As the NFL regular season concludes, the path to the Super Bowl in the National Football Conference (NFC) prominently features Seattle as a pivotal contender. The Seattle Seahawks secured the NFC West division title along with the coveted No. 1 seed by defeating the San Francisco 49ers 13-3 in a crucial late-season matchup. This victory not only granted Seattle a first-round bye but also demoted the 49ers to a lower seed, likely the No. 5 or No. 6 position in the NFC playoff bracket.
Significantly, the NFC South championship remains unsettled and is set to be decided by teams not currently leading the division. On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers edged the Carolina Panthers 16-14, a result that kept Tampa Bay's hopes alive but placed them in a position where they need external results to clinch the division. Specifically, the Buccaneers, who hold an 8-9 record, require New Orleans to either defeat or draw against Atlanta on Sunday to secure their fifth consecutive NFC South title.
If the Falcons manage to overcome the Saints, the Panthers would seize their first division championship since the 2013 season under coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton, a year that culminated in a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance. The tiebreaker scenarios add complexity; Tampa Bay holds a two-team tiebreak over Carolina, but if Atlanta ends the season at 8-9 as well, Carolina would possess the advantage in a three-way tiebreaker involving the Buccaneers.
Seattle's performance, led by quarterback Sam Darnold, has earned them the top seed and a first-round break in the postseason. Conversely, San Francisco, despite stars like Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey, along with several injuries, will continue their playoff run on the road, unable to leverage home-field advantage even though their stadium, Levi's Stadium, is slated to host the upcoming Super Bowl on February 8.
As the league moves into the playoffs phase, twelve out of fourteen positions have been confirmed, with four teams competing fiercely for the two remaining slots. The American Football Conference (AFC) continues to see its No. 1 seed undecided, alongside a critical winner-take-all contest in the AFC North division between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, scheduled for Sunday night.
Confirmed AFC playoff entrants include the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots, both boasting 13-3 records, as well as the Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4), Houston Texans (11-5), Los Angeles Chargers (11-5), and Buffalo Bills (11-5). Within the NFC, the Seahawks (14-3), Chicago Bears (11-5), Philadelphia Eagles (11-5), Los Angeles Rams (11-4), 49ers (12-5), and Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) have secured berths.
Examining the AFC divisions, the New England Patriots have broken a long-standing dry spell by winning their division for the first time since the era when Tom Brady led them to eleven straight titles spanning 2009 to 2019. The Patriots retain the potential to clinch the top AFC seed, contingent on outcomes in their game against Miami and in matches involving Denver and the Chargers. The Buffalo Bills, despite their streak of five consecutive division titles ending, still secure a playoff seed, positioned between the fifth and seventh slots in the conference hierarchy.
The AFC North rivalry features a rematch where the Steelers, who previously defeated the Ravens 27-22 in Baltimore, must at least secure a tie to advance without the availability of key wide receiver DK Metcalf. Baltimore, catalyzed by Derrick Henry's and Tyler Huntley's performances, maintained playoff viability with a win at Green Bay, and the probable return of quarterback Lamar Jackson from injury is a significant factor. The division champion will attain the No. 4 seed and host a wild-card game.
In the AFC South, the Jaguars have a straightforward path to the division crown with a win or tie against the Tennessee Titans, or by capitalizing on Houston's potential losses or draws. The Jaguars also possess the opportunity to claim the No. 1 seed should key losses be experienced by Denver and New England. The Texans could capture the division by defeating Indianapolis and benefiting from a Jacksonville loss.
The AFC West has already concluded with Denver clinching the division, ending the Kansas City Chiefs' nine-year reign. Denver can still attain the AFC's No. 1 seed through a win versus Los Angeles Chargers or if New England loses against Miami. A loss could see the Broncos drop to the No. 2 or No. 3 seed. Los Angeles Chargers will occupy one of the wildcard slots as the fifth, sixth, or seventh seed.
Shifting focus to the NFC East, the reigning Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles have achieved back-to-back division titles for the first time in two decades. The Eagles are projected to occupy the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, with scenarios involving a win against Washington and losses by Chicago impacting their seeding.
In the NFC North, the Chicago Bears clinched their first division title since 2018 and possess control over their seeding depending on outcomes in their game against Detroit and the Eagles' result against Washington. The Green Bay Packers remain locked in as the seventh seed.
The NFC South's culmination hinges on the final Sunday matchup between the Saints and Falcons, which will directly determine whether the Panthers or Buccaneers claim the division crown.
In the NFC West, Seattle stands as the top seed, while Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers settle as the fifth and sixth seeds, their respective positions influenced by the Rams' game against Arizona.