🔗 Share this article NFL Postseason Scenarios: Crucial Matchups & Outcomes for the Final Week. Baltimore battles Pittsburgh to decide the AFC North, while Seattle and San Francisco meet for the top seed in the NFC. Entering the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of play-off spots remain open. Yet, far more is on the line, including the coveted #1 rankings in each conference and several divisional crowns. NFL schedulers have produced a perfect ending, with the final two postseason places on the line in two direct 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 (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The winner of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore game will secure the #4 spot and a home-field advantage in the wildcard round. At the same time, Buffalo and the Chargers are set as wildcard entrants. The Texans require a victory coupled with a Jaguars loss to climb from fifth to the third seed. Denver will earn the #1 ranking with a win, but a loss could pave the way for New England or Jacksonville to snatch it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The South division is up for grabs by the winner of the Panthers-Buccaneers matchup, earning them the #4 position. Notably, the Panthers could still claim the divisional title even with a defeat, depending on other results. The Packers are set at the seventh seed. The marquee matchup, however, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between Seattle and the 49ers, with a week off and home playoff games on the line. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The top seed in both the AFC and NFC receives a valuable first-round bye and home-field advantage for the duration of the play-offs. On the Wild Card round, the other six playoff teams face off: the second seed hosts the #7 team, third hosts sixth, and fourth hosts fifth. In the Divisional Round, the #1 seeds join the fray, hosting the lowest remaining seed. The AFC and NFC championship games are then played at the best remaining team, highlighting the immense value of securing that top spot. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This bitter rivalry reaches its climax in the last contest of the regular season. The divisional title and a play-off berth on the line, this is a genuine win-or-go-home scenario. The Steelers have been up and down all year, while Baltimore struggled early but remain in the hunt. Key injuries may prove critical: Pittsburgh may be without key target their top wideout, while the Ravens' signal-caller Lamar Jackson is questionable with a health issue. Running back Derrick Henry might emerge as the x-factor for the Ravens in what promises to be a hard-hitting, low-scoring struggle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is on the line when the Seahawks travels to the 49ers. The winner secures the conference's #1 spot and the road to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This game pits an explosive 49ers offense against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback their young passer returned, San Francisco have been the NFL's highest scorers. On the other hand, the Seahawks' unit is ranked among the best in the league. Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold must avoid costly turnovers that have plagued him this year. Whoever wins this clash earns a massive advantage for the playoff run. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team comes into this contest with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped seven of eight, while Carolina have squandered chances to clinch the division. The Panthers it's simple: a victory gets them in. For Tampa Bay, the situation is more complex. Even with a win, they require help from the Falcons-Saints matchup to steal 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) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the AFC's top seed. A win over a L.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 Broncos loss would hand the top seed to New England. Jacksonville are the dark horse. They require a triumph and losses by both Denver and New England to pull off an unlikely ascent to #1. More importantly, a Jacksonville defeat could see them passed by the Texans in the division standings. 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 battles Pittsburgh to decide the AFC North, while Seattle and San Francisco meet for the top seed in the NFC. Entering the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of play-off spots remain open. Yet, far more is on the line, including the coveted #1 rankings in each conference and several divisional crowns. NFL schedulers have produced a perfect ending, with the final two postseason places on the line in two direct 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 (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The winner of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore game will secure the #4 spot and a home-field advantage in the wildcard round. At the same time, Buffalo and the Chargers are set as wildcard entrants. The Texans require a victory coupled with a Jaguars loss to climb from fifth to the third seed. Denver will earn the #1 ranking with a win, but a loss could pave the way for New England or Jacksonville to snatch it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay Packers (9-6) The South division is up for grabs by the winner of the Panthers-Buccaneers matchup, earning them the #4 position. Notably, the Panthers could still claim the divisional title even with a defeat, depending on other results. The Packers are set at the seventh seed. The marquee matchup, however, is the battle for the NFC's top seed between Seattle and the 49ers, with a week off and home playoff games on the line. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The top seed in both the AFC and NFC receives a valuable first-round bye and home-field advantage for the duration of the play-offs. On the Wild Card round, the other six playoff teams face off: the second seed hosts the #7 team, third hosts sixth, and fourth hosts fifth. In the Divisional Round, the #1 seeds join the fray, hosting the lowest remaining seed. The AFC and NFC championship games are then played at the best remaining team, highlighting the immense value of securing that top spot. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This bitter rivalry reaches its climax in the last contest of the regular season. The divisional title and a play-off berth on the line, this is a genuine win-or-go-home scenario. The Steelers have been up and down all year, while Baltimore struggled early but remain in the hunt. Key injuries may prove critical: Pittsburgh may be without key target their top wideout, while the Ravens' signal-caller Lamar Jackson is questionable with a health issue. Running back Derrick Henry might emerge as the x-factor for the Ravens in what promises to be a hard-hitting, low-scoring struggle. NFC West Showdown for the Top Seed Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is on the line when the Seahawks travels to the 49ers. The winner secures the conference's #1 spot and the road to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This game pits an explosive 49ers offense against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback their young passer returned, San Francisco have been the NFL's highest scorers. On the other hand, the Seahawks' unit is ranked among the best in the league. Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold must avoid costly turnovers that have plagued him this year. Whoever wins this clash earns a massive advantage for the playoff run. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team comes into this contest with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped seven of eight, while Carolina have squandered chances to clinch the division. The Panthers it's simple: a victory gets them in. For Tampa Bay, the situation is more complex. Even with a win, they require help from the Falcons-Saints matchup to steal 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) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the AFC's top seed. A win over a L.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 Broncos loss would hand the top seed to New England. Jacksonville are the dark horse. They require a triumph and losses by both Denver and New England to pull off an unlikely ascent to #1. More importantly, a Jacksonville defeat could see them passed by the Texans in the division standings. 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)