🔗 Share this article NFL Play-Off Picture: Crucial Matchups & Outcomes for the Season Finale. Baltimore battles Pittsburgh to decide the AFC North, while Seattle 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 remain open. However, a great deal more is on the line, including the highly desired top seeds in both conferences and several division titles. The schedule makers have crafted a perfect ending, with the final two postseason places to be decided in a pair of winner-take-all contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 American Football Conference Rankings Denver (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 (11-5) The victor of the Steelers-Ravens game will secure the #4 spot and a home game in the first playoff round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and the Chargers are set as wildcard teams. Houston require a victory coupled with a Jaguars defeat to jump from the fifth seed to the third seed. Denver will secure the top seed with a win, but a loss could pave the way for New England or the Jaguars to snatch it. NFC Standings Seattle (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The NFC South will be claimed by the winner of the Panthers-Buccaneers matchup, earning them the fourth seed. However, the Panthers could still win the division even with a loss, depending on other outcomes. Green Bay are locked into the seventh seed. The highlight, however, is the battle for the #1 seed in the NFC between Seattle and the 49ers, with a week off and home-field advantage on the line. How the NFL Postseason Works The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC earns a crucial first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the play-offs. During the Wild Card round, the remaining six playoff teams face off: the #2 team plays the seventh, third hosts sixth, and fourth hosts fifth. For the second round, the top seeds join the competition, hosting the weakest remaining seed. The AFC and NFC title games are then hosted by the highest seed, highlighting the critical importance of securing 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 last contest of the regular season. With the AFC North and a postseason spot at stake, this is a genuine elimination scenario. Pittsburgh have been up and down this season, while Baltimore started poorly but remain in contention. Player availability may prove critical: The Steelers may be without key target DK Metcalf, while Baltimore's signal-caller their MVP QB is a doubt with a health issue. Star rusher the powerful back might emerge as the difference-maker for Baltimore in what promises to be a hard-hitting, defensive struggle. Battle for #1 in the NFC Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the division title is at stake when the Seahawks visits the 49ers. The winner secures the conference's #1 spot and the path to the Super Bowl that it provides. This matchup features an explosive San Francisco attack against a dominant Seahawks defense. With QB their young passer came back, San Francisco have been the NFL's highest scorers. Conversely, Seattle's unit is rated second best in the NFL. The Seahawks' quarterback their passer needs to cut down on costly turnovers that have haunted him this season. Whoever comes out on top gains a massive edge for the playoff run. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team enters this contest with strong form. Tampa Bay have dropped seven of eight, while the Panthers 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 Falcons-Saints game to claim the division crown. AFC's Top Seed Up for Grabs Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (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 L.A. Chargers team expected to sit key players seals it. If the Broncos lose, the opportunity arises for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win combined with a Broncos loss would hand the top seed to Bill Belichick's team. Jacksonville are the dark horse. They require a win and defeats for the Broncos and Patriots to pull off an unlikely ascent to #1. More pressingly, a Jacksonville defeat could see them passed by the 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)
Baltimore battles Pittsburgh to decide the AFC North, while Seattle 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 remain open. However, a great deal more is on the line, including the highly desired top seeds in both conferences and several division titles. The schedule makers have crafted a perfect ending, with the final two postseason places to be decided in a pair of winner-take-all contests. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 American Football Conference Rankings Denver (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 (11-5) The victor of the Steelers-Ravens game will secure the #4 spot and a home game in the first playoff round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and the Chargers are set as wildcard teams. Houston require a victory coupled with a Jaguars defeat to jump from the fifth seed to the third seed. Denver will secure the top seed with a win, but a loss could pave the way for New England or the Jaguars to snatch it. NFC Standings Seattle (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The NFC South will be claimed by the winner of the Panthers-Buccaneers matchup, earning them the fourth seed. However, the Panthers could still win the division even with a loss, depending on other outcomes. Green Bay are locked into the seventh seed. The highlight, however, is the battle for the #1 seed in the NFC between Seattle and the 49ers, with a week off and home-field advantage on the line. How the NFL Postseason Works The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC earns a crucial first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the play-offs. During the Wild Card round, the remaining six playoff teams face off: the #2 team plays the seventh, third hosts sixth, and fourth hosts fifth. For the second round, the top seeds join the competition, hosting the weakest remaining seed. The AFC and NFC title games are then hosted by the highest seed, highlighting the critical importance of securing 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 last contest of the regular season. With the AFC North and a postseason spot at stake, this is a genuine elimination scenario. Pittsburgh have been up and down this season, while Baltimore started poorly but remain in contention. Player availability may prove critical: The Steelers may be without key target DK Metcalf, while Baltimore's signal-caller their MVP QB is a doubt with a health issue. Star rusher the powerful back might emerge as the difference-maker for Baltimore in what promises to be a hard-hitting, defensive struggle. Battle for #1 in the NFC Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the division title is at stake when the Seahawks visits the 49ers. The winner secures the conference's #1 spot and the path to the Super Bowl that it provides. This matchup features an explosive San Francisco attack against a dominant Seahawks defense. With QB their young passer came back, San Francisco have been the NFL's highest scorers. Conversely, Seattle's unit is rated second best in the NFL. The Seahawks' quarterback their passer needs to cut down on costly turnovers that have haunted him this season. Whoever comes out on top gains a massive edge for the playoff run. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team enters this contest with strong form. Tampa Bay have dropped seven of eight, while the Panthers 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 Falcons-Saints game to claim the division crown. AFC's Top Seed Up for Grabs Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (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 L.A. Chargers team expected to sit key players seals it. If the Broncos lose, the opportunity arises for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win combined with a Broncos loss would hand the top seed to Bill Belichick's team. Jacksonville are the dark horse. They require a win and defeats for the Broncos and Patriots to pull off an unlikely ascent to #1. More pressingly, a Jacksonville defeat could see them passed by the 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)