🔗 Share this article NFL Postseason Scenarios: Crucial Matchups & Scenarios for the Final Week. Baltimore battles Baltimore to decide the AFC North, while San Francisco and Seattle meet for the #1 spot in the NFC. As we head into the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of postseason berths are still up for grabs. Yet, a great deal more is on the line, such as the coveted top seeds in both conferences and several division titles. The schedule makers have produced a perfect ending, with the final two postseason places on the line in two direct head-to-head contests. Current NFL Play-Off Standings AFC Standings Denver (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The winner of the Steelers-Ravens contest will secure the #4 spot and a home-field advantage in the first playoff round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Los Angeles are set as wildcard entrants. Houston need a win and a Jacksonville loss to jump from the fifth seed to third. The Broncos will earn the top seed with a triumph, but a loss could pave the way for the Patriots or the Jaguars to claim it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The NFC South is up for grabs by the winner of the Panthers-Buccaneers game, earning them the #4 position. Notably, the Panthers could still claim the division even with a loss, contingent on other outcomes. The Packers are locked into the seventh spot. The marquee matchup, though, is the clash for the #1 seed in the NFC between the Seahawks and San Francisco, with a first-round bye and home-field advantage on the line. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC earns a crucial first-round bye and home games throughout the postseason. On Wildcard Weekend, the other six qualified teams compete: the second seed plays the #7 team, third hosts sixth, and fourth hosts fifth. In the second round, the top seeds enter the fray, hosting the lowest surviving team. The AFC and NFC title games are then hosted by the highest seed, underscoring the critical value of securing that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This bitter rivalry reaches its climax in the last contest of the NFL season. The divisional title and a play-off berth on the line, this is a true elimination scenario. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent this season, while Baltimore struggled early but remain in contention. Key injuries may prove critical: Pittsburgh may miss star receiver their top wideout, while the Ravens' quarterback Lamar Jackson is questionable with a health issue. Star rusher Derrick Henry might emerge as the difference-maker for the Ravens in what promises to be a physical, defensive battle. 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 victorious team secures the conference's #1 spot and the road to the Super Bowl that it provides. This matchup features an high-powered San Francisco attack against a dominant Seattle defense. With QB Brock Purdy returned, the 49ers have been the league's top offense. Conversely, the Seahawks' unit is ranked among the best in the NFL. Seattle QB their passer must avoid costly turnovers that have plagued him this season. Whoever comes out on top gains a massive edge for the playoff run. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs comes into this game with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped four straight, while the Panthers have missed recent opportunities to secure the division. The Panthers it's straightforward: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a victory, they need help from the Atlanta-New Orleans game to steal the divisional championship. AFC's Top Seed Up for Grabs 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 control their destiny for the #1 AFC spot. A victory over a Chargers team likely to rest key players gets it done. Should Denver falter, the opportunity arises for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win coupled with a Broncos loss would give the top seed to New England. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the dark horse. They need a triumph and losses by the Broncos and Patriots to pull off an unlikely ascent to #1. More importantly, a Jaguars loss could allow them to be overtaken by the 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 battles Baltimore to decide the AFC North, while San Francisco and Seattle meet for the #1 spot in the NFC. As we head into the last weekend of the NFL regular season, only a pair of postseason berths are still up for grabs. Yet, a great deal more is on the line, such as the coveted top seeds in both conferences and several division titles. The schedule makers have produced a perfect ending, with the final two postseason places on the line in two direct head-to-head contests. Current NFL Play-Off Standings AFC Standings Denver (13-3) New England (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The winner of the Steelers-Ravens contest will secure the #4 spot and a home-field advantage in the first playoff round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Los Angeles are set as wildcard entrants. Houston need a win and a Jacksonville loss to jump from the fifth seed to third. The Broncos will earn the top seed with a triumph, but a loss could pave the way for the Patriots or the Jaguars to claim it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia (11-5) Carolina Panthers (8-8) / Tampa Bay (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) L.A. Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The NFC South is up for grabs by the winner of the Panthers-Buccaneers game, earning them the #4 position. Notably, the Panthers could still claim the division even with a loss, contingent on other outcomes. The Packers are locked into the seventh spot. The marquee matchup, though, is the clash for the #1 seed in the NFC between the Seahawks and San Francisco, with a first-round bye and home-field advantage on the line. Understanding the NFL Play-Off Format The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC earns a crucial first-round bye and home games throughout the postseason. On Wildcard Weekend, the other six qualified teams compete: the second seed plays the #7 team, third hosts sixth, and fourth hosts fifth. In the second round, the top seeds enter the fray, hosting the lowest surviving team. The AFC and NFC title games are then hosted by the highest seed, underscoring the critical value of securing that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This bitter rivalry reaches its climax in the last contest of the NFL season. The divisional title and a play-off berth on the line, this is a true elimination scenario. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent this season, while Baltimore struggled early but remain in contention. Key injuries may prove critical: Pittsburgh may miss star receiver their top wideout, while the Ravens' quarterback Lamar Jackson is questionable with a health issue. Star rusher Derrick Henry might emerge as the difference-maker for the Ravens in what promises to be a physical, defensive battle. 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 victorious team secures the conference's #1 spot and the road to the Super Bowl that it provides. This matchup features an high-powered San Francisco attack against a dominant Seattle defense. With QB Brock Purdy returned, the 49ers have been the league's top offense. Conversely, the Seahawks' unit is ranked among the best in the NFL. Seattle QB their passer must avoid costly turnovers that have plagued him this season. Whoever comes out on top gains a massive edge for the playoff run. The NFC South's Uncertain Finish Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs comes into this game with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped four straight, while the Panthers have missed recent opportunities to secure the division. The Panthers it's straightforward: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a victory, they need help from the Atlanta-New Orleans game to steal the divisional championship. AFC's Top Seed Up for Grabs 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 control their destiny for the #1 AFC spot. A victory over a Chargers team likely to rest key players gets it done. Should Denver falter, the opportunity arises for the New England Patriots. A Patriots win coupled with a Broncos loss would give the top seed to New England. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the dark horse. They need a triumph and losses by the Broncos and Patriots to pull off an unlikely ascent to #1. More importantly, a Jaguars loss could allow them to be overtaken by the 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)