The NFL's regular season has reached its final weekend with plenty undecided in terms of the playoff picture, including the No. 1 seed in both the AFC and NFC.
Here's what to watch over the next few days:
Windy with a steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 54F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%..
Windy with a steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 54F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Updated: January 2, 2026 @ 5:32 pm
The NFL's regular season has reached its final weekend with plenty undecided in terms of the playoff picture, including the No. 1 seed in both the AFC and NFC.
Here's what to watch over the next few days:
The Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars all have a shot at the No. 1 seed in the AFC, which includes a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the playoffs.
The Broncos (13-3) have the clearest path — if they beat the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) on Sunday, they'll earn the top seed. They could also sneak into the top spot depending on the results for the Patriots and Jaguars.
The easiest way for the Patriots (13-3) to earn the top spot is to beat the Miami Dolphins (7-9) on Sunday and hope the Broncos lose to the Chargers. There are also a few unlikely scenarios — including ties in Week 18 — where they could clinch.
The only way the Jaguars (12-4) will be the No. 1 seed is if they beat the Tennessee Titans (3-13) on Sunday and the Broncos and Patriots both lose. Jacksonville can also clinch the AFC South with a win.
The Houston Texans (11-5) are still in the mix for the AFC South title if they can beat the Indianapolis Colts (8-8) and the Jaguars lose.
The Baltimore Ravens (8-8) and Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) are fighting for the AFC North title and the final AFC playoff spot on Sunday. The Steelers need to win or tie while the Ravens have to win.
The Seattle Seahawks (13-3) face the San Francisco 49ers (12-4) on Saturday night with the NFC's No. 1 seed, first-round bye and home-field advantage on the line. The Seahawks have to win or tie while the 49ers must win.
The Carolina Panthers (8-8) face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) on Saturday for the NFC South title and final NFC playoff spot. Carolina's easiest path is to beat or tie the Bucs, but the Panthers could also sneak into the playoff field if they lose and the Atlanta Falcons (7-9) beat the New Orleans Saints (6-11).
Tampa Bay must beat Carolina and then hope the Falcons lose or tie.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Only subscribers can view and post comments on articles.
Already a subscriber? Login Here
Discover India with Us! Read moreIndia Community Travel: Virtual Information Session
What the Constitution Means to Me Read moreWhat The Constitution Means To Me
Navigating Senior Care, Estate Planning, & Funeral Planning Read morePeace of Mind with a Piece of Cake
Karl Sonkin said:
Love the column Mark, memories of Caen resplendent
Connie Weiss said:
Thank you, Taso. So perfectly stated.
Mark Simon said:
Thanks and all the best for you and your family.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.