NFL Playoffs: Week 18 Scenarios & How to Watch

The season flies by and we are in to the most intense moment to decide the playoffs of the NFL with a practically perfect script: we reach the last week with 3 parties con direct implications to decide the teams in the postseason.

If you want to make your plan in front of the TV or just find out how things are going, we’ll put you together here a complete guide.

Guide to follow the 3 games that decide the NFL playoffs in the last week

Although several games have implications in the NFL playoffs —especially in the arrangement of the postseason seeds— In this last week, Week 18, we will be seeing 3 parties that decide it directly.

San Francisco 49ers recibe a Seattle Seahawks

This is an unmissable game. Los San Francisco 49ers (12-4) receive the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) in California.

The team that wins will take the crown of the Western Division of the American Conferenceprobably the most fought division —with a better level, too— throughout the NFL. However, that is not all that is at stake: whoever wins, wins claims to be the No. 1 seed in the entire NFC playoffs.

• Schedule: Saturday, January 3 at 7PM in Mexico
• Background: Seahawks lost at home against the 49ers in Week 1.
• An extra detail: The 49ers they are going to debut their Uniformes Rivalriesso we will see them wearing black in this match.

Pittsburgh Steelers recibe a Baltimore Ravens

How things got tangled in the Moretón Division. At the beginning of the year we could point out that 3 teams from the North had postseason expectations, but after a roller coaster of performances and injuries, we reached the last week with what the only AFC North berth for the NFL playoffs will go to the division champion.

And everything is decided in a direct match between Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) receiving the Baltimore Ravens (8-8).

Whoever wins takes the AFC North and ensures a home game in the NFL playoffs like the 4 seed in the American Conference.

• Time: Sunday, January 4 at 7:20 PM in Mexico
• Background: Steelers beat the Ravens 27-22 in Week 14
• An extra detail: Steelers will not have their receiver DK Metcalfseparated by a suspension; while Ravens bet everything that Lamar Jackson recover from a back injury.

Carolina Panthers visit Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Crazy season in National Conference South Division in which all teams are battling to scratch a winning record.

Los Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) receive the Carolina Panthers (8-8) in the final week to decide who takes the division crown, as well as the ticket as the Seed 4 in the NFC NFL playoffs.

Buccaneers, led by Baker Mayfield, seemed to have everything to win their division at the beginning of the season, but everything has been sinking losing 7 of their last 8 games. While Panthers They have not been able to take advantage of their opportunities, losing both games against the Saints, who with a single victory would have secured their division. Everything is decided in one last match.

• Schedule: Saturday, January 3 at 3:30PM in Mexico
• Background: Panthers beat Buccaneers in Week 16
• An extra detail: The Atlanta Falcons They are the third in contention then, although are eliminatedif they win their last two games they would force a triple tie that would take out Tampa Bay of the playoffs —even if they beat Carolina.

Other games you have to follow in the last week of the NFL

Although those 3 parties they decide directly NFL playoffsit turns out that in the last week there are other meetings with big postseason implications. These are other must-sees:

Chargers, Broncos and the fight for the #1 seed in the AFC

Denver Broncos has the Western Division tied up, but faces directly against Los Angeles Chargersanother playoff team. If Broncos win, they keep it AFC No. 1 seedIf you lose, the door opens to interesting questions:

• New England Patriots can keep Number 1 by beating Miami.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars could have the Number 1 by beating the Titans, but they need the Patriots and Broncos to lose.

Jaguars and Texans for the AFC South crown

Jaguars y Texans They are two of the strongest teams in the entire NFL and they enter the last week with your playoff tickets in handbut the AFC South crown is still undecided.

• If the Jaguars beat the Titans, they are AFC South champions.
• If the Texans beat the Colts and the Jaguars stumble, the Houston team keeps the Division.

The worst team award

The only positive thing about the season Oakland Raiders is that they have every opportunity to have the first selection of the 2026 Draft and they managed to lose the position by 24 points against the Giants in Week 17.

However, some things are still in play:

• If the Raiders beat Chiefs In the last week, the Jets, Giants, Cardinals and Titans can keep the first pick in the 2026 Draft.

So, everything ready to follow the last week of the NFL regular season with playoff tickets at stake and a lot of emotions for a crazy winter on the field.