🔗 Share this article NFL Play-Off Picture: Crucial Matchups & Scenarios for the Season Finale. Baltimore faces off against Baltimore to determine 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, just two play-off spots remain open. Yet, far more is at stake, such as the highly desired #1 rankings in both conferences and four division titles. NFL schedulers have produced a dramatic ending, with the final two play-off positions on the line in two direct head-to-head contests. Current NFL Play-Off Standings American Football Conference Rankings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The victor of the Steelers-Ravens contest will claim the #4 spot and a home game in the wildcard round. Meanwhile, the Bills and Los Angeles are set as wildcard entrants. The Texans need a win coupled with a Jaguars defeat to climb from fifth to third. Denver will earn the #1 ranking with a triumph, but a loss could open the door for the Patriots or Jacksonville to claim it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The NFC South is up for grabs by the victor of the Panthers-Buccaneers game, earning them the fourth seed. Notably, Carolina could still claim the division even with a loss, contingent on other results. The Packers are locked into the seventh seed. The highlight, though, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between the Seahawks and San Francisco, with a first-round bye and home-field advantage hanging in the balance. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The top seed in both the AFC and NFC earns a valuable bye week and home-field advantage for the duration of the play-offs. During Wildcard Weekend, the remaining six playoff teams face off: the #2 team plays the seventh, third hosts sixth, and #4 faces #5. In the second round, the #1 seeds enter the competition, hosting the weakest remaining seed. The conference championship games are then played at the best remaining team, highlighting the critical value of earning that #1 ranking. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This fierce rivalry comes to a head in the final game of the regular season. With the AFC North and a postseason spot at stake, this is a true win-or-go-home scenario. The Steelers have been up and down this season, while Baltimore struggled early but are still in the hunt. Key injuries could be decisive: The Steelers may miss star receiver DK Metcalf, while the Ravens' quarterback their MVP QB is questionable with a health issue. Star rusher Derrick Henry could be the x-factor for the Ravens in what is set up as a physical, low-scoring struggle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) Not only the division title is at stake when the Seahawks travels to San Francisco. The winner secures the conference's #1 spot and the path to the Super Bowl that it provides. This game features an high-powered San Francisco attack against a dominant Seattle defense. With QB their young passer returned, San Francisco have been the league's highest scorers. On the other hand, the Seahawks' unit is rated second best in the league. The Seahawks' QB Sam Darnold needs to cut down on mistakes that have haunted him this year. Whoever wins this clash earns a massive advantage for the postseason journey. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team enters this game with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped four straight, while Carolina have missed chances to clinch the title. The Panthers it's simple: a victory gets them in. The Buccaneers, the scenario is more complex. Even with a victory, they require another result from the Falcons-Saints game to steal the divisional championship. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (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 L.A. Chargers team likely to rest key players seals it. Should Denver falter, the opportunity arises for the New England Patriots. A New England victory coupled with a Broncos loss would give the top seed to New England. Jacksonville are the long shot. They require a triumph and defeats for the Broncos and Patriots to pull off an improbable rise to the top. More pressingly, a Jacksonville defeat could allow them to be overtaken by the Houston 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 Baltimore to determine 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, just two play-off spots remain open. Yet, far more is at stake, such as the highly desired #1 rankings in both conferences and four division titles. NFL schedulers have produced a dramatic ending, with the final two play-off positions on the line in two direct head-to-head contests. Current NFL Play-Off Standings American Football Conference Rankings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The victor of the Steelers-Ravens contest will claim the #4 spot and a home game in the wildcard round. Meanwhile, the Bills and Los Angeles are set as wildcard entrants. The Texans need a win coupled with a Jaguars defeat to climb from fifth to third. Denver will earn the #1 ranking with a triumph, but a loss could open the door for the Patriots or Jacksonville to claim it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The NFC South is up for grabs by the victor of the Panthers-Buccaneers game, earning them the fourth seed. Notably, Carolina could still claim the division even with a loss, contingent on other results. The Packers are locked into the seventh seed. The highlight, though, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between the Seahawks and San Francisco, with a first-round bye and home-field advantage hanging in the balance. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The top seed in both the AFC and NFC earns a valuable bye week and home-field advantage for the duration of the play-offs. During Wildcard Weekend, the remaining six playoff teams face off: the #2 team plays the seventh, third hosts sixth, and #4 faces #5. In the second round, the #1 seeds enter the competition, hosting the weakest remaining seed. The conference championship games are then played at the best remaining team, highlighting the critical value of earning that #1 ranking. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This fierce rivalry comes to a head in the final game of the regular season. With the AFC North and a postseason spot at stake, this is a true win-or-go-home scenario. The Steelers have been up and down this season, while Baltimore struggled early but are still in the hunt. Key injuries could be decisive: The Steelers may miss star receiver DK Metcalf, while the Ravens' quarterback their MVP QB is questionable with a health issue. Star rusher Derrick Henry could be the x-factor for the Ravens in what is set up as a physical, low-scoring struggle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) Not only the division title is at stake when the Seahawks travels to San Francisco. The winner secures the conference's #1 spot and the path to the Super Bowl that it provides. This game features an high-powered San Francisco attack against a dominant Seattle defense. With QB their young passer returned, San Francisco have been the league's highest scorers. On the other hand, the Seahawks' unit is rated second best in the league. The Seahawks' QB Sam Darnold needs to cut down on mistakes that have haunted him this year. Whoever wins this clash earns a massive advantage for the postseason journey. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team enters this game with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped four straight, while Carolina have missed chances to clinch the title. The Panthers it's simple: a victory gets them in. The Buccaneers, the scenario is more complex. Even with a victory, they require another result from the Falcons-Saints game to steal the divisional championship. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (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 L.A. Chargers team likely to rest key players seals it. Should Denver falter, the opportunity arises for the New England Patriots. A New England victory coupled with a Broncos loss would give the top seed to New England. Jacksonville are the long shot. They require a triumph and defeats for the Broncos and Patriots to pull off an improbable rise to the top. More pressingly, a Jacksonville defeat could allow them to be overtaken by the Houston 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)