🔗 Share this article NFL Play-Off Picture: Crucial Matchups & Outcomes for the Season Finale. Pittsburgh battles Pittsburgh to decide the AFC North, while Seattle and San Francisco meet for the top seed in the NFC. As we head into the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of postseason berths are still up for grabs. However, a great deal more is at stake, including the coveted top seeds in both conferences and several divisional crowns. The schedule makers have crafted a dramatic ending, with the two remaining postseason places to be decided in two direct head-to-head contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 AFC Standings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The victor of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore contest will secure the #4 spot and a home game in the wildcard round. At the same time, Buffalo and Los Angeles are set as wildcard entrants. Houston require a win coupled with a Jacksonville loss to climb from the fifth seed to the third seed. The Broncos will secure the #1 ranking with a triumph, but a setback could pave the way 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 Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The South division will be claimed by the victor of the Carolina-Tampa Bay game, earning them the fourth seed. However, the Panthers could still claim the division even with a loss, depending on other results. Green Bay are set at the seventh seed. The highlight, though, is the battle for the #1 seed in the NFC between Seattle and the 49ers, with a first-round bye and home playoff games hanging in the balance. How the NFL Postseason Works The top seed in both the AFC and NFC earns a valuable first-round bye and home games throughout the postseason. On the Wild Card round, the other six qualified teams face off: the #2 team hosts the #7 team, #3 plays #6, and #4 faces #5. In the second round, the top seeds enter the competition, facing the lowest surviving team. The conference championship games are then hosted by the best remaining team, highlighting the immense 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 final game of the regular season. The divisional title and a postseason spot on the line, this is a true elimination scenario. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent all year, while the Ravens struggled early but remain in the hunt. Key injuries could be decisive: The Steelers may miss key target their top wideout, while the Ravens' signal-caller 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 promises to be a hard-hitting, low-scoring struggle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the division title is on the line when the Seahawks travels to San Francisco. The winner claims the NFC's top seed and the path to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This game features an high-powered 49ers offense against a dominant Seahawks defense. With QB Brock Purdy returned, San Francisco have been the league's highest scorers. On the other hand, Seattle's unit is ranked among the best in the league. Seattle quarterback their passer needs to cut down on mistakes that have plagued him this season. Whoever comes out on top earns a huge advantage for the playoff run. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs comes into this contest with much momentum. Tampa Bay have lost four straight, while the Panthers have missed recent opportunities to clinch the title. The Panthers it's simple: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a victory, 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) New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (21:25, Sunday) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25, Sunday) The Denver Broncos control their destiny for the #1 AFC spot. A win over a L.A. Chargers team likely to rest starters seals it. Should Denver falter, the door opens for the New England Patriots. A New England victory combined with a Broncos loss would hand the top seed to New England. Jacksonville are the dark horse. They require a win and defeats for both Denver and New England to pull off an improbable rise to the top. More importantly, a Jacksonville defeat could allow them to be overtaken by the Houston 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 decide the AFC North, while Seattle and San Francisco meet for the top seed in the NFC. As we head into the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of postseason berths are still up for grabs. However, a great deal more is at stake, including the coveted top seeds in both conferences and several divisional crowns. The schedule makers have crafted a dramatic ending, with the two remaining postseason places to be decided in two direct head-to-head contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 AFC Standings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The victor of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore contest will secure the #4 spot and a home game in the wildcard round. At the same time, Buffalo and Los Angeles are set as wildcard entrants. Houston require a win coupled with a Jacksonville loss to climb from the fifth seed to the third seed. The Broncos will secure the #1 ranking with a triumph, but a setback could pave the way 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 Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The South division will be claimed by the victor of the Carolina-Tampa Bay game, earning them the fourth seed. However, the Panthers could still claim the division even with a loss, depending on other results. Green Bay are set at the seventh seed. The highlight, though, is the battle for the #1 seed in the NFC between Seattle and the 49ers, with a first-round bye and home playoff games hanging in the balance. How the NFL Postseason Works The top seed in both the AFC and NFC earns a valuable first-round bye and home games throughout the postseason. On the Wild Card round, the other six qualified teams face off: the #2 team hosts the #7 team, #3 plays #6, and #4 faces #5. In the second round, the top seeds enter the competition, facing the lowest surviving team. The conference championship games are then hosted by the best remaining team, highlighting the immense 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 final game of the regular season. The divisional title and a postseason spot on the line, this is a true elimination scenario. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent all year, while the Ravens struggled early but remain in the hunt. Key injuries could be decisive: The Steelers may miss key target their top wideout, while the Ravens' signal-caller 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 promises to be a hard-hitting, low-scoring struggle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the division title is on the line when the Seahawks travels to San Francisco. The winner claims the NFC's top seed and the path to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This game features an high-powered 49ers offense against a dominant Seahawks defense. With QB Brock Purdy returned, San Francisco have been the league's highest scorers. On the other hand, Seattle's unit is ranked among the best in the league. Seattle quarterback their passer needs to cut down on mistakes that have plagued him this season. Whoever comes out on top earns a huge advantage for the playoff run. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs comes into this contest with much momentum. Tampa Bay have lost four straight, while the Panthers have missed recent opportunities to clinch the title. The Panthers it's simple: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a victory, 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) New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (21:25, Sunday) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25, Sunday) The Denver Broncos control their destiny for the #1 AFC spot. A win over a L.A. Chargers team likely to rest starters seals it. Should Denver falter, the door opens for the New England Patriots. A New England victory combined with a Broncos loss would hand the top seed to New England. Jacksonville are the dark horse. They require a win and defeats for both Denver and New England to pull off an improbable rise to the top. More importantly, a Jacksonville defeat could allow them to be overtaken by the Houston 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)