An NFL season full of surprises and unexpected endings concluded Sunday night with a cruel finish between Pittsburgh and Baltimore when the Ravens missed the field goal that would have given them the playoff berth on the final play.

The Steelers (10-7) survived to win 26-24 the final game of the 2025 regular season and obtain the last remaining place for the postseason. Thus, everything is set for the NFL playoffs, which begin Saturday with the wild card round. Pittsburgh clinched the AFC North title with a dramatic victory when rookie kicker Tyler Loop's 44-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right in a stadium historically notoriously difficult for kickers. The Steelers had taken the lead with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Calvin Austin with 1:25 remaining on a play where the defensive end covering him slipped. But Chris Boswell then missed the extra point—his first of the season—leaving the score at 26-24 and giving Baltimore (8-9) a chance to salvage their disappointing season with an unlikely playoff berth by converting a game-winning field goal. The Steelers will host one of the most competitive teams in the AFC North in the wild card round. The Houston Texans, currently on a winning streak, defeated Indianapolis 38-30 on Sunday to extend their winning streak to nine games.

Carolina secures final playoff spot in the NFC

Also on Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints 19-17, clinching the NFC South title for Carolina.

The Panthers, Buccaneers, and Falcons all finished with an 8-9 record, but Carolina won on tiebreakers. Despite the victory, Atlanta fired head coach Raheem Morris shortly after the game ended.

Meanwhile, Denver defeated the LA Chargers 19-3 to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC.While the Rams snapped a two-game losing streak by dominating Arizona 37-20 and securing the No. 5 seed in the NFC, sending San Francisco to No. 6.

In other results: New England capped off their tremendous season with a 38-10 win over Miami, Jacksonville routed Tennessee 41-7, Cleveland edged Cincinnati 20-18 with Myles Garrett setting a single-season sack record with 23, Washington defeated Philadelphia (without many starters) 24-17, Detroit beat Chicago 19-16, Minnesota edged Green Bay 16-3, the New York Giants routed Dallas 34-17, Buffalo crushed the New York Jets 35-8, and Las Vegas defeated Kansas City 14-12.

Teams Qualified and Playoff Matchups

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

1 Denver (14-3), 2, New England (14-3), 3 Jacksonville (13-4), 4 Pittsburgh (10-7), 5 Houston (12-5), 6 Buffalo (12-5), 7 LA Chargers (11-6)

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

1 Seattle (14-3), 2 Chicago (11-6), 3 Philadelphia (11-6), 4 Carolina (8-9), 5 LA Rams (12-5), 6 San Francisco (12-5), 7 Green Bay (9-7)

WILD CARD ROUND SCHEDULE

Saturday, January 10

LA Rams at Carolina, 4:30 pm ET/1:30 pm PT

Green Bay at Chicago, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT

Sunday, January 11

Buffalo at Jacksonville, 1 pm ET/10 am PT

San Francisco at Philadelphia, 4:30 pm ET/1:30 pm PT

LA Chargers at New England, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT

Monday, January 12

Houston at Pittsburgh, 8:15 pm ET/5:15 pm PT

* Denver and Seattle have a bye and advance directly to the divisional round