Overview
- Saturday’s Seahawks–49ers winner secures the NFC’s top seed and bye, while the loser falls to a wild-card spot, with a 49ers loss plus a Rams win dropping San Francisco to No. 6 and elevating Los Angeles to No. 5.
- Denver clinches the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win over the Chargers or specific New England/Jacksonville results, and Los Angeles plans to rest Justin Herbert and other starters.
- Steelers at Ravens on Sunday night is a true elimination game for the AFC North and the No. 4 seed, with Pittsburgh clinching the division with a win or tie and Baltimore needing a win.
- The NFC South remains unsettled: Carolina clinches with a win or tie or with an Atlanta win, while Tampa Bay must beat the Panthers and see the Falcons lose or tie.
- Only two playoff spots remain unclaimed, yet most seeds are open; the Bears and Eagles will be the NFC’s Nos. 2 and 3, with Chicago taking No. 2 with a win or an Eagles loss due to a head-to-head tiebreaker.