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There is only one game left in the regular season for every team in the NFL, but for some, a trip to the playoffs is all about how Week 18 plays out.
Looking at the NFL playoff picture, there are only two more spots up for grabs, one in each conference.
And Week 18 is 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 Oct. 12, 2025. (Photos by Cory Knowlton/Imagn)
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will meet at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday night to determine who will be the final seed in the AFC.
After that, the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be competing on Saturday night to see who will be the NFC South champions.
Although there are only two playoff spots left, there are still many different situations that will have teams not sending in their final game of the year.
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Before we look at all the playoff scenarios for Week 18, here are the playoff teams already locked in for January.
AFC
- Denver Broncos
- The New England Patriots
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Houston Texas
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Buffalo bills
NFC
- Seattle Seahawks
- Chicago Bears
- Philadelphia Eagles
- San Francisco 49ers
- Los Angeles Rams
- The Green Bay Packers
AFC PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
Broncos (13-3) vs. Chargers (11-5)
The Broncos will clinch the AFC’s top seed, home-field advantage and a first-round bye if they beat the Chargers on Sunday.
If that doesn’t happen, they will need the Patriots and Jaguars to lose to their rivals. A Denver tie and a Patriots loss or tie would also make them the top seed.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix goes for a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Patriots (13-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (7-9)
The Patriots are hoping to get a chance at the top, as they need to lose to the Broncos to make that happen.
Jaguars (12-4) vs. Tennessee Titans (3-13)
The Jaguars will not only win the No. 1 seed, but the AFC South title if they win and the Broncos and Patriots both lose. Jacksonville will win this division if they secure the win, or the Texans lose their matchup.
Texans (11-5) vs. Indianapolis Colts (8-8)
Houston is only looking for the AFC South title, and they will need a win and a Jacksonville loss to make that happen. Currently, they own the number 5 seed in the AFC, which means going on the road to face 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 the Ravens defeating the Packers, the Steelers find themselves needing a win at home if they want to make it to the playoffs.
While Aaron Rodgers hopes to make a run in what could be his final NFL season, Lamar Jackson and company have the same goal on Sunday. They were able to get help from the Browns after Derrick Henry rushed for four touchdowns.
Either team will be the AFC’s No. 4 seed depending on who wins.
NFC PLAYOFF SCENARIO
49ers (12-4) vs. Seahawks (13-3)
This is a must-watch game in the NFC, as both teams have a chance to earn the No. 1 seed in the conference to secure a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
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The 49ers, led by Brock Purdy, have won six games in a row. However, Sam Darnold and the Seahawks matched that victory. The Seahawks have a one-game advantage in the win-loss record right now, but the 49ers will 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 last game coming up to see who will grab the No. 4 seed in the NFC.
The Panthers took care of the Buccaneers in their first game, but the Buccaneers own the regular season tiebreaker. So, this is a win-win situation for both the squads.
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