The regular NFL season has ended and the last day of the game has ended. The final playoff games have now been determined. ran shows what the playoff picture looks like.
The race for the playoff spots in the NFL has been decided. On the last day of the regular season, only one playoff spot was still up for grabs in each conference.
The Pittsburgh Steelers secured the AFC North title and thus the last ticket for the postseason with their 26:24 win against the Baltimore Ravens. The Atlanta Falcons previously secured the NFC South title for the Carolina Panthers with their win against the New Orleans Saints.
In the AFC, the Denver Broncos secured the top seed and have a bye week in the first playoff round; in the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks have a week off after their win at the San Francisco 49ers.
Now let’s look at the big picture. Who will face whom in the postseason? The NFL playoff picture after Week 18.
NFC Wild Card Round: #7 Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) at #2 Chicago Bears (11-6)
The Chicago Bears had already secured the top spot in the NFC North thanks to the Green Bay Packers’ loss in Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens, but their dream of being number 1 was shattered by their own loss at the San Francisco 49ers.
Because the Eagles also made a mistake on the last day of the game, the Bears retain second place in the NFC – regardless of their own defeat against the Detroit Lions.
Meanwhile, the Packers can be happy to have bagged their playoff ticket early. The many injuries have hit Green Bay hard, and the team currently doesn’t seem to be competitive.
NFC Wild Card Round: #6 San Francisco 49ers (12-5) at #3 Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
Top duel in Philadelphia! The Philadelphia Eagles host the San Francisco 49ers in the first round. Brock Purdy and Co. have been firing on all cylinders on offense recently, while the Eagles were able to rest a few starters on the final day of the game.
The fans can look forward to an absolutely top game that promises pure excitement.
NFC Wild Card Round: #5 Los Angeles Rams (12-5) at #4 Carolina Panthers (8-9)
The Rams did their duty against the Arizona Cardinals and are rewarded with what was supposed to be the easiest playoff opponent, even though they only occupy 5th place in the NFC.
The Panthers narrowly lost 14:16 in the all-important duel against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but thanks to the Atlanta Falcons they still won the division title in the NFC South for the first time since 2015.
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The Bucs would only have made the playoffs if the Saints had gotten at least a draw against the Falcons.
NFC Wild Card Round: Bye Week #1 Seattle Seahawks (14-3)
It’s done. The Seattle Seahawks have grabbed the number 1 seed in the NFC. In the decisive game against the San Francisco 49ers they won 13:3. The team around quarterback Sam Darnold has a bye in the Wild Card Round and only has to enter the playoffs in the Divisional Round.
AFC Wild Card Round: #7 Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at #2 New England Patriots (14-3)
The New England Patriots win the AFC East for the first time since 2019, after their own 42:10 win against the New York Jets in Week 17, the Buffalo Bills’ 12:13 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles put the lid on it.
Because the Broncos also won on the last day of the game, the Patriots were not enough to reach the number 1 seed despite the final 38:10 over the Miami Dolphins, but the Pats can look forward to a home game in the first round against the Chargers.
Los Angeles rested the majority of the starters on the last day of the match and should travel to Foxborough with a lot of tailwind for the exciting duel.
AFC Wild Card Round: #6 Buffalo Bills (12-5) at #3 Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4)
Playoff experience against the hottest team in the AFC. NFL fans can look forward to an absolute top duel in the first round when the Buffalo Bills travel to Florida to face the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Trevor Lawrence and Co. recently won eight games in a row, while Josh Allen is always a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs – especially in playoffs without Patrick Mahomes.
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AFC Wild Card Round: #5 Houston Texans (12-5) at #4 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
Speaking of unstoppable: The Houston Texans even ended the regular season with nine wins in a row, crowned by a 38:30 win against the Indianapolis Colts. But since the Jaguars also won, the Texans miss out on the division title.
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In the Wild Card Round, the Texans go to the Steelers in Pittsburgh, so Aaron Rodgers has one more playoff game in his great career. However, he will face a test of strength against one of the best defenses in the league.
AFC Wild Card Round: Bye Week #1 Denver Broncos (14-3)
The Broncos secure the number 1 seed in the AFC with a comfortable win against the Los Angeles Chargers (without a starter) and in theory only need two home wins to get into the Super Bowl.
