🔗 Share this article NFL Play-Off Picture: Crucial Matchups & Scenarios for the Final Week. Pittsburgh faces off against Pittsburgh to determine the AFC North, while San Francisco and Seattle meet for the #1 spot in the NFC. Entering the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of postseason berths remain open. However, far more is at stake, including the coveted top seeds in both conferences and several divisional crowns. The schedule makers have crafted a perfect finale, with the two remaining play-off positions to be decided in two direct head-to-head contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 American Football Conference Rankings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The victor of the Steelers-Ravens game will secure the fourth seed and a home-field advantage in the first playoff round. Meanwhile, the Bills and Los Angeles are set as wildcard entrants. Houston need a victory coupled with a Jaguars loss to climb from the fifth seed to the third seed. The Broncos will earn the top seed with a win, but a loss could open the door for the Patriots or the Jaguars to claim it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The South division is up for grabs by the victor of the Panthers-Buccaneers game, granting them the fourth seed. Notably, Carolina could still win the divisional title even with a defeat, depending on other outcomes. The Packers are locked into the seventh seed. The marquee matchup, though, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between Seattle and the 49ers, with a first-round bye and home-field advantage hanging in the balance. How the NFL Postseason Works The top seed in each conference receives a valuable first-round bye and home-field advantage for the duration of the play-offs. During Wildcard Weekend, the other six playoff teams face off: the second seed plays the seventh, third hosts sixth, and #4 faces #5. In the Divisional Round, the #1 seeds join the fray, facing the lowest surviving team. The AFC and NFC title games are then hosted by the highest seed, highlighting the critical value of securing that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This fierce grudge match comes to a head in the last contest of the NFL season. The divisional title and a play-off berth on the line, this is a true win-or-go-home scenario. Pittsburgh have been up and down this season, while the Ravens struggled early but remain in contention. Key injuries could be decisive: Pittsburgh may be without star receiver their top wideout, while the Ravens' signal-caller Lamar Jackson is questionable with a back injury. Running back the powerful back could be the x-factor for Baltimore in what promises to be a physical, defensive struggle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) More than just the division title is on the line when the Seahawks travels to San Francisco. The winner claims the conference's #1 spot and the path to the championship game that it provides. This game pits an high-powered San Francisco attack against a stingy Seattle defense. With QB their young passer came back, San Francisco have been the league's highest scorers. Conversely, Seattle's unit is ranked second best in the league. Seattle quarterback their passer must avoid mistakes that have plagued him this season. Whoever wins this clash gains a massive advantage for the postseason journey. 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 division. For Carolina it's straightforward: win and they're in. For Tampa Bay, the situation is more complex. Even with a win, they require another result from the Falcons-Saints 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) Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the AFC's top seed. A victory over a Chargers team expected to sit starters gets it done. Should Denver falter, the door opens for the New England Patriots. A New England victory combined with a Broncos loss would give the top seed to Bill Belichick's team. Jacksonville are the dark horse. They need a win and losses by the Broncos and Patriots to achieve an improbable rise to the top. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could see them passed by the Texans in the division standings. 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 faces off against Pittsburgh to determine the AFC North, while San Francisco and Seattle meet for the #1 spot in the NFC. Entering the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of postseason berths remain open. However, far more is at stake, including the coveted top seeds in both conferences and several divisional crowns. The schedule makers have crafted a perfect finale, with the two remaining play-off positions to be decided in two direct head-to-head contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 American Football Conference Rankings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The victor of the Steelers-Ravens game will secure the fourth seed and a home-field advantage in the first playoff round. Meanwhile, the Bills and Los Angeles are set as wildcard entrants. Houston need a victory coupled with a Jaguars loss to climb from the fifth seed to the third seed. The Broncos will earn the top seed with a win, but a loss could open the door for the Patriots or the Jaguars to claim it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The South division is up for grabs by the victor of the Panthers-Buccaneers game, granting them the fourth seed. Notably, Carolina could still win the divisional title even with a defeat, depending on other outcomes. The Packers are locked into the seventh seed. The marquee matchup, though, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between Seattle and the 49ers, with a first-round bye and home-field advantage hanging in the balance. How the NFL Postseason Works The top seed in each conference receives a valuable first-round bye and home-field advantage for the duration of the play-offs. During Wildcard Weekend, the other six playoff teams face off: the second seed plays the seventh, third hosts sixth, and #4 faces #5. In the Divisional Round, the #1 seeds join the fray, facing the lowest surviving team. The AFC and NFC title games are then hosted by the highest seed, highlighting the critical value of securing that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This fierce grudge match comes to a head in the last contest of the NFL season. The divisional title and a play-off berth on the line, this is a true win-or-go-home scenario. Pittsburgh have been up and down this season, while the Ravens struggled early but remain in contention. Key injuries could be decisive: Pittsburgh may be without star receiver their top wideout, while the Ravens' signal-caller Lamar Jackson is questionable with a back injury. Running back the powerful back could be the x-factor for Baltimore in what promises to be a physical, defensive struggle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) More than just the division title is on the line when the Seahawks travels to San Francisco. The winner claims the conference's #1 spot and the path to the championship game that it provides. This game pits an high-powered San Francisco attack against a stingy Seattle defense. With QB their young passer came back, San Francisco have been the league's highest scorers. Conversely, Seattle's unit is ranked second best in the league. Seattle quarterback their passer must avoid mistakes that have plagued him this season. Whoever wins this clash gains a massive advantage for the postseason journey. 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 division. For Carolina it's straightforward: win and they're in. For Tampa Bay, the situation is more complex. Even with a win, they require another result from the Falcons-Saints 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) Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the AFC's top seed. A victory over a Chargers team expected to sit starters gets it done. Should Denver falter, the door opens for the New England Patriots. A New England victory combined with a Broncos loss would give the top seed to Bill Belichick's team. Jacksonville are the dark horse. They need a win and losses by the Broncos and Patriots to achieve an improbable rise to the top. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could see them passed by the Texans in the division standings. 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)