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There’s only one game left in the regular season for each NFL team, but for some, a trip to the playoffs depends on how Week 18 goes.
Looking at the NFL playoff picture, there are only two playoff spots left to be had, one in each conference.
And week 18 is reserved for the AFC North and NFC South titles.
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Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) warms up on the field before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium on October 12, 2025. (Cory Knowlton/Imagn Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will face off Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium to determine who will be the final seed in the AFC.
Next, the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face off on Saturday night to see who will be crowned NFC South champions.
Although there are only two playoff spots remaining, there are still many different seeding situations that will prevent teams from playing in their final game of the year.
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Before we look at each Week 18 playoff scenario, here are the playoff teams already locked in for January.
AFC
- Denver Broncos
- New England Patriots
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Houston Texans
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Buffalo Bills
NFC
- Seattle Seahawks
- Chicago Bear
- Philadelphia Eagles
- San Francisco 49ers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers
AFC PLAYBACK SCENARIOS
Broncos (13-3) vs. Chargers (11-5)
The Broncos will get the AFC’s top seed, home-field advantage and a first-round bye if they outright beat the Chargers on Sunday.
If that doesn’t happen, they’ll need the Patriots and Jaguars to lose their matchups. A tie against Denver and a Patriots loss or tie would also make them the top seed.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix looks to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Patriots (13-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (7-9)
The Patriots are hoping to have a chance at the top seed, as they need a loss to the Broncos to do that.
Jaguars (12-4) vs. Tennessee Titans (3-13)
The Jaguars would win not only the No. 1 seed, but also the AFC South title if they win and the Broncos and Patriots both lose their matchups. Jacksonville will win the division if they get a win or if the Texans lose their game.
Texans (11-5) vs. Indianapolis Colts (8-8)
Houston is only looking at the AFC South title, and they would need a win and a loss in Jacksonville for that to happen. Currently, they own the No. 5 seed in the AFC, which would mean heading to the winner of the AFC North in the Wild Card Round.
Steelers (9-7) vs. Ravens (8-8)
After losing to the Cleveland Browns on the road and having the Ravens beat the Packers, the Steelers need to win at home if they want to make the playoffs.
While Aaron Rodgers hopes to have a successful run in what could be his final season in the NFL, Lamar Jackson and company have the same goal on Sunday. They were able to get some help from the Browns after Derrick Henry rushed for four touchdowns.
Either team will be the No. 4 seed in the AFC depending on who wins.
NFC PLAYBACK SCENARIO
49ers (12-4) vs. Seahawks (13-3)
This is the game to watch in the NFC, as both teams have a chance to earn the conference’s No. 1 seed to earn a first-round bye as well as home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
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The 49ers, led by Brock Purdy, have won six straight games. However, Sam Darnold and the Seahawks matched that winning streak. The Seahawks currently have a one-game advantage in win-loss record, but the 49ers would win the tiebreaker if they win on Sunday.
Panthers (8-8) vs. Buccaneers (7-9)
The NFC South hasn’t been the strongest division this season, but there’s one final game left to see who will hold fourth place in the NFC.
The Panthers took care of the Buccaneers in their first matchup, but the Buccaneers own the deciding game in the joint games. So this is a win-win scenario for both teams.
