Just when it appeared that the postseason line-up for the 2025/26 National Football League (NFL) season was finally taking shape, along came Week 17 and delayed the proceedings, with several results that saw winners who are on the wrong side of the play-offs. And when the dust settled, a total of 12 play-off spots were wrapped up, and the final two will be decided by head-to-head matchups this weekend, while many teams are still contesting for seeding as the curtain closes on this campaign.

Of particular significance were the Cleveland Browns stifling the Pittsburgh Steelers (13-6) on Sunday afternoon, and the Atlanta Falcons holding on for a 27-24 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. The Steelers were without the explosive receiving talent of DeKaylin Zecharius “DK” Metcalf, due to suspension, and couldn’t get over the hump, while the loss also left the door open for the Baltimore Ravens to make the play-offs and possibly win the American Football Conference (AFC) North, when both teams meet this weekend; more on that later.

The Rams, after giving up a pick-six on the first play of the game from scrimmage, entered half-time trailing 0-21, but put up a valiant fight in the second half and almost pulled off the comeback win. Atlanta’s running back, Bijan Robinson, had a night to remember, finishing with a career best 195 rushing yards, on 22 carries, including a career-long 93-yard touchdown run. And, along with his 34 receiving yards in the contest, he now has 2,255 scrimmage yards for the season, needing 255 more on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints to break the single season record Chris Johnson set with the Tennessee Titans in 2009. It could be a stretch, but it would cap an otherwise unsuccessful year for this outstanding running back.

Of special note was the prime-time contest between the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears last Sunday night, that provided offensive entertainment of the highest order. The 42-38 edge by San Francisco was high-flying action from start to finish and saw, for the first time in a regular season game, the scores tied at seven, 14, 21 and 28, before the 49ers pulled away. And even then, the game was decided on the last throw before time expired, an incomplete pass from the two-yard line by Chicago’s quarterback (QB) Caleb Williams (330 passing yards, two touchdowns). Not to be outdone, San Francisco’s QB, Brock Purdy (303 passing yards, three touchdowns), accounted for five touchdowns – three passing, two rushing.

Which brings us to this weekend, where the 49ers (12-4) will host the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) tomorrow night, with both the National Football Conference (NFC) West Division and the No 1 seed in the NFC on the line. Additionally, since Super Bowl LX will be in Santa Clara, a win over the Seahawks would mean the 49ers not playing another road game this season. The Seahawks are also on a high, having got the better of the Carolina Panthers, 27-10, last weekend, and their QB (Sam Darnold) playing at a level that warrants him in the Most-Valuable-Player conversation.

San Francisco got the edge in their last meeting in September (17-13), but the visiting Seahawks are favoured by JustBet, albeit slightly, entering the weekend. The stakes are high in this one, especially for the Seahawks, as with a loss, they drop down to the fifth seed and face the Carolina Panthers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round.

Speaking of which, the Panthers (8-8) and Buccaneers (7-9) will battle tomorrow afternoon to determine not only the winner of the NFC South, but also who makes it to the postseason. The visiting Panthers are JustBet underdogs heading into the contest, despite the hosts losing four straight games, including to the Panthers two weeks ago, and three teams that have been eliminated from play-off contention. Carolina clinches the NFC South with a win, or Falcons win over the Saints on Sunday afternoon. Tampa Bay clinches with a win and a Falcons loss, as the Buccaneers need the regular season to at least end in a two-way tie with the Panthers to claim the division. Win and you’re in, this matchup could go either way, but an upset would not surprise.

The other major play-off impacting encounter this weekend, just happens to be the regular season closer. The Steelers (9-7) will host the Ravens (8-8) in this absolute do-or-die matchup. The winner will take home the AFC North title and the conference’s No. 4 overall seed, while the loser will just go home. Pittsburgh would also make it into the postseason field in the event of a tie, as they defeated the Ravens 27-22 in early December.

The Ravens find themselves in play-off potential this week because of a timely 41-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers last weekend, coupled with a shocking Steelers loss at the hands of the Browns. The Baltimore victory was even more impressive due to the absence of QB Lamar Jackson for that encounter, due to injury. Jackson is questionable for this weekend, yet JustBet is offering the Ravens as attractive favourites going in. Pittsburgh’s QB, Aaron Rodgers may be playing his final NFL game, if they lose, and this would be added incentive for him to play past Sunday. However, age is showing on the 42-year-old, and he looks scared in the pocket, plus Metcalf will be on his second game of suspension and Rodgers will need to find another security blanket. This should be a good watch, but the bookmakers appear to have made the right call.

The final week of the NFL season is here and there are two open spots (one in each conference), uncertainty for both the AFC and NFC top seeds, and a few division titles out there for the taking. The playoff picture looks very different from what most anticipated in September, and it’s not yet fully developed. Notably, the Kansas City Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention, and the Denver Broncos emerged winners of the AFC West, marking the first time since 2015 that the Chiefs have failed to win the division. The Broncos are now in a race this weekend against the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars for the No 1 seed in the conference. Also, the NFC has seen an unexpected flip, as the No.1 seed from 2024, the Detroit Lions, failed to make the play-offs and that first round bye will go to either the Seattle Seahawks or the San Francisco 49ers, when the results are finally in.

There is still so much to play for, and even games without play-off implication seem to carry an elevated level of anticipation. You must be ready for some football?

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