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There is 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 plays out.
Looking at the NFL playoff picture, there are only two more playoff spots left to acquire, 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. (Cory Knowlton/Image Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will meet at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday night to determine who will be the last seed in the AFC.
Then, the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will duel on Saturday night to see who will be crowned NFC South champions.
While there are only two playoff spots left, there are still many different qualifying situations that will cause teams to miss out on their final game of the year.
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Before we take a look at each playoff scenario in Week 18, here are the lock-in playoff teams for January.
FCA
- Denver Broncos
- New England Patriots
- jacksonville jaguars
- Houston Texans
- Los Angeles Chargers
- buffalo bills
NFC
- Seattle Seahawks
- chicago bears
- Philadelphia Eagles
- San Francisco 49ers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Green Bay Packers
AFC PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
Broncos (13-3) vs. Chargers (11-5)
The Broncos will clinch first place in the AFC, home-field advantage and a first-round bye if they beat the Chargers outright on Sunday.
If that doesn’t happen, they’ll need the Patriots and Jaguars to lose their matchups. A tie for Denver and a loss or tie for the Patriots would also make them first place.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix goes out looking to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Patriots (13-3) against Miami Dolphins (7-9)
The Patriots hope to have a chance at first place, as they need a Broncos loss for that to happen.
Jaguars (12-4) vs. Tennessee Titans (3-13)
The Jaguars would not only clinch first place, but also the AFC South title if they win and the Broncos and Patriots lose their matchups. Jacksonville will win the division if they get a win or the Texans lose their matchup.
Texans (11-5) vs. Indianapolis Colts (8-8)
Houston is only seeking the AFC South title, and would need a win and a Jacksonville loss for that to happen. As of now, they own the No. 5 seed in the AFC, which would mean going on the road to face the winner of the AFC North in the Wild Card Round.
Steelers (9-7) against Cuervos (8-8)
After losing to the Cleveland Browns on the road and the Ravens defeating the Packers, the Steelers need to win at home if they want to make the playoffs.
While Aaron Rodgers hopes to make a 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 help from the Browns after Derrick Henry ran for four touchdowns.
Either team will be the fourth seed in the AFC depending on who wins.
NFC PLAYOFF 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 No. 1 seed in the conference to earn a first-round bye along with home-field advantage during the playoffs.
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The 49ers, led by Brock Purdy, have won six straight games. However, Sam Darnold and the Seahawks have evened that winning streak. The Seahawks have a one-game lead in the win-loss record right now, 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 another final game left to see who will take the No. 4 seed in the NFC.
The Panthers took care of the Buccaneers in their first meeting, but the Buccaneers own the tiebreaker of the common games. So, this is a win-win scenario for both teams.
