleans matchup to claim the division crown. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (21:25, Sunday) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the #1 AFC spot. A win over a Chargers team likely to rest starters seals it. Should Denver falter, the door opens for the Patriots. A New England victory coupled with a Denver defeat would hand the top seed to New England. Jacksonville are the long shot. They need a win and defeats for the Broncos and Patriots to achieve an unlikely rise to the top. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could allow them to be overtaken 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)