🔗 Share this article NFL Postseason Scenarios: Key Deciders & Scenarios for the Final Week. Pittsburgh battles Pittsburgh to determine the AFC North, while San Francisco and Seattle meet for the top seed in the NFC. Entering the final week of the NFL regular season, just two postseason berths are still up for grabs. Yet, a great deal more is on the line, including the coveted #1 rankings in both conferences and several divisional crowns. NFL schedulers have crafted a perfect finale, with the final two postseason places on the line in two direct winner-take-all matchups. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 AFC Standings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The victor of the Steelers-Ravens contest will claim the #4 spot and a home game in the wildcard round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard entrants. The Texans require a win and a Jacksonville defeat to jump from the fifth seed to third. Denver will earn the top seed with a triumph, but a setback could open the door for the Patriots or the Jaguars to snatch it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The South division is up for grabs by the victor of the Carolina-Tampa Bay game, granting them the #4 position. However, Carolina could still claim the divisional title even with a loss, contingent on other outcomes. The Packers are locked into the seventh spot. The highlight, though, is the clash for the NFC's top seed between Seattle and the 49ers, with a first-round bye and home playoff games on the line. How the NFL Postseason Works The top seed in both the AFC and NFC earns a crucial first-round bye and home games throughout the play-offs. During 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 join the competition, hosting the weakest surviving team. The AFC and NFC championship games are then hosted by the best remaining team, highlighting the critical value of earning that top spot. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This fierce rivalry reaches its climax in the final game of the NFL season. With the AFC North and a play-off berth at stake, this is a true win-or-go-home scenario. Pittsburgh have been up and down all year, while Baltimore started poorly but are still in contention. Player availability may prove critical: The Steelers may be without star receiver their top wideout, while the Ravens' quarterback their MVP QB is a doubt with a back injury. Running back Derrick Henry could be the difference-maker for the Ravens in what promises to be a physical, defensive battle. Battle for #1 in the NFC San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) More than just the division title is on the line when Seattle travels to the 49ers. The winner secures the NFC's top seed and the path to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This game features an explosive San Francisco attack against a dominant Seahawks defense. Since quarterback their young passer came back, the 49ers have been the league's highest scorers. On the other hand, Seattle's defense is ranked second best in the NFL. Seattle QB their passer must avoid mistakes that have plagued him this season. The team that wins this clash earns a massive edge for the postseason journey. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs enters this game with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped four straight, while the Panthers have missed recent opportunities to secure the title. For Carolina it's simple: a victory gets them in. The Buccaneers, the situation is trickier. Even with a victory, they need help from the Atlanta-New Orleans 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) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the #1 AFC spot. A victory over a Chargers team expected to sit key players seals it. Should Denver falter, the door opens for the Patriots. A New England victory combined with a Broncos loss would hand the #1 ranking to New England. Jacksonville are the long shot. They require a win and losses by the Broncos and Patriots to achieve an improbable rise to the top. More importantly, a Jacksonville defeat 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)
Pittsburgh battles Pittsburgh to determine the AFC North, while San Francisco and Seattle meet for the top seed in the NFC. Entering the final week of the NFL regular season, just two postseason berths are still up for grabs. Yet, a great deal more is on the line, including the coveted #1 rankings in both conferences and several divisional crowns. NFL schedulers have crafted a perfect finale, with the final two postseason places on the line in two direct winner-take-all matchups. NFL Postseason Picture as of Week 18 AFC Standings Denver Broncos (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston Texans (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo (11-5) The victor of the Steelers-Ravens contest will claim the #4 spot and a home game in the wildcard round. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard entrants. The Texans require a win and a Jacksonville defeat to jump from the fifth seed to third. Denver will earn the top seed with a triumph, but a setback could open the door for the Patriots or the Jaguars to snatch it. National Football Conference Rankings Seattle Seahawks (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Carolina (8-8) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) San Francisco (12-4) Los Angeles Rams (11-5) Green Bay (9-6) The South division is up for grabs by the victor of the Carolina-Tampa Bay game, granting them the #4 position. However, Carolina could still claim the divisional title even with a loss, contingent on other outcomes. The Packers are locked into the seventh spot. The highlight, though, is the clash for the NFC's top seed between Seattle and the 49ers, with a first-round bye and home playoff games on the line. How the NFL Postseason Works The top seed in both the AFC and NFC earns a crucial first-round bye and home games throughout the play-offs. During 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 join the competition, hosting the weakest surviving team. The AFC and NFC championship games are then hosted by the best remaining team, highlighting the critical value of earning that top spot. Win or Go Home in the AFC North Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This fierce rivalry reaches its climax in the final game of the NFL season. With the AFC North and a play-off berth at stake, this is a true win-or-go-home scenario. Pittsburgh have been up and down all year, while Baltimore started poorly but are still in contention. Player availability may prove critical: The Steelers may be without star receiver their top wideout, while the Ravens' quarterback their MVP QB is a doubt with a back injury. Running back Derrick Henry could be the difference-maker for the Ravens in what promises to be a physical, defensive battle. Battle for #1 in the NFC San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (01:00, Sunday) More than just the division title is on the line when Seattle travels to the 49ers. The winner secures the NFC's top seed and the path to the Super Bowl that comes with it. This game features an explosive San Francisco attack against a dominant Seahawks defense. Since quarterback their young passer came back, the 49ers have been the league's highest scorers. On the other hand, Seattle's defense is ranked second best in the NFL. Seattle QB their passer must avoid mistakes that have plagued him this season. The team that wins this clash earns a massive edge for the postseason journey. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30 Saturday) Both clubs enters this game with much momentum. The Buccaneers have dropped four straight, while the Panthers have missed recent opportunities to secure the title. For Carolina it's simple: a victory gets them in. The Buccaneers, the situation is trickier. Even with a victory, they need help from the Atlanta-New Orleans 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) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (21:25, Sunday) Denver hold the cards for the #1 AFC spot. A victory over a Chargers team expected to sit key players seals it. Should Denver falter, the door opens for the Patriots. A New England victory combined with a Broncos loss would hand the #1 ranking to New England. Jacksonville are the long shot. They require a win and losses by the Broncos and Patriots to achieve an improbable rise to the top. More importantly, a Jacksonville defeat 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)