🔗 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 meet for the #1 spot in the NFC. As we head into the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of postseason berths remain open. Yet, far more is at stake, including the highly desired #1 rankings in both conferences and several division titles. 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. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 American Football Conference Rankings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The victor of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore contest will secure the #4 spot and a home-field advantage in the wildcard round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard entrants. Houston require a win coupled with a Jaguars defeat to jump from the fifth seed to the third seed. Denver will earn the #1 ranking with a triumph, but a loss could pave the way for the Patriots or Jacksonville to snatch it. NFC Standings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The South division will be claimed by the winner of the Carolina-Tampa Bay game, earning them the #4 position. Notably, the Panthers could still win the division even with a loss, depending on other results. The Packers are set at the seventh spot. The highlight, however, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between the Seahawks and the 49ers, with a first-round bye and home playoff games hanging in the balance. How the NFL Postseason Works The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC earns a valuable first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. On Wildcard Weekend, the other six playoff teams compete: the #2 team plays the seventh, #3 plays #6, and #4 faces #5. In the Divisional Round, the top seeds enter the competition, facing the weakest surviving team. The conference championship games are then played at the highest seed, underscoring the immense value of securing that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This bitter rivalry reaches its climax in the final game of the NFL season. The divisional title and a play-off berth at stake, this is a genuine win-or-go-home scenario. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent this season, while Baltimore started poorly but are still in the hunt. Player availability could be decisive: The Steelers may miss key target their top wideout, while Baltimore's quarterback Lamar Jackson is a doubt with a back injury. Running back Derrick Henry could be the x-factor for the Ravens in what promises to be a hard-hitting, defensive struggle. Battle for #1 in the NFC San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is at stake when Seattle travels to San Francisco. The victorious team secures the NFC's top seed and the road to the championship game that it provides. This matchup pits an high-powered San Francisco attack against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback their young passer came back, the 49ers have been the league's highest scorers. On the other hand, the Seahawks' defense is rated second best in the league. The Seahawks' quarterback their passer needs to cut down on mistakes that have plagued him this season. The team that wins this clash gains a massive edge for the playoff run. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team comes into this game with much momentum. Tampa Bay have dropped seven of eight, while Carolina have missed recent opportunities to secure the division. The Panthers it's simple: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the scenario is trickier. Even with a victory, they require help from the Atlanta-New Orleans game to claim the divisional championship. 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) Denver hold the cards for the #1 AFC spot. A win over a Chargers team likely to rest starters gets it done. Should Denver falter, the opportunity arises for the Patriots. A Patriots win coupled with a Denver defeat would give the top seed to New England. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the long shot. They need a triumph and losses by both Denver and New England to achieve an improbable ascent to #1. More importantly, a Jaguars loss could see them passed 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 determine the AFC North, while Seattle and Seattle meet for the #1 spot in the NFC. As we head into the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of postseason berths remain open. Yet, far more is at stake, including the highly desired #1 rankings in both conferences and several division titles. 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. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 American Football Conference Rankings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The victor of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore contest will secure the #4 spot and a home-field advantage in the wildcard round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard entrants. Houston require a win coupled with a Jaguars defeat to jump from the fifth seed to the third seed. Denver will earn the #1 ranking with a triumph, but a loss could pave the way for the Patriots or Jacksonville to snatch it. NFC Standings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The South division will be claimed by the winner of the Carolina-Tampa Bay game, earning them the #4 position. Notably, the Panthers could still win the division even with a loss, depending on other results. The Packers are set at the seventh spot. The highlight, however, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between the Seahawks and the 49ers, with a first-round bye and home playoff games hanging in the balance. How the NFL Postseason Works The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC earns a valuable first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. On Wildcard Weekend, the other six playoff teams compete: the #2 team plays the seventh, #3 plays #6, and #4 faces #5. In the Divisional Round, the top seeds enter the competition, facing the weakest surviving team. The conference championship games are then played at the highest seed, underscoring the immense value of securing that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This bitter rivalry reaches its climax in the final game of the NFL season. The divisional title and a play-off berth at stake, this is a genuine win-or-go-home scenario. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent this season, while Baltimore started poorly but are still in the hunt. Player availability could be decisive: The Steelers may miss key target their top wideout, while Baltimore's quarterback Lamar Jackson is a doubt with a back injury. Running back Derrick Henry could be the x-factor for the Ravens in what promises to be a hard-hitting, defensive struggle. Battle for #1 in the NFC San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is at stake when Seattle travels to San Francisco. The victorious team secures the NFC's top seed and the road to the championship game that it provides. This matchup pits an high-powered San Francisco attack against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback their young passer came back, the 49ers have been the league's highest scorers. On the other hand, the Seahawks' defense is rated second best in the league. The Seahawks' quarterback their passer needs to cut down on mistakes that have plagued him this season. The team that wins this clash gains a massive edge for the playoff run. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team comes into this game with much momentum. Tampa Bay have dropped seven of eight, while Carolina have missed recent opportunities to secure the division. The Panthers it's simple: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the scenario is trickier. Even with a victory, they require help from the Atlanta-New Orleans game to claim the divisional championship. 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) Denver hold the cards for the #1 AFC spot. A win over a Chargers team likely to rest starters gets it done. Should Denver falter, the opportunity arises for the Patriots. A Patriots win coupled with a Denver defeat would give the top seed to New England. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the long shot. They need a triumph and losses by both Denver and New England to achieve an improbable ascent to #1. More importantly, a Jaguars loss could see them passed 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)