The NFL regular season drew to a close on Sunday, 4th January. After 18 weeks of hard-hitting action, the season is over for 18 of the NFL’s 32 sides. For the remaining 14, the playoffs and the dream of Super Bowl glory remain alive.
When the dust settled, Denver and Seattle were confirmed as the number one seeds in the AFC and NFC, respectively. While the Broncos and the Seahawks had long since confirmed their postseason participation, for other teams the race went down to the wire – and, in the case of the AFC North, quite literally the last kick of the game.
Only thirteen games remain between now and the crowning of the Super Bowl Champions at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, on 8th February 2026, but which sides are still in contention?
AFC: Broncos Edge Race for Top Spot and Missed Field Goal Costs Baltimore
Moving into Week 18, the Denver Broncos, the New England Patriots, and the Jacksonville Jaguars all had a shot at claiming the number one seeding in the AFC. All three sides did their bit, with Denver dominating in a 19-3 home success over the LA Chargers, New England beating the Dolphins 38-10, and Jacksonville rolling over the Tennessee Titans in a one-sided 41-7 clash at Everbank Stadium.
Those results saw Denver and New England finish with a 14-3 record, one game ahead of the 13-4 Jaguars. Denver took the number one seeding by virtue of having a better conference record than the Patriots. This is the first time the Broncos have claimed the number one seeding in the AFC since 2015. Incidentally, the Patriots took the number two spot that year and went on to win the Super Bowl. The Patriots claimed top spot in the AFC East for the first time since the Tom Brady era, as second-season quarterback Drake Maye continued his fine season.
Jacksonville didn’t get the help they needed to claim the number one seeding. However, with Houston beating Indianapolis 38-30, that blowout of the Titans was crucial in claiming the AFC South. Finishing on 12-5, the Texans joined the 12-5 Bills and 11-6 Chargers in the AFC Wild Card positions.
Crazy Conclusion in Pittsburgh
The wildest final game in the AFC came in the Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers showdown. The Ravens’ Week 17 win over the Packers, combined with the Steelers’ surprise loss to the Browns, had set up a winner-takes-all showdown at Acrisure Stadium.
24-10 ahead with only a minute to play, the Ravens were looking good for the AFC North title. However, the Steelers weren’t done yet, with Aaron Rodgers finding Calvin Austin III with a 26-yard touchdown pass. Chris Boswell saw his extra point swerve wide to leave the Steelers two points up with 55 seconds left on the clock.
Back came the Ravens, with a 41-yard kick-off return and a conversion on 4th & 7, teeing up a 44-yard field goal attempt to win the game, send the Ravens to the playoffs, and eliminate the Steelers. However, much to the relief of Chris Boswell, Tyler Loop made a poor contact and sent his kick wide to the right as time expired. The Steelers claimed the AFC North title. The Ravens must wait for next season.
NFC: Seahawks Soar to Top Spot and Carolina Cling On
Sitting on records of 13-3 and 12-4, respectively, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers had already clinched a postseason berth ahead of their clash in Santa Clara. However, there was still a lot on the line. The winners would claim the NFC West, the number one seeding in the NFC, and a first-round bye. For the losers, the Wild Card Round lay in wait. In a tight encounter, the Seahawks’ defence once again came to the fore, as Seattle posted a 13-3 win on the road. In a red-hot NFC West, the LA Rams beat Arizona 37-20 in their final game to end on 12-5 and claim a Wild Card spot.
Having already won the NFC North and NFC East, respectively, the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles were in a straight shootout for the number two seeding. Both came up short in Week 18, with the Bears losing at home to the Lions, and the Eagles coming up short at Lincoln Financial Field against the Washington Commanders. Finishing level on 11-6, the Bears claimed the number two seeding on head-to-head record, having beaten the Eagles in November. The Green Bay Packers lost to Minnesota on the final day but hung on to second place in the NFC North to claim a Wild Card spot.
The most complex playoff scenario unfolded in the NFC South. The Carolina Panthers would win the division with a win over Tampa Bay. However, Tampa Bay would win if they beat the Panthers and the New Orleans Saints beat the Atlanta Falcons. The Buccaneers gave themselves a chance with a 16-14 win over the Panthers, but were undone when Atlanta later beat New Orleans 19-17 at home. Following those results, the Panthers, the Buccaneers, and the Falcons all finished with an 8-9 record. The Panthers progressed due to having the best head-to-head record in games between the three sides.
Wildcard Weekend Schedule – UK Kick Off Times
- Los Angeles Rams @ Carolina Panthers – Saturday, January 10, 9:30 pm
- Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears – Sunday, January 11, 1 am
- Buffalo Bills @ Jacksonville Jaguars – Sunday, January 11, 6 pm
- San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles – Sunday, January 11, 9:30 pm
- Los Angeles Chargers @ New England Patriots – Monday, January 12, 1:15 am
- Houston Texans @ Pittsburgh Steelers – Tuesday, January 13, 1:15 am