🔗 Share this article NFL Play-Off Picture: Key Deciders & Scenarios for the Final Week. Baltimore faces off against Pittsburgh to determine the AFC North, while Seattle and Seattle meet for the top seed in the NFC. Entering the final week of the regular NFL campaign, only a pair of play-off spots are still up for grabs. However, far more is on the line, including the coveted top seeds in each conference and several divisional crowns. NFL schedulers have produced a perfect finale, with the two remaining postseason places on the line in a pair of winner-take-all contests. Current NFL Play-Off Standings American Football Conference Rankings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The victor of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore game will claim the #4 spot and a home-field advantage in the wildcard round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard entrants. Houston require a win coupled with a Jaguars defeat to climb from fifth to third. Denver will earn the top seed with a win, but a loss could open the door for the Patriots or the Jaguars to snatch it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The NFC South will be claimed by the winner of the Panthers-Buccaneers game, granting them the #4 position. Notably, Carolina could still win the divisional title even with a loss, depending on other results. The Packers are set at the seventh spot. The highlight, though, is the clash for the #1 seed in the NFC between the Seahawks and the 49ers, with a week off and home playoff games hanging in the balance. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The top seed in each conference receives a crucial bye week and home-field advantage for the duration of the play-offs. On Wildcard Weekend, the remaining six qualified teams face off: the #2 team hosts the seventh, third hosts sixth, and fourth hosts fifth. In the second round, the top seeds enter the fray, facing the weakest remaining seed. The AFC and NFC title games are then played at the best remaining team, underscoring 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 regular season. The divisional title and a postseason spot at stake, this is a true elimination scenario. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent all year, while the Ravens struggled early but remain in contention. Player availability may prove critical: The Steelers may miss key target DK Metcalf, while the Ravens' quarterback their MVP QB is a doubt with a back injury. Running back Derrick Henry could be the difference-maker for Baltimore in what is set up as a physical, low-scoring struggle. Battle for #1 in the NFC Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) More than just the division title is on the line when Seattle travels to San Francisco. The victorious team 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 Brock Purdy came back, San Francisco have been the NFL's highest scorers. Conversely, Seattle's defense is rated second best in the NFL. The Seahawks' quarterback their passer must avoid costly turnovers that have haunted him this year. Whoever wins this clash earns a massive advantage for the playoff run. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs comes into this contest with strong form. The Buccaneers have dropped seven of eight, while Carolina have missed chances to clinch the division. The Panthers it's simple: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a victory, they need another result from the Falcons-Saints matchup to claim the division crown. AFC's Top Seed Up for Grabs 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 control their destiny for the AFC's top seed. A victory over a Chargers team expected to sit starters seals it. If the Broncos lose, the door opens for the Patriots. A New England victory combined with a Denver defeat would hand the top seed to Bill Belichick's team. Jacksonville are the dark horse. They need a win and defeats for both Denver and New England to achieve an improbable ascent to #1. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could allow them to be overtaken by the Houston 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 faces off against Pittsburgh to determine the AFC North, while Seattle and Seattle meet for the top seed in the NFC. Entering the final week of the regular NFL campaign, only a pair of play-off spots are still up for grabs. However, far more is on the line, including the coveted top seeds in each conference and several divisional crowns. NFL schedulers have produced a perfect finale, with the two remaining postseason places on the line in a pair of winner-take-all contests. Current NFL Play-Off Standings American Football Conference Rankings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The victor of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore game will claim the #4 spot and a home-field advantage in the wildcard round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard entrants. Houston require a win coupled with a Jaguars defeat to climb from fifth to third. Denver will earn the top seed with a win, but a loss could open the door for the Patriots or the Jaguars to snatch it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco 49ers (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The NFC South will be claimed by the winner of the Panthers-Buccaneers game, granting them the #4 position. Notably, Carolina could still win the divisional title even with a loss, depending on other results. The Packers are set at the seventh spot. The highlight, though, is the clash for the #1 seed in the NFC between the Seahawks and the 49ers, with a week off and home playoff games hanging in the balance. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The top seed in each conference receives a crucial bye week and home-field advantage for the duration of the play-offs. On Wildcard Weekend, the remaining six qualified teams face off: the #2 team hosts the seventh, third hosts sixth, and fourth hosts fifth. In the second round, the top seeds enter the fray, facing the weakest remaining seed. The AFC and NFC title games are then played at the best remaining team, underscoring 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 regular season. The divisional title and a postseason spot at stake, this is a true elimination scenario. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent all year, while the Ravens struggled early but remain in contention. Player availability may prove critical: The Steelers may miss key target DK Metcalf, while the Ravens' quarterback their MVP QB is a doubt with a back injury. Running back Derrick Henry could be the difference-maker for Baltimore in what is set up as a physical, low-scoring struggle. Battle for #1 in the NFC Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) More than just the division title is on the line when Seattle travels to San Francisco. The victorious team 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 Brock Purdy came back, San Francisco have been the NFL's highest scorers. Conversely, Seattle's defense is rated second best in the NFL. The Seahawks' quarterback their passer must avoid costly turnovers that have haunted him this year. Whoever wins this clash earns a massive advantage for the playoff run. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs comes into this contest with strong form. The Buccaneers have dropped seven of eight, while Carolina have missed chances to clinch the division. The Panthers it's simple: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a victory, they need another result from the Falcons-Saints matchup to claim the division crown. AFC's Top Seed Up for Grabs 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 control their destiny for the AFC's top seed. A victory over a Chargers team expected to sit starters seals it. If the Broncos lose, the door opens for the Patriots. A New England victory combined with a Denver defeat would hand the top seed to Bill Belichick's team. Jacksonville are the dark horse. They need a win and defeats for both Denver and New England to achieve an improbable ascent to #1. More pressingly, a Jaguars loss could allow them to be overtaken by the Houston 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)