At a Glance
- Carolina Panthers (8-8) can clinch NFC South title with win or tie vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9).
- San Francisco 49ers (12-4) must beat Seattle Seahawks (13-3) to secure No. 1 NFC seed and home-field advantage.
- These games decide division titles and the top seed in the NFC, while only one of the 12 playoff-bound teams is locked in a seed.
Why it matters: The outcomes set the playoff landscape and determine which teams get home-field advantage in the postseason.
The final week of the NFL regular season opens with a high-stakes doubleheader that could crown division champions, lock in the top NFC seed, and reshape the playoff field.
Carolina vs. Tampa Bay: NFC South Deciders
The Carolina Panthers (8-8) face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) in a showdown that could give Carolina its first NFC South title since 2015 and a playoff berth for the first time since 2017. A win or tie would secure the division, while a loss would leave the Panthers in a tiebreaker scenario that could still push them into the playoffs with a losing record.
- If Bucs win and Falcons beat Saints, a three-way tie could give Panthers the tiebreaker.
- Bucs would need help from Saints to claim a fifth straight title if they win.
- Both teams could finish with a losing record yet still make playoffs.
San Francisco vs. Seattle: NFC West & No. 1 Seed
In the NFC West, the San Francisco 49ers (12-4) host the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) at Levi’s Stadium. A victory would clinch the West title and the No. 1 NFC seed, granting the 49ers home-field advantage through the Super Bowl. A loss would drop the 49ers to the fifth or sixth seed, depending on the Rams’ result against the Cardinals.
- Win: 49ers secure West title, No. 1 seed, home-field advantage.
- Tie: Seahawks also secure West title.
- Loss: 49ers finish fifth or sixth, depending on Rams vs Cardinals.
Broadcast & Timing
Both games air on ABC and ESPN and can be streamed on ESPN.com and the ESPN app. Viewers with NFL+ can stream on mobile devices.
| Game | Time (ET) | Time (CT) | Time (PT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers @ Buccaneers | 4:30 p.m. | 3:30 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. |
| Seahawks @ 49ers | 8 p.m. | 7 p.m. | 5 p.m. |
Key Takeaways
- Panthers vs. Buccaneers decide NFC South champion and could send a team with a losing record to playoffs.
- 49ers vs. Seahawks decide NFC West title and No. 1 NFC seed, affecting home-field advantage.
- Only one of the 12 playoff-bound teams is locked into a seed; the rest hinge on these games.
As the week unfolds, fans will watch to see which teams seize division glory and secure the coveted top seed in the NFC.
