RADIO
Carolina Panthers 23, Tampa Bay Bucs 21 (Saturday)
The opening game of the Week 18 Saturday slate carries plenty of playoff implications, as both the Panthers and Bucs continue to vie for the NFC South title and a postseason berth. Carolina faces a win-and-in scenario, while Tampa Bay can win this matchup and still miss out on the divisional title if the Falcons defeat the Saints on Sunday.
After looking like an MVP candidate in the early portion of the season, Baker Mayfield and the Bucs have skidded to four-straight losses and defeats in six of their last seven games. Carolina’s end-of-season output hasn’t been much better, as they’ve lost two of three, but Tampa Bay feels borderline dysfunctional at the moment – especially after last week’s loss to the lowly Dolphins.
We’ll give the slight edge to Carolina in this one, as they held Mayfield and the Bucs’ passing attack to just 127 yards in their most recent matchup.
Seattle Seahawks 27, San Francisco 49ers 24 (Saturday)
This Saturday night special is for all the NFC West marbles, as the winner will earn the NFC’s No. 1 overall playoff seed, while the loser will be looking at a No. 5-6 seed in the postseason.
With Brock Purdy finally healthy, the San Fran offense has been clicking at a high level, averaging an eye-popping 42.3 points across their last three games. However, the injury-depleted Niners defense has struggled to get stops consistently. Seattle’s elite defense should be able to slow down Purdy and company enough for the Seahawks to overcome a scuffling San Francisco unit in this one.
Minnesota Vikings 20, Green Bay Packers 14
The Packers are the NFL’s only team that’s locked into their postseason seeding. Win or lose, the Packers will slate in as the No.7 seed in the NFC, and we can expect Green Bay to rest many key players as a result of this fact.
Minnesota has long been eliminated from playoff contention, but Kevin O’Connell’s bunch has kept the pedal down nonetheless, most recently in an impressive Week 17 win over the Lions. Packers backup QB Malik Willis will be using this stage as an audition for a new contract and potential starting job somewhere in the league next year, but Brian Flores’ defense has been terrific down the stretch.
Jacksonville Jaguars 31, Tennessee Titans 17
The Jaguars enter the regular-season finale assured of a spot in the playoffs, but with a wide range of outcomes that includes the potential to steal the AFC’s No. 1 seed with some help. Jacksonville is arguably the hottest team in the NFL and has won seven straight. They have every incentive to go all out in this divisional matchup against the lowly Titans.
While it’s inarguably been a disastrous season in Nashville, the Titans have shown some fight down the stretch, winning two of their last four, in addition to playing several quality teams tough. Tennessee should continue to battle in this one, though the streaking Jags will easily take care of business at home.
Houston Texas 20, Indianapolis Colts 10
Indy’s Cinderella season reached the pumpkin stage in Week 17, as they were officially eliminated from playoff contention. No longer fighting for the postseason, the Colts will run rookie QB Riley Leonard out against an elite Texans defense in the regular-season finale.
Following a sluggish start to the year, Houston has reeled off an eye-opening eight consecutive wins behind the NFL’s best defense. The Texans can win the AFC South with a win and a Jaguars loss, and will be playing all out here. Look for Will Anderson and company to overwhelm Indy’s rookie quarterback.
Dallas Cowboys 28, New York Giants 21
The G-Men have long been out of playoff contention, and instead are in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, which means their motivation to win this game is questionable at best. Dallas has also been eliminated for postseason contention, but we’ve seen the Cowboys continue to play their full roster in recent weeks.
With New York’s eye toward the future, we can expect Big Blue to offer up little resistance to what has consistently been an explosive Dallas offense.
Cincinnati Bengals 27, Cleveland Browns 17
For reasons unknown, the 6-10 Bengals will continue to roll out Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and company in Week 18. Playing for pride, personal records, and maybe Zac Taylor’s job, the Cincy offense has looked explosive recently, piling up 82 points over their last two games.
On the heels of a close loss to the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland played spoiler to Pittsburgh last week, defeating the Steelers 13-6. Despite encouraging outings as of late, the Browns are a severely banged-up bunch, and will likely struggle to keep pace with the high-flying Bengals offense.
Atlanta Falcons 24, New Orleans Saints 23
Randomly, these Week 18 clash between divisional rivals features two of the NFL’s hottest teams. Perhaps motivated to save Raheem Morris’ job, Atlanta has reeled off three straight wins, most recently toppling the Rams in an impressive performance on Monday Night Football.
New Orleans has also experienced a surprising late-season surge, winning each of their last four. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough looks as though he could be a long-term answer for the Saints, as first-year head coach Kellen Moore has outperformed expectations this year. Anything can happen in these rivalry games – especially with the unpredictable Falcons involved, but we’ll give the slight edge to the home team in this one.
New England Patriots 28, Miami Dolphins 17
New England remains in play for the AFC’s No. 1 seed and will be going all out in this divisional meeting with the Fins. After a 1-6 start in South Beach, the Dolphins have gone 6-3 over their last nine, most recently beating the Bucs with Quinn Ewers under center in Week 17.
The youth movement will remain a theme for Miami this week, and while they’ve shown some mettle over the last couple months, they will simply be outclassed by a superior New England squad this week.
Los Angeles Rams 27, Arizona Cardinals 13
Following an embarrassing to Atlanta in Week 17, Rams coach Sean McVay has stated that L.A. will play its starters in the regular-season finale, despite a rather narrow outlook when it comes to playoff seeding. The Rams will either be the No. 5 or 6 seed in the NFC, but will look to enter the playoffs with some momentum following losses in each of their last two.
With several injuries on the offensive side of the football, Arizona has been on abysmal eight-game skid. The Cardinals have little to play for this week, but are in play for the second-overall pick of the NFL Draft. The Rams regain their mojo here.
Chicago Bears 31, Detroit Lions 28
Although the upstart Bears have secured at least a No. 3 seed in the playoffs, head coach Ben Johnson has expressed that his team will be playing to win in hopes of securing the NFC’s No. 2 seed. One of the NFL’s most surprising teams, Chicago has been dominant on the ground this season, averaging the league’s third-most rushing yards per game.
Johnson’s former team, the Detroit Lions, have fallen on hard times following his departure – though many of their struggles can be attributed to an injury-ravaged defense. Dan Campbell isn’t one to take games off, so we can expect the Lions to be playing hard in spite of their lack of postseason hopes. Look for a hard-fought, high-scoring game with the Bears winning a close one at home.
Philadelphia Eagles 20, Washington Commanders 14
Philly beat writer Jeff McClain has reported the Eagles will rest key starters in this matchup, including Jalen Hurts. However, backup QB Tanner McKee has proven himself to be a very capable player in limited opportunities, while running backs Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley are also quality NFL players.
Washington’s quarterback situation isn’t as clear, as it will either be Marcus Mariota or Josh Johnson, with their chances massively dwindling if it’s the latter.
Buffalo Bills 23, New York Jets 13
This is one to keep an eye on, as the Bills could have little to gain by halftime of this one. Josh Allen will start and James Cook is chasing a rushing title, but we could see an early exit from Buffalo’s starters, as they will fall somewhere between the AFC’s No. 5-7 seed.
Despite their relatively low motivations and the potential early exit of starters, Buffalo is still playing the Jets – which means a win at less-than-full strength remains very much in play. The Jets still have a very slim chance of sneaking into the top pick of the NFL Draft, and will have little motivation to win here outside of pride.
Kansas City Chiefs 17, Las Vegas Raiders 13
For the Raiders, motivations are clear, as they clinch the 2026 NFL Draft’s top overall pick with a loss. Eliminated from postseason contention for the first time in over a decade, the Chiefs will be without several key players in this one, though Travis Kelce is expected to play in what could be the final game of his career.
We’re in for a real pillow fight here, but it’s tough to imagine the Silver & Black blowing a chance at the draft’s No. 1 pick. What muddies the waters is just how injury-ravaged Kansas City is. Despite those limitations, look for the Chiefs to emerge victorious in their season finale.
Denver Broncos 24, Los Angeles Chargers 13
The goal for Denver is clear, as they clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a playoff bye with a win over the Chargers in Week 18. Conversely, Los Angeles has little to gain with a victory this week, which led Jim Harbaugh to announce that Justin Herbert will not be in action for this matchup against the Broncos.
Trey Lance will get the start for the Bolts, which leads to concern for the L.A. offense against an elite Denver defense. We’ve seen the Broncos make theoretically easy games tough at times this season, but with the huge stakes in play here, I expect Sean Payton’s squad to secure the AFC’s top seed with a win.
Baltimore Ravens 21, Pittsburgh Steelers 20 (Sunday Night)
We close out the 2025 regular season with a winner-take-all AFC North clash between the Steelers and Ravens. Motivations are simple for both teams with the division title at stake: win and in the playoffs, lose and be eliminated.
We’ll need to keep an eye on Lamar Jackson’s status for this one, though early reports indicate he will try to play. Baltimore has been content to ride Derrick Henry in recent weeks, as the King has rumbled for 444 yards on the ground over the Ravens’ last three.
The Steelers will try to rebound from a shocking loss to the Browns in Week 17, but will need to do so without the services of the suspended DK Metcalf. It’s an absence that will be felt in this matchup, as I look for Baltimore to lean on Henry and smash their way to a playoff berth.
