The penultimate weekend of the NFL regular season is here, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most action-packed slates of the year. With Christmas falling on a Monday, the league has spread the games out across multiple days-Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and even Christmas Day-giving fans a full-course meal of football to feast on. Three games are streaming between Netflix and Prime Video, and a pair of Saturday matchups sets the stage for a Sunday filled with playoff implications and regional broadcasts on CBS and Fox.
Let’s start with the big picture: the playoff race. With just two weeks left in the regular season, the postseason picture is still murky in both conferences, but a few teams have already punched their tickets.
AFC: Five In, Two Spots Up for Grabs
In the AFC, five teams are officially in: the Broncos, Patriots, Jaguars, Bills, and Chargers. That leaves two wild-card spots still open. The Steelers and Texans are in the driver’s seat, with favorable paths to clinch, but the Ravens and Colts are still mathematically alive and fighting to stay in the mix.
Baltimore, in particular, is walking a tightrope. At 7-8, they’re two games behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North and will need to win out and get some help to sneak in. That starts with a tough road test at Lambeau Field on Saturday night, where they’ll face a Packers team that’s looking to lock down its own playoff spot.
NFC: A Crowded Field with One Division Still Up for Grabs
Over in the NFC, five teams have clinched postseason berths: the Seahawks, Bears, Eagles, Rams, and 49ers. The Packers currently hold the No. 7 seed at 9-5-1 and are heavy favorites to secure a wild-card spot. But the Lions, their NFC North rivals, are still hanging on by a thread.
The real drama, though, is in the NFC South. The Panthers (8-7) and Buccaneers (7-8) are in a neck-and-neck battle for the division crown. With both teams hovering around .500, the division title-and the automatic playoff berth that comes with it-could come down to the final snap of Week 18.
Saturday Night Spotlight: Ravens at Packers
One of the weekend’s marquee matchups kicks off Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET on Peacock, with the Ravens heading to Green Bay.
The Packers are coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Bears last weekend and are dealing with injuries to their top two quarterbacks. Still, they control their own destiny: a win clinches a playoff spot.
For Baltimore, the stakes are even higher. ESPN’s playoff prediction model gives them just a 6.6% chance to make the postseason.
If they lose in Green Bay, those slim hopes will all but vanish. And even if they survive Lambeau, they’ll have to head into Pittsburgh in Week 18 for a must-win divisional clash.
Sunday Night Showdown: Bears vs. 49ers
Sunday Night Football brings us a potential playoff preview-and possibly a battle for the NFC’s top seed. The Bears and 49ers both clinched postseason spots last week, moving to 11-4, and now they square off in Santa Clara with major seeding implications on the line.
A win for Chicago would lock up the NFC North and secure at least a top-two seed. If they win out and the Seahawks drop one of their final two games, the Bears could even take the No. 1 spot.
San Francisco, meanwhile, is still chasing Seattle in the NFC West. They’re one game back but can steal the division and a top seed if they win out and the Seahawks stumble.
Even if Seattle takes care of business earlier in the day against Carolina, this Bears-49ers clash is still must-see TV. Both teams are peaking at the right time, and with so much on the line, expect a playoff atmosphere under the lights.
What’s on TV: Understanding Sunday’s Coverage Maps
With the NFL’s extended holiday schedule, the Sunday afternoon slate is a bit lighter than usual, but CBS and Fox still have you covered. Most CBS games are scheduled for the 1 p.m.
ET window, with only one late game-Giants at Raiders-kicking off at 4:05 p.m. ET.
That game will feature Charles Davis and Jason McCourty on the call.
Over on Fox, the 1 p.m. window will carry a full slate of regional matchups. The national spotlight belongs to the 4:25 p.m.
ET game between the Eagles and Bills, which will be broadcast across most of the country. One notable exception is the Nashville area, where the Titans have exercised their blackout rights for the Fox window opposite their home game on CBS.
That’s standard protocol to protect local viewership.
Coverage maps-provided each week by 506sports-give fans a clear look at which games will be shown in which regions. Every team’s local market will always get their game, but the secondary game is determined by network assignments. So even if your team isn’t playing in its usual time slot or is on a bye, you’ll still get a game in that window.
Final Stretch: Playoff Races Heating Up
With two weeks left, the NFL playoff race is reaching a boiling point. Some teams are looking to lock up seeding, others are just trying to get in, and a few are hanging on for dear life. Whether you’re tuning in on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, there’s no shortage of drama.
From the NFC South chaos to the Ravens’ last gasp, to the Bears and 49ers fighting for the top of the NFC, this weekend has something for everyone. So grab your remote, check those coverage maps, and settle in-it’s going to be a wild ride to the finish.