NFL Week 18: Playoff Scenarios Include two Winner-Take-All Games

Let me be one of the last people to wish you and yours a Happy New Year! As we head into Week 18, the final chapter of the NFL regular season, there’s still an incredible amount on the line across the league.

Several major outcomes remain undecided, including:

• Four division championships: AFC North, AFC South, NFC South, and NFC West

• The No. 1 overall seed in both the AFC and NFC

• The top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft

• Multiple playoff positioning scenarios

This week carries especially high stakes for the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the AFC, the final postseason spot will be claimed by either the Ravens or the Steelers. The winner of the AFC North will also secure the No. 4 seed in the conference playoffs. Those two rivals will clash on Sunday Night Football at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Over in the NFC, the final playoff entry comes down to the Panthers or Buccaneers. The winner of the NFC South will grab the No. 4 seed in the NFC bracket. That showdown is set for Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium.

Meanwhile, the NFC’s top seed hangs in the balance in the NFC West. The Seattle Seahawks will earn the No. 1 seed with a win or tie against the San Francisco 49ers, while San Francisco can lock it up with a victory. Their matchup takes place Saturday night at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

Below is a complete breakdown of the NFL playoff scenarios heading into the final week.

AFC Playoff Picture

Teams That Have Clinched:

• Denver Broncos (13-3) – AFC West champions

• New England Patriots (13-3) – AFC East champions

• Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) – playoff berth

• Buffalo Bills (11-5) – playoff berth

• Houston Texans (11-5) – playoff berth

• Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) – playoff berth

Los Angeles Chargers vs Denver Broncos – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Denver secures the AFC’s No. 1 seed, first-round bye, and home-field advantage with:

• A win, or

• A tie plus a Patriots loss or tie, or

• A Patriots loss combined with a Jaguars loss or tie

Miami Dolphins vs New England Patriots – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
The Patriots earn the AFC’s top seed with:

• A win and a Denver loss or tie, or

• A tie paired with a Denver loss

Tennessee Titans vs Jacksonville Jaguars – Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Jacksonville clinches the AFC South and No. 1 seed with:

• A win plus Denver and New England losses

Jacksonville clinches the AFC South with:

• A win or tie, or

• A Houston loss or tie

Indianapolis Colts vs Houston Texans – Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Houston claims the AFC South with:

• A win and a Jacksonville loss

Baltimore Ravens (8-8) at Pittsburgh (9-7); Sunday night, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Baltimore clinches AFC North division title with:

1. BAL win
    

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) vs. Baltimore (8-8); Sunday night, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Pittsburgh clinches AFC North division title with:

PIT win or tie

NFC Playoff Picture

Teams That Have Clinched:

• Seattle Seahawks (13-3) – playoff berth

• San Francisco 49ers (12-4) – playoff berth

• Chicago Bears (11-5) – NFC North champions

• Los Angeles Rams (11-5) – playoff berth

• Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) – NFC East champions

• Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) – playoff berth

49ers vs. Seahawks – Saturday Night, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)
San Francisco claims the NFC West and No. 1 seed with:

• A win

Seahawks at 49ers – Saturday Night, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)
Seattle locks up the NFC West and No. 1 seed with:

• A win or tie

Panthers at Buccaneers – Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)
Carolina wins the NFC South with:

• A win or tie, or

• An Atlanta win

Buccaneers vs. Panthers – Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)
Tampa Bay secures the NFC South with:

• A win plus an Atlanta loss or tie

Current NFL Playoff Matchups

AFC

• (7) Buffalo Bills at (2) New England Patriots

• (6) Los Angeles Chargers at (3) Jacksonville Jaguars

• (5) Houston Texans at (4) Pittsburgh Steelers

• First-round bye: (1) Denver Broncos

NFC

• (7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Chicago Bears

• (6) Los Angeles Rams at (3) Philadelphia Eagles

• (5) San Francisco 49ers at (4) Carolina Panthers

• First-round bye: (1) Seattle Seahawks

NFL Draft Order

The 2026 NFL Draft order is determined by the worst record. The first tiebreaker is strength of schedule. With that in mind, the Las Vegas Raiders by virtue of their loss against the New York Giants, are in line to possess the first pick of the draft. The New York Giants would hold the second pick. The New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and the Arizona Cardinals would hold the third, fourth and fifth picks respectively.

The Cleveland Browns would currently possess the sixth pick. The Washington Commanders would hold the seventh pick. The New Orleans Saints, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Miami Dolphins would round out the top ten if the season ended today.