NFL Playoff Picture: Wild-card matchups set

The NFL playoff field is essentially set.

The No. 1 seeds and five of six wild-card contests are locked up ahead of a decisive Sunday Night Football bout between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

AFC

The Denver Broncos and New England Patriots took care of business in the late window Sunday to secure the conference's 1- and 2-seeds, respectively. Denver will rest next week before hosting a divisional-round game against the lowest-seeded team left.

The winner of Sunday night's win-or-go-home tilt between the 8-8 Ravens and 9-7 Steelers will take the AFC North, become the No. 4 seed, and host the Houston Texans.

The Buffalo Bills will go up against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a battle of top-10 offenses. The Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers - familiar rivals in the Tom Brady and Philip Rivers eras - will see each other in the postseason again. Expect fireworks with Drake Maye and Justin Herbert under center.

AFC playoff standings

* The AFC's No. 4 seed will be decided on Sunday Night Football between Baltimore and Pittsburgh

NFC

Intriguing NFC wild-card clashes lie ahead. None will feature the Seattle Seahawks, who'll watch the first round from home as the No. 1 seed.

The Los Angeles Rams will be on the road, but Sean McVay's outfit will play the 8-9 Carolina Panthers, who won the NFC South despite losing their final two games. The San Francisco 49ers will travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in their first playoff meeting since the NFC title game in 2023.

Finally, the Chicago Bears will host the Green Bay Packers in another colossal matchup in the NFL's oldest rivalry. The Bears and Packers split their season series with two thrilling games in December.

NFC playoff standings