The final weekend of the NFL regular season arrives with several playoff positions still undetermined, most notably the prestigious No. 1 seed in each conference, which guarantees a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
AFC Playoff Scenarios
In the AFC, three teams remain contenders for the top seed: the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Broncos, currently standing at 13-3, hold the most straightforward route. A victory against the Los Angeles Chargers (who are 11-5) on Sunday secures Denver the No. 1 seed outright. However, alternative outcomes, subject to results from the other contenders' games, could still allow them to claim the top position.
The Patriots, also boasting a 13-3 record, need to defeat the Miami Dolphins (7-9) and rely on a Denver loss to have the strongest chance of capturing the No. 1 seed. They also have some exceptional scenarios, such as tie outcomes in Week 18 games, which might potentially clinch the peninsula though these remain less likely.
For the Jaguars (12-4), reaching the No. 1 spot is contingent on winning against the Tennessee Titans (3-13) and both the Broncos and Patriots losing their respective games. Moreover, a Jaguars win guarantees clinching the AFC South division title.
The Houston Texans (11-5) have maintained a playoff possibility by contending for the AFC South championship. Their fate requires a victory over the Indianapolis Colts (8-8) coupled with a Jaguars loss.
Regarding the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens (8-8) and Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) are locked in a battle for division supremacy and the conference’s final playoff berth. The Steelers' route demands a win or a tie, whereas the Ravens must secure a win to progress.
NFC Playoff Picture
The NFC's No. 1 seed showdown features the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) confronting the San Francisco 49ers (12-4) on Saturday night. The Seahawks only need to avoid a loss (win or tie) to claim the top seed, whereas the 49ers must win to usurp Seattle.
In the NFC South, the Carolina Panthers (8-8) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) will play for the division title and the conference’s final playoff spot. Carolina’s most direct path is through a win or tie against Tampa Bay; however, they might still qualify for the playoffs as a wild card if they lose but the Atlanta Falcons (7-9) manage to defeat the New Orleans Saints (6-11).
For Tampa Bay, success depends on beating Carolina and then hoping the Falcons either lose or tie their matchup.