NFL Week 18 eventualities: Who can clinch what? How can they do it? And who’s enjoying starters?

[ad_1] There's quite a bit left to be determined in Week 18 of the NFL common season, together with:

4 division titles (AFC North, AFC South, NFC South and NFC West)

No. 1 choose within the NFL Draft

Quite a few playoff seedings

This is your rundown of what is at stake every recreation, and the way severely every crew is taking it.

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Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers What’s at stake for Panthers: If the Panthers win or tie, the NFC South and the No. 4 seed are theirs it doesn't matter what. In the event that they lose, then they need assistance detailed beneath.

What’s at stake for Buccaneers: If the Buccaneers win, they nonetheless want the Falcons to lose or tie Sunday in opposition to the Saints to clinch the NFC South and the No. 4 seed. If the Bucs and Falcons each win, then there is a three-way tie atop the NFC South at 8-9, and the tiebreaker goes to the Panthers.

Are each groups going for it? You higher imagine it

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers What’s at stake for Seahawks: If the Seahawks win or tie, they clinch the NFC West and the No. 1 seed.

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What’s at stake for 49ers: If the 49ers win, they clinch the NFC West and the No. 1 seed.

Are each groups going for it? These two groups vs. one another? With all this on the road? E book it

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans What’s at stake for Colts: Nothing besides the prospect to damage a rival's shot on the division title. Even Indianapolis' first-round choose, which is presently 18th, goes to the Jets subsequent spring because of the Sauce Gardner commerce.

What’s at stake for Texans: If the Texans win and the Jaguars lose, the Texans win the AFC South.

Are each groups going for it? The Texans certain will. As for the Colts, the one huge participant information is rookie sixth-round quarterback Riley Leonard will reportedly begin over Philip Rivers. So it appears like each groups shall be as near full power as could be.

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Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars What’s at stake for Titans: Simply the prospect to play spoiler, and likewise doubtlessly clinch the No. 2 choose within the draft with a loss and wins by the Giants, Jets and Cardinals.

What’s at stake for Jaguars: Rather a lot. If the Jaguars win or tie, they will win the AFC South it doesn't matter what. They'll additionally win it with a Texans loss or tie. Jacksonville additionally has a shot on the No. 1 seed within the AFC, which might require a win plus losses by the Broncos and Patriots.

Are each groups going for it? The Jaguars undoubtedly are. The Titans have not indicated they will sit anybody but both.

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Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants What’s at stake for Cowboys: Draft positioning within the mid-first spherical and the prospect to springboard right into a extra hopeful 2026.

What’s at stake for Giants: There's nonetheless an opportunity the Giants can get the No. 1 total choose within the draft. They must lose, the Raiders must win, and not less than two of the next groups would additionally should win: Seahawks, Falcons, Browns and Bears. It is also one final probability to interim coach Mike Kafka to make his case to be the everlasting head coach.

Are each groups going for it? Dallas goes to play its starters together with Dak Prescott, however Jerry Jones hinted Tuesday he won't play a lot. The Cowboys additionally simply launched cornerback Trevon Diggs, so that they appear to be getting a head begin on offseason strikes. The Giants, in the meantime, plan to play their starters too.

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals What’s at stake for Browns: The Browns can get the No. 2 choose within the draft with a loss plus wins by the Giants, Jets, Titans and Cardinals. They presently maintain the No. 6 choose.

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What’s at stake for Bengals: Cincinnati will choose both within the again half of the highest 10 or early within the teenagers it doesn't matter what.

Are each groups going for it? Thus far, each the Bengals and Browns have indicated their starters will play Week 18.

Inexperienced Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings What’s at stake for Packers: Nothing. The Packers are locked into the NFC's seventh seed.

What’s at stake for Vikings: Mid-first spherical draft positioning. The Vikings shall be choosing within the teenagers or early 20s.

Are each groups going for it? The Packers have not determined in the event that they're enjoying their starters but, although it could behoove them to not less than sit QB Jordan Love even when he clears concussion protocol this week as anticipated. In the meantime, the Vikings have not indicated their plans but.

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New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons What’s at stake for Saints: Tyler Shough's Offensive Rookie of the 12 months marketing campaign and a few optimism heading into 2026. Shough has been fairly good since changing into the starter, and the Saints are on a four-game win streak to shut Kellen Moore's first season in cost. They're locked right into a late high 10 or early teenagers first-round draft choose.

What’s at stake for Falcons: For the Falcons themselves? Little or no, with their first-round choose this 12 months going to the Rams because of the James Pearce Jr. commerce final spring. However for the NFC South? That is the place issues go full sicko mode.

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If the Buccaneers beat the Panthers on Saturday, then the destiny of the NFC South rests within the Falcons' fingers. In the event that they win, the Panthers are division champions anyway, for the reason that high three groups can be tied at 8-9 and the Panthers personal the tiebreaker. If the Falcons lose, the Buccaneers would win the division. Sure ... ha ha ha ... YES!

Are each groups going for it? This is likely one of the NFL's most vicious rivalries. Each groups seem like enjoying their starters, and do not count on that to vary.

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots What’s at stake for Dolphins: The prospect to disclaim the Patriots the No. 1 seed within the AFC with a win. Mike McDaniel's final probability to state his case to be head coach in 2026. Draft positioning too, for the reason that choose may fall wherever within the late high 10 to the teenagers.

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What’s at stake for Patriots: There are two eventualities that may land the Patriots the No. 1 seed within the AFC. Both they win and the Broncos lose or tie, or they tie and the Broncos lose.

Are each groups going for it? Count on the Patriots to, with the Broncos enjoying on the similar time Sunday. In the meantime the Dolphins have not indicated they'll sit anyone, and certain need another take a look at rookie seventh-round QB Quinn Ewers.

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos What’s at stake for Chargers: Strap in. Out of 64 doable AFC playoff seeding eventualities, 18 finish with the Chargers within the fifth seed (28%), 30 finish with the Chargers within the sixth seed (47%), and 16 finish with the Chargers within the seventh seed (25%). Enjoyable!

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What’s at stake for Broncos: Fairly easy: win, and so they're the No. 1 seed within the AFC. Past that, they'll nonetheless clinch the No. 1 seed with a tie and a Patriots loss or tie. They'll additionally get it with a loss, so long as the Patriots lose and the Jaguars lose or tie.

Are each groups going for it? The Broncos virtually definitely will, with head coach Sean Payton describing Sunday as "like a playoff recreation" and stressing the significance of the No. 1 seed traditionally. The Chargers, in the meantime, are resting quarterback Justin Herbert, who fractured his non-throwing hand in Week 13. They may relaxation extra starters too, given what number of accidents they've already suffered this season.

Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles What’s at stake for Commanders: There's nonetheless a small probability the Commanders safe the No. 2 total choose within the draft. They'd have to lose, and so they'd want the Giants, Jets, Titans, Cardinals and Browns to all win. Unlikely. However possibly!

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What’s at stake for Eagles: The Eagles get the No. 2 seed in 25% (16 out of 64) of the Week 18 NFC eventualities. All of them require an Eagles win and a Bears loss. In any other case they're the No. 3 seed, for the reason that Bears personal the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Are each groups going for it? Philadelphia won't be. Head coach Nick Sirianni stated the Eagles are nonetheless excited about sitting some starters, which they did final season too, although they'd locked up the No. 2 seed on the time. The Commanders are anticipated to play their starters, with head coach Dan Quinn hinting accidents are the one factor that may preserve gamers out.

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears What’s at stake for Lions: Solely the prospect to assist deny the Bears the No. 2 seed within the NFC. The Lions will choose within the teenagers within the first spherical of the NFL Draft.

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What’s at stake for Bears: If the Bears win, they're the No. 2 seed within the NFC it doesn't matter what by advantage of a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Eagles. If the Bears lose, they'll nonetheless clinch the No. 2 seed with an Eagles loss to the Commanders.

Are each groups going for it? Lions head coach Dan Campbell has indicated his starters will play so long as they are not risking long-term damage, plus it suits the franchise's ethos to play everybody. Bears head coach Ben Johnson, in the meantime, stated Monday "we're enjoying to win this week." So it appears like Chicago shall be going for the No. 2 seed.

New York Jets at Buffalo Payments What’s at stake for Jets: The Jets can get the No. 2 choose with a loss and a Giants win. It additionally won't harm head coach Aaron Glenn to complete the season with a superb efficiency after some really ugly losses this season, regardless of crew possession indicating he'll be again.

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What’s at stake for Payments: The Payments can transfer as much as the fifth or sixth seed in 37.5% of the remaining eventualities, so that they'll should win and let the opposite outcomes fall the place they could.

Are each groups going for it? Buffalo continues to be deciding if starters will play, per head coach Sean McDermott. As for the Jets, nicely, they're in full-blown find-out-who-wants-to-be-here-next-year mode, so in some sense, you might say they're "going for it."

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams What’s at stake for Cardinals: The Cardinals can nonetheless get the No. 2 choose with a loss and wins by the Giants, Jets and Titans.

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What’s at stake for Rams: The Rams have to win (and want the Seahawks to win) to have any shot on the No. 5 seed, which they'd get in 25% of the remaining NFC eventualities. In any other case they will be the sixth seed.

Are each groups going for it? Rams head coach Sean McVay stated he will not relaxation starters in Week 18, which is smart given how messy his crew has appeared in latest weeks. Nevertheless, if the 49ers win Saturday and the Rams are locked into the sixth seed, it is a good guess the Rams' starters will not play the complete recreation. The Cardinals, in the meantime, have given no indication they will sit anybody but.

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders What’s at stake for Chiefs: The Chiefs can lock up a top-10 choose with a loss. It is perhaps Travis Kelce's final profession recreation, and he'll need to exit with a win. In any other case, not a lot else in a uncommon misplaced season for Kansas Metropolis.

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What’s at stake for Raiders: If the Raiders lose, they will clinch the No. 1 total choose within the draft. In the event that they win it will get dicier, however there are nonetheless a number of eventualities that land them the highest choose.

Are each groups going for it? Andy Reid has indicated his starters will play. As for the Raiders, nicely, it is trickier. Pete Carroll hasn't straight stated starters will not play this week. Then once more, Maxx Crosby appears slightly defiant over being shut down on account of a knee damage, whereas Brock Bowers was positioned on injured reserve with a knee damage he is battled all season. So on the very least, the Raiders are giving the outward look of being prepared to shut up store on this marketing campaign. Which, in fact, can be good for his or her draft standing.

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers What’s at stake for Ravens: If the Ravens win, they're the AFC North champion and the No. 4 seed. In the event that they lose or tie, they're out of the playoffs.

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What’s at stake for Steelers: If the Steelers win or tie, they're the AFC North champion and the No. 4 seed. In the event that they lose, they're out of the playoffs.