🔗 Share this article NFL Postseason Scenarios: Crucial Matchups & Scenarios for the Season Finale. Baltimore faces off against Baltimore to decide the AFC North, while San Francisco and San Francisco meet for the top seed in the NFC. As we head into the last weekend of the regular NFL campaign, just two postseason berths are still up for grabs. However, a great deal more is on the line, such as the coveted top seeds in each conference and several division titles. NFL schedulers have produced a dramatic ending, with the final two play-off positions to be decided in two direct winner-take-all contests. Current NFL Play-Off Standings AFC Standings Denver (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The winner of the Steelers-Ravens contest will secure the #4 spot and a home game in the wildcard round. Meanwhile, the Bills and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard entrants. The Texans require a win coupled with a Jaguars loss to jump from fifth to the third seed. Denver will secure the top seed with a triumph, but a setback could open the door for New England or Jacksonville to claim it. NFC Standings Seattle (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (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 NFC South will be claimed by the winner of the Carolina-Tampa Bay game, earning them the fourth seed. However, Carolina could still win the division even with a defeat, contingent on other results. The Packers are set at the seventh seed. The highlight, 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 top seed in both the AFC and NFC earns a crucial bye week and home games throughout the postseason. 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. For the second round, the top seeds enter the competition, facing the lowest remaining seed. The AFC and NFC title games are then hosted by the highest seed, highlighting the critical value of earning that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This bitter rivalry comes to a head in the final game of the regular season. The divisional title and a postseason spot at stake, this is a genuine elimination situation. The Steelers have been up and down this season, while the Ravens started poorly but are still in the hunt. Player availability could be decisive: Pittsburgh may be without star receiver their top wideout, while Baltimore's signal-caller Lamar Jackson is questionable with a back injury. Running back the powerful back might emerge as the difference-maker for the Ravens in what promises to be a physical, defensive struggle. Battle for #1 in the NFC Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is at stake when the Seahawks travels to the 49ers. The winner secures the conference's #1 spot and the road to the championship game that comes with it. This game pits an explosive San Francisco attack against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback Brock Purdy returned, the 49ers have been the NFL's top offense. On the other hand, Seattle's defense is ranked among the best in the NFL. Seattle quarterback their passer must avoid mistakes that have plagued him this season. Whoever comes out on top gains a huge advantage for the postseason journey. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team enters this game with much momentum. Tampa Bay have dropped seven of eight, while the Panthers have squandered recent opportunities to clinch the division. For Carolina it's simple: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a win, they need another result from the Falcons-Saints matchup to claim the divisional championship. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (21:25, Sunday) Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers (21:25, Sunday) The Denver Broncos hold the cards for the AFC's top seed. A win over a Chargers team likely to rest key players seals it. If the Broncos lose, the opportunity arises for the Patriots. A New England victory coupled with a Denver defeat would give the top seed to New England. Jacksonville are the long shot. They need a win and losses by both Denver and New England to pull off an improbable 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 faces off against Baltimore to decide the AFC North, while San Francisco and San Francisco meet for the top seed in the NFC. As we head into the last weekend of the regular NFL campaign, just two postseason berths are still up for grabs. However, a great deal more is on the line, such as the coveted top seeds in each conference and several division titles. NFL schedulers have produced a dramatic ending, with the final two play-off positions to be decided in two direct winner-take-all contests. Current NFL Play-Off Standings AFC Standings Denver (13-3) New England Patriots (13-3) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) Pittsburgh (9-7) / Baltimore Ravens (8-8) Houston (11-5) L.A. Chargers (11-5) Buffalo Bills (11-5) The winner of the Steelers-Ravens contest will secure the #4 spot and a home game in the wildcard round. Meanwhile, the Bills and Los Angeles are locked in as wildcard entrants. The Texans require a win coupled with a Jaguars loss to jump from fifth to the third seed. Denver will secure the top seed with a triumph, but a setback could open the door for New England or Jacksonville to claim it. NFC Standings Seattle (13-3) Chicago Bears (11-5) Philadelphia Eagles (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 NFC South will be claimed by the winner of the Carolina-Tampa Bay game, earning them the fourth seed. However, Carolina could still win the division even with a defeat, contingent on other results. The Packers are set at the seventh seed. The highlight, 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 top seed in both the AFC and NFC earns a crucial bye week and home games throughout the postseason. 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. For the second round, the top seeds enter the competition, facing the lowest remaining seed. The AFC and NFC title games are then hosted by the highest seed, highlighting the critical value of earning that top spot. AFC North Decider: A Brutal Finale Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday) This bitter rivalry comes to a head in the final game of the regular season. The divisional title and a postseason spot at stake, this is a genuine elimination situation. The Steelers have been up and down this season, while the Ravens started poorly but are still in the hunt. Player availability could be decisive: Pittsburgh may be without star receiver their top wideout, while Baltimore's signal-caller Lamar Jackson is questionable with a back injury. Running back the powerful back might emerge as the difference-maker for the Ravens in what promises to be a physical, defensive struggle. Battle for #1 in the NFC Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday) Not only the NFC West is at stake when the Seahawks travels to the 49ers. The winner secures the conference's #1 spot and the road to the championship game that comes with it. This game pits an explosive San Francisco attack against a stingy Seahawks defense. Since quarterback Brock Purdy returned, the 49ers have been the NFL's top offense. On the other hand, Seattle's defense is ranked among the best in the NFL. Seattle quarterback their passer must avoid mistakes that have plagued him this season. Whoever comes out on top gains a huge advantage for the postseason journey. NFC South: A Race to Stumble Over the Line Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (21:30 Saturday) Neither team enters this game with much momentum. Tampa Bay have dropped seven of eight, while the Panthers have squandered recent opportunities to clinch the division. For Carolina it's simple: win and they're in. The Buccaneers, the situation is more complex. Even with a win, they need another result from the Falcons-Saints matchup to claim the divisional championship. Three-Way Fight for AFC Supremacy Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00, Sunday) New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins (21:25, Sunday) Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers (21:25, Sunday) The Denver Broncos hold the cards for the AFC's top seed. A win over a Chargers team likely to rest key players seals it. If the Broncos lose, the opportunity arises for the Patriots. A New England victory coupled with a Denver defeat would give the top seed to New England. Jacksonville are the long shot. They need a win and losses by both Denver and New England to pull off an improbable 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)