Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers sent Lamar Jackson and the Ravens home for the playoffs. The Panthers are NFC South champions for the first time in 10 years. The Broncos are the AFC's No. 1 seed.
Rodgers threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds left and Pittsburgh secured the AFC North title with a 26-24 victory when Baltimore's Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal wide right as time expired on Sunday night in the final game of the NFL's regular season.
"It's pretty emotional," said Rodgers, who is heading to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season. "I'm thankful for these guys. ... It's been an absolute blessing to be here."
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Jan. 4, in Pittsburgh.
Carolina clinched its division title when the Falcons beat the Saints 19-17 on Sunday to eliminate the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Denver secured a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a 19-3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Seattle earned the NFC's No. 1 seed on Saturday night, defeating San Francisco 13-3.
The Jaguars won the AFC South with a 41-7 rout of Tennessee. Rookie coach Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence led the Jaguars to a major turnaround after going 4-13 in 2024.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs the ball past Tennessee Titans outside linebackers Truman Jones (56) and Jaylen Harrell, far right, during the second half of an NFL football game, Jan. 4, in Jacksonville, Fla.
Wild-card weekend will feature these matchups (all times EST):
β Los Angeles Rams (12-5) at Carolina Panthers (8-9), Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
β Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) at Chicago Bears (11-6), Saturday, 8 p.m.
β Buffalo Bills (12-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4), Sunday, 1 p.m.
β San Francisco 49ers (12-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (11-6), Sunday, 4:30 p.m.
β Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at New England Patriots (14-3), Sunday, 8 p.m.
β Houston Texans (12-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7), Monday, 8 p.m.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, right, hands off to running back Rico Dowdle (5) during the first half of an NFL football game, Jan. 3, in Tampa, Fla.
Led by second-year coach Dave Canales and third-year quarterback Bryce Young, the Panthers are making their first playoff appearance under owner David Tepper and first since 2017, when they lost a wild-card game two years after they went 15-1 and lost the Super Bowl.
"I'm so grateful to have one more opportunity to get back to work where we can get on the grass, go through the preparation and have our meetings," Canales said Sunday. "Once we are in cleats and on that grass it's like the next thing becomes clear, the focus of what we are doing. ... It's like here we go, we get one opportunity and let's make this statement true: 1-0 with a chance to win a championship. How long can we keep that statement true?"
The Buccaneers (8-9) beat Carolina on Saturday to stay alive for an extra day, but lost a three-team tiebreaker with the Falcons, also finishing 8-9. Tampa Bay started 6-2 before losing seven of nine, failing to win its fifth straight division title.
While Sam Darnold and the Seahawks (14-3) earned a first-round bye, Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and the injury-depleted 49ers missed an opportunity to play at home the rest of the way. Levi's Stadium, which is San Francisco's home field, hosts the Super Bowl on Feb. 8.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Jan. 3.
AFC East
New England won its first division title since Tom Brady led the franchise to 11 straight from 2009-19.
Buffalo's run of five consecutive division crowns ended, and the Bills will go on the road in the playoffs.
AFC North
The Steelers won their first division title since 2020.
AFC South
Jacksonville won the division for the first time since 2022, when first-year coach Doug Pederson guided them to a 9-8 record and a wild-card playoff victory over the Chargers, overcoming a 27-0 deficit.
The Texans secured the No. 5 seed with a 38-30 victory over Indianapolis. Houston is in the playoffs for the third straight season under coach DeMeco Ryans and QB C.J. Stroud.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) passes against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half of an NFL football game, Jan. 4, in Denver.
AFC West
The Broncos ended Kansas City's nine-year run. Denver hasn't been the No. 1 seed since Peyton Manning and a stifling defense beat Carolina in the Super Bowl 10 years ago.
The Chargers are in the playoffs for the second straight season under Jim Harbaugh.
NFC East
The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles became the first team to win this division in consecutive seasons in two decades. They missed a chance to be the No. 2 seed when they rested starters and lost 24-17 to Washington.
NFC North
The Bears clinched their first division championship since 2018. They lost 19-16 to Detroit but secured the No. 2 seed because the Eagles lost.
The Packers were locked into the No. 7 seed after Week 17.
NFC South
The Panthers backed into a division title but are ahead of schedule in their rebuilding process.
NFC West
The Seahawks earned the No. 1 seed for the fourth time in team history. They reached the Super Bowl in the first three, winning once.
The Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals 37-20 to secure the No. 5 seed and a rematch at Carolina. The Panthers beat them 31-28 on Nov. 30.
After falling to secure a bye, the 49ers dropped to the No. 6 seed and will face Philadelphia in a rematch of the NFC championship game following the 2022 season.
Top photos from Week 18 of the NFL season
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard (15) runs for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) to set an NFL record for sacks in the regular season during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, left, escapes pressure from Miami Dolphins linebacker Quinton Bell during the first half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (39) celebrates after making an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
An Atlanta Falcons fan celebrates in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Houston Texans linebacker Henry To'oto'o (39) celebrates his fumble recovery against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. (24) commits pass interference near the goal line against New Orleans Saints wide receiver Dante Pettis (11) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (2) makes a catch for first down against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) fails to make a catch in front of Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jacksonville Jaguars place-kicker Cam Little (39) celebrates his 67-yard field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches a touchdown pass against Cleveland Browns cornerback Sam Webb during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks (30) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) and linebacker Eric Wilson (55) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, right, is tackled Seattle Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. VΓ‘squez)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, left, talks with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold after an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. VΓ‘squez)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Deven Thompkins (83) carries against New Orleans Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom (27) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) scores a touchdown as he is hit by Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) makes a catch for a touchdown over Tennessee Titans safety Sanoussi Kane, below, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Cleveland Browns cornerback Sam Webb celebrates after returning a fumble for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
An Atlanta Falcons fan cheers in the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) pulls in a touchdown pass that was called back on a penalty in the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) runs around the tackle attempt from Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Benjamin Morrison (21) during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
