🔗 Share this article NFL Postseason Scenarios: Crucial Matchups & Scenarios for the Season Finale. Baltimore battles Baltimore to determine the AFC North, while Seattle and San Francisco meet for the #1 spot in the NFC. Entering the final week of the NFL regular season, just two postseason berths are still up for grabs. Yet, far more is at stake, such as the coveted #1 rankings in both conferences and several division titles. The schedule makers have produced a dramatic ending, with the final two postseason places to be decided in two direct head-to-head matchups. Current NFL Play-Off Standings AFC Standings Denver (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The victor of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore contest will claim the #4 spot and a home game in the wildcard round. At the same time, the Bills and the Chargers are locked in as wildcard teams. The Texans need a win coupled with a Jacksonville defeat to climb from fifth to the third seed. Denver will earn the #1 ranking with a win, but a setback could open the door for the Patriots or Jacksonville to claim it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (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 will be claimed 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, contingent on other outcomes. Green Bay are set at the seventh seed. The marquee matchup, however, is the clash for the #1 seed in the NFC between Seattle and San Francisco, with a first-round bye and home-field advantage hanging in the balance. How the NFL Postseason Works The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC receives a valuable first-round bye and home games throughout the play-offs. On the Wild Card round, the other six qualified teams compete: the second seed plays the #7 team, #3 plays #6, and fourth hosts fifth. For the second round, the #1 seeds join the fray, facing the weakest remaining seed. The AFC and NFC title games are then played at the best remaining team, underscoring the critical importance of securing that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This bitter rivalry reaches its climax in the final game of the regular season. With the AFC North and a play-off berth at stake, this is a true win-or-go-home situation. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent this season, while the Ravens struggled early but are still in the hunt. Key injuries could be decisive: The Steelers may be without star receiver DK Metcalf, while the Ravens' quarterback their MVP QB is questionable with a health issue. Star rusher Derrick Henry could be the difference-maker for Baltimore in what is set up as a physical, defensive battle. Battle for #1 in the NFC San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) Not only 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 championship game that comes with it. This matchup features an high-powered San Francisco attack against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback Brock Purdy came back, the 49ers have been the NFL's top offense. Conversely, Seattle's unit is ranked among the best in the league. The Seahawks' quarterback Sam Darnold needs to cut down on mistakes that have plagued him this year. The team that wins this clash gains a massive edge for the postseason journey. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team comes into this game with strong form. Tampa Bay have dropped four straight, while the Panthers have squandered chances to secure the title. The Panthers it's simple: win and they're in. For Tampa Bay, the situation is trickier. Even with a victory, they need help from the Atlanta-New Orleans matchup to steal the divisional championship. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (21:25, Sunday) Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers (21:25, Sunday) The Denver Broncos control their destiny for the AFC's top seed. A victory over a L.A. Chargers team expected to sit key players seals it. If the Broncos lose, the opportunity arises for the Patriots. A Patriots win coupled with a Denver defeat would give 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 pressingly, 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 determine the AFC North, while Seattle and San Francisco meet for the #1 spot in the NFC. Entering the final week of the NFL regular season, just two postseason berths are still up for grabs. Yet, far more is at stake, such as the coveted #1 rankings in both conferences and several division titles. The schedule makers have produced a dramatic ending, with the final two postseason places to be decided in two direct head-to-head matchups. Current NFL Play-Off Standings AFC Standings Denver (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville (12-4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) / Baltimore (8-8) Houston (11-5) Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The victor of the Pittsburgh-Baltimore contest will claim the #4 spot and a home game in the wildcard round. At the same time, the Bills and the Chargers are locked in as wildcard teams. The Texans need a win coupled with a Jacksonville defeat to climb from fifth to the third seed. Denver will earn the #1 ranking with a win, but a setback could open the door for the Patriots or Jacksonville to claim it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (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 will be claimed 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, contingent on other outcomes. Green Bay are set at the seventh seed. The marquee matchup, however, is the clash for the #1 seed in the NFC between Seattle and San Francisco, with a first-round bye and home-field advantage hanging in the balance. How the NFL Postseason Works The #1 team in both the AFC and NFC receives a valuable first-round bye and home games throughout the play-offs. On the Wild Card round, the other six qualified teams compete: the second seed plays the #7 team, #3 plays #6, and fourth hosts fifth. For the second round, the #1 seeds join the fray, facing the weakest remaining seed. The AFC and NFC title games are then played at the best remaining team, underscoring the critical importance of securing that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (01:20, Monday) This bitter rivalry reaches its climax in the final game of the regular season. With the AFC North and a play-off berth at stake, this is a true win-or-go-home situation. Pittsburgh have been inconsistent this season, while the Ravens struggled early but are still in the hunt. Key injuries could be decisive: The Steelers may be without star receiver DK Metcalf, while the Ravens' quarterback their MVP QB is questionable with a health issue. Star rusher Derrick Henry could be the difference-maker for Baltimore in what is set up as a physical, defensive battle. Battle for #1 in the NFC San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) Not only 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 championship game that comes with it. This matchup features an high-powered San Francisco attack against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback Brock Purdy came back, the 49ers have been the NFL's top offense. Conversely, Seattle's unit is ranked among the best in the league. The Seahawks' quarterback Sam Darnold needs to cut down on mistakes that have plagued him this year. The team that wins this clash gains a massive edge for the postseason journey. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team comes into this game with strong form. Tampa Bay have dropped four straight, while the Panthers have squandered chances to secure the title. The Panthers it's simple: win and they're in. For Tampa Bay, the situation is trickier. Even with a victory, they need help from the Atlanta-New Orleans matchup to steal the divisional championship. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (21:25, Sunday) Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers (21:25, Sunday) The Denver Broncos control their destiny for the AFC's top seed. A victory over a L.A. Chargers team expected to sit key players seals it. If the Broncos lose, the opportunity arises for the Patriots. A Patriots win coupled with a Denver defeat would give 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 pressingly, 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)