Sunday 31 December 2017 19:34, UK
Three playoff spots are still up for grabs heading into the final week of the NFL regular season - but who will claim them?
There are as many as four franchises fighting it out for two places in the AFC, while two needs to go into one in the NFC, with the final round of fixtures on New Year's Eve.
Ahead of Sunday's action - which you can follow live on Sky Sports Action from 5.30pm - we take a closer look at the teams battling it out for those all-important postseason places...
Who do they play? versus Cincinnati Bengals (6-9)
What do they need? The Ravens are leading the way in the AFC Wild Card race, sitting currently in the No 5 seed with a one-game superior record over the chasing pack.
That means, a win on Sunday and Baltimore are in the playoffs, no matter what. Even with defeat to the Bengals, the Ravens secure a spot in the postseason if either one of Tennessee or Buffalo lose their respective games.
Recent form: Baltimore have won back-to-back games and six of their last eight heading into the final week - their only defeats came against the Titans and Steelers.
Star performer: The defense. The Ravens have the most takeaways in the NFL this season, with 33.
Last playoff appearance: 2014, three years ago. Baltimore overcame their AFC North rival Steelers in Pittsburgh in Wild Card weekend, but lost out to eventual Super Bowl champs New England in the Divisional Round.
What would await them? A win would ensure the Ravens travel to Kansas City in the Wild Card game, while defeat (and a Titans or Bills win) would mean they'd have to play on the road in Jacksonville.
Who do they play? versus Jacksonville Jaguars (10-5)
What do they need? Similar to Baltimore, the current No 6 seed Titans have their destiny in their own hands, with a win on Sunday seeing them make the playoffs.
Though their 8-7 record is identical to the Chargers and Bills, they own the tiebreaker over both due to having a superior win-loss mark (7-4) against the conference. If they lose, Tennessee would need both Los Angeles and Buffalo to slip up to still secure a postseason berth.
Recent form: The Titans are currently in the worst form of all the playoff hopefuls, losing three straight to NFC West opponents (Cardinals, 49ers, Rams) going into Sunday's crucial game against the Jags.
Star performer: Running back duo of DeMarco Murray (659 yards, six TDs) and Derrick Henry (693 yards, five TDs)
Last playoff appearance: Back in 2008, when they were the AFC No 1 seed. It didn't get them very far though as they slipped up at home against Baltimore in the Divisional Round.
What would await them? Another meeting with the Jaguars, in Jacksonville, most likely awaits, unless they win and Baltimore lose. In that scenario, it would be a road trip to Kansas City that awaits due to Tennessee owning the head-to-head tie-breaker over the Ravens, having won their Week Nine match-up.
Who do they play? versus Oakland Raiders (6-9)
What do they need? For the Chargers to force themselves into the playoff picture, they'd need to first win against Oakland. Then, they need a Tennessee loss and for either Baltimore to win, or for Buffalo to lose.
The Chargers own a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bills with their win in Week 11 but, if Baltimore lose and Buffalo win, LA would be edged out due to the Bills' own tiebreaker advantage over the Ravens.
Recent form: One of the form teams in the NFL. The Chargers suffered a disastrous start to the season, losing all of their first four games, but they've won eight of their next 11, including five of their last six.
Star performer: Philip Rivers. The Chargers QB has another 4,000-yard season under his belt, with 25 touchdown passes.
Last playoff appearance: 2013, four years ago. The then San Diego Chargers earned a Wild Card win in Cincinnati, but then slipped up against AFC West rivals Denver in the Divisional Round.
What would await them? If the Chargers make it to January, they can only book at date in Jacksonville, with the No 6 seed the only one available to them.
Who do they play? at Miami Dolphins (6-9)
What do they need? The Bills must win to clinch a playoff berth. They'd also need a Ravens defeat, or for both the Titans and Chargers to slip up.
Recent form: The Bills endured a disastrous three-game losing streak in November which severely dented their playoff bid, but they've won three of their last five since - suffering only their yearly routine defeats to the Patriots.
Star performer: LeSean McCoy. The Buffalo running back has the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL this season, with 1,128 and has been selected to his sixth Pro Bowl.
Last playoff appearance: The Bills are currently the owners of the longest playoff drought in American sports, having not been to the postseason since 1999. There, they lost out to Tennessee and the 'Music City Miracle' - a touchdown in the dying seconds off a series of lateral passes - in the Wild Card round.
What would await them? A win for Buffalo and defeat for both Baltimore and Tennessee would see the Bills pinch the No 5 seed and a trip to Kansas City. Otherwise, they'll take the No 6 slot and travel to Jacksonville.
Who do they play? versus Carolina Panthers (11-4)
What do they need? Atlanta's fate is in their own hands. Win against NFC South rivals Carolina and they're into the playoffs, as they own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle thanks to their Week 11 win. Otherwise, they're relying on the Seahawks losing at home to Arizona.
Recent form: The Falcons have won five of their last seven, but one of those defeats was in the crucial clash against New Orleans last week which has put their postseason hopes in jeopardy.
Star performer: Julio Jones. It has been a mixed year for the Atlanta star receiver - he has a more than respectable 1,364 yards on the season, but only three TDs, and two of those came in one exceptional 253-yard game against Tampa Bay.
Last playoff appearance: Last year, where they somehow finished second best in the Super Bowl, despite having held a 28-3 lead over the Patriots late in the third quarter.
What would await them? The Falcons can only secure the No 6 seed in the NFC, but that could still bring with it as many as four possible opponents, depending on results elsewhere - the Vikings, Rams, Saints or Panthers.
Who do they play? versus Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
What do they need? The Seahawks must win and hope the Falcons fall to defeat against the Panthers.
Recent form: Seattle seemed to be slumping at precisely the wrong point of the season with back-to-back defeats to the Jaguars and Rams, the latter a 42-7 drubbing. But, they bounced back with a vital win over Dallas last week, which in turn knocked the Cowboys out of contention.
Star performer: Russell Wilson. In the running for the league MVP, the Seahawks QB has accounted for 97.2 per cent of Seattle's offensive TDs this year, the highest by any player in the Super Bowl era.
Last playoff appearance: Last year, their fifth-straight postseason appearance. Can they make it six? Last year, ironically, their run was ended by Atlanta in the Divisional Round.
What would await them? As per the Falcons, if Seattle are the ones to progress, they could end up playing any of the Vikings, Rams, Saints or Panthers.
In the AFC, the only other thing left to be decided is the No 1 seed. New England clinch it - and home-field advantage - with a win at home against the Jets or a defeat for their contenders for the crown, Pittsburgh, who host the Browns. A defeat for the Patriots opens the door for the Steelers.
In the NFC, Philadelphia already have their hands on the No 1 seed, but the Vikings, Rams, Saints and Panthers are all battling for position from No 2 to No 5. Minnesota clinch that No 2 seed with a win. If they were to lose at home against Chicago, Carolina are the only other team in contention for a first-round bye, needing to win in Atlanta, New Orleans to slip up in Tampa Bay and the Rams to fall to defeat at home to the 49ers.
Los Angeles cannot move up to No 2, but are guaranteed to host a Wild Card game, whatever happens on Sunday. New Orleans will earn the same luxury, clinching the NFC South, if they beat the Buccaneers. Defeat, and a Panthers win, means the Saints fall to No 5 and have to play on the road.
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