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There’s just one game left in the regular season for every team in the NFL, but for some, a trip to the playoffs is a clarion call for how Week 18 will play out.
Looking at the NFL playoff picture, there are only two more playoff spots left 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. (Cory Knowlton/Imagn Images)
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 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will duel on Saturday night to see who will be crowned NFC South champions.
Although there are only two playoff spots left, there are still many different seeding situations that will have teams not posting a mail in 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 playoff teams locked in as early as January.
AFC
- Denver Broncos
- 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
- 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 outright on Sunday.
If that doesn’t happen, they’ll need the Patriots and Jaguars to lose their matchups. A loss or tie between Denver and the Patriots would also make them the top seed.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix rolls out and 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 for a shot at the top seed as they need a Broncos loss to make that happen.
Jaguars (12-4) vs. Tennessee Titans (3-13)
The Jaguars would not only clinch 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 secure a win or the Texans lose their matchup.
Texans (11-5) vs. Indianapolis Colts (8-8)
Houston is only eyeing the AFC South title, and they would need a win and a Jacksonville loss to make that happen. Right now, they own the No. 5 seed in the AFC, which would mean they are headed to the AFC North winner 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 to win at home if they want to make the playoffs.
As Aaron Rodgers hopes to make it big in what could be his final NFL season, Lamar Jackson and company have the same goal Sunday. They were able to get help from the Browns after Derrick Henry rushed for four touchdowns.
Both teams will be the AFC’s No. 4 seed, depending on who wins.
NFC PLAYOFF SCENARIO
49ers (12-4) vs. Seahawks (13-3)
This is the matchup to watch in the NFC, as both teams have the opportunity to clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference to earn a first-round bye along with 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 have matched that streak. The Seahawks have the one-game advantage in 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 it will come down to another playoff game to see who will hold the No. 4 seed in the NFC.
The Panthers took care of the Buccaneers in their first matchup, but the Buccaneers own the joint game tiebreaker. So this is a win-and-in scenario for both teams.
