The final piece of the proverbial playoff puzzle won’t be finalized until late Sunday evening, after the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers decide which is the AFC North Division champion in the final game of the NFL’s regular season. Settle in for a long day in which playoff seeding is set and the picture becomes clear.

The Bengals (10-4-1) and Steelers (10-5) are assured of no worse than wild-card berths. The Bengals are in the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season, the Steelers back in after a two-year hiatus.

They’ve both won seven of their last nine games, with Cincy riding a two-game win streak and Pittsburgh unbeaten in its last three. The Bengals are chasing a team-record fifth consecutive road victory.

GAMES WE’RE WATCHING

 
Carolina Panthers (6-8-1) at Atlanta Falcons (6-9): The winner will be the NFC South Division champion, sad as that sounds. The last team to make the playoffs with a losing record was the 2010 Seattle Seahawks (7-9). The Panthers have won their last three games behind a rejuvenated running game featuring Jonathan Stewart.

Detroit Lions (11-4) at Green Bay Packers (11-4): Both are assured of at least a wild card, but the winner takes the NFC North Division title and could earn a first-round playoff bye. The Packers are 7-0 at home and average 41.1 points per game in their cozy stadium. The Packers have won 23 in a row at Lambeau Field against the Lions (including playoffs) but have lost two in a row to Detroit on the road.

St. Louis Rams (6-9) at Seattle Seahawks (11-4): The Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champions, have won eight of their last nine games. A victory gives them the NFC West title and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoff bracket.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .