🔗 Share this article NFL Postseason Scenarios: Crucial Matchups & Scenarios for the Final Week. Baltimore faces off against Pittsburgh to decide the AFC North, while San Francisco and San Francisco clash 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, a great deal more is at stake, such as the highly desired top seeds in each conference and four divisional crowns. NFL schedulers have crafted a dramatic finale, with the final two play-off positions to be decided in a pair of head-to-head contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 American Football Conference Rankings Denver (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The winner of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore contest will claim the fourth seed and a home game in the first playoff round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and the Chargers are set as wildcard teams. The Texans require a win coupled with a Jacksonville defeat to jump from the fifth seed to the third seed. The Broncos will earn the #1 ranking with a triumph, but a loss could open the door for the Patriots or the Jaguars to claim it. NFC Standings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The South division will be claimed by the winner of the Panthers-Buccaneers matchup, earning them the #4 position. However, the Panthers could still claim the divisional title even with a defeat, contingent on other results. Green Bay are set at the seventh seed. The marquee matchup, though, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between the Seahawks and San Francisco, with a week off and home-field advantage on the line. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The #1 team in each conference receives a valuable bye week and home-field advantage for the duration of the postseason. On the Wild Card round, the remaining six playoff teams compete: the second seed plays the #7 team, #3 plays #6, and fourth hosts fifth. In the second round, the top seeds join the competition, facing the lowest surviving team. The AFC and NFC title games are then hosted by the best remaining team, underscoring the immense value of securing that #1 ranking. 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 regular season. The divisional title and a play-off berth at stake, this is a genuine elimination scenario. The Steelers have been inconsistent this season, while the Ravens started poorly but remain in the hunt. Player availability could be decisive: Pittsburgh may be without key target DK Metcalf, while the Ravens' signal-caller Lamar Jackson is a doubt with a back injury. Star rusher the powerful back could be the difference-maker for the Ravens in what promises to be a hard-hitting, defensive battle. 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 Seattle travels to the 49ers. The victorious team secures the NFC's top seed and the road to the Super Bowl that it provides. This matchup pits an high-powered San Francisco attack against a dominant Seahawks defense. With QB their young passer returned, San Francisco have been the NFL's top offense. On the other hand, the Seahawks' defense is ranked among the best in the NFL. Seattle QB their passer must avoid mistakes that have plagued him this year. The team that comes out on top earns 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) Neither team enters this contest with strong form. The Buccaneers have dropped seven of eight, while the Panthers have squandered recent opportunities to secure the title. The Panthers it's simple: a victory gets them in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a win, they need another result from the Atlanta-New Orleans matchup to steal the divisional championship. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans (18:00, Sunday) Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (21:25, Sunday) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the #1 AFC spot. A victory over a Chargers team likely to rest starters gets it done. If the Broncos lose, the door opens for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win combined with a Broncos loss would give the #1 ranking to Bill Belichick's team. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the dark horse. They need a win and losses by the Broncos and Patriots to pull off an improbable ascent to #1. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could see them passed 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 Pittsburgh to decide the AFC North, while San Francisco and San Francisco clash 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, a great deal more is at stake, such as the highly desired top seeds in each conference and four divisional crowns. NFL schedulers have crafted a dramatic finale, with the final two play-off positions to be decided in a pair of head-to-head contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 American Football Conference Rankings Denver (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The winner of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore contest will claim the fourth seed and a home game in the first playoff round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and the Chargers are set as wildcard teams. The Texans require a win coupled with a Jacksonville defeat to jump from the fifth seed to the third seed. The Broncos will earn the #1 ranking with a triumph, but a loss could open the door for the Patriots or the Jaguars to claim it. NFC Standings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The South division will be claimed by the winner of the Panthers-Buccaneers matchup, earning them the #4 position. However, the Panthers could still claim the divisional title even with a defeat, contingent on other results. Green Bay are set at the seventh seed. The marquee matchup, though, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between the Seahawks and San Francisco, with a week off and home-field advantage on the line. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The #1 team in each conference receives a valuable bye week and home-field advantage for the duration of the postseason. On the Wild Card round, the remaining six playoff teams compete: the second seed plays the #7 team, #3 plays #6, and fourth hosts fifth. In the second round, the top seeds join the competition, facing the lowest surviving team. The AFC and NFC title games are then hosted by the best remaining team, underscoring the immense value of securing that #1 ranking. 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 regular season. The divisional title and a play-off berth at stake, this is a genuine elimination scenario. The Steelers have been inconsistent this season, while the Ravens started poorly but remain in the hunt. Player availability could be decisive: Pittsburgh may be without key target DK Metcalf, while the Ravens' signal-caller Lamar Jackson is a doubt with a back injury. Star rusher the powerful back could be the difference-maker for the Ravens in what promises to be a hard-hitting, defensive battle. 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 Seattle travels to the 49ers. The victorious team secures the NFC's top seed and the road to the Super Bowl that it provides. This matchup pits an high-powered San Francisco attack against a dominant Seahawks defense. With QB their young passer returned, San Francisco have been the NFL's top offense. On the other hand, the Seahawks' defense is ranked among the best in the NFL. Seattle QB their passer must avoid mistakes that have plagued him this year. The team that comes out on top earns 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) Neither team enters this contest with strong form. The Buccaneers have dropped seven of eight, while the Panthers have squandered recent opportunities to secure the title. The Panthers it's simple: a victory gets them in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a win, they need another result from the Atlanta-New Orleans matchup to steal the divisional championship. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans (18:00, Sunday) Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (21:25, Sunday) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the #1 AFC spot. A victory over a Chargers team likely to rest starters gets it done. If the Broncos lose, the door opens for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win combined with a Broncos loss would give the #1 ranking to Bill Belichick's team. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the dark horse. They need a win and losses by the Broncos and Patriots to pull off an improbable ascent to #1. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could see them passed 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)