The final week of the NFL regular season arrives with significant uncertainty, as four divisions remain unclinched and only one playoff seed is locked in. Two spots in the postseason are still available, setting the stage for dramatic outcomes across both conferences. Key matchups on Saturday and Sunday will determine champions, top seeds, and wild-card positioning.
Entering Week 18 of the 2025 NFL season, the Denver Broncos (13-3) have secured the AFC West but can claim the conference's No. 1 seed with a win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Chargers, already eliminated from higher contention, plan to rest starters including quarterback Justin Herbert. The New England Patriots (13-3), fresh off clinching the AFC East, host the Miami Dolphins and need a victory combined with a Broncos loss or tie to take the top spot.
In the AFC South, the Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) lead and can win the division with a win or tie against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, or a Houston Texans (11-5) loss or tie to the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans, holding a playoff berth, require a win and Jaguars loss to capture the title and the No. 3 seed. The AFC North comes down to a winner-take-all clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) and Baltimore Ravens (8-8) on Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET, with the victor earning the division and No. 4 seed.
Shifting to the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) visit the San Francisco 49ers (12-4) on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET in a showdown for the No. 1 seed and NFC West crown; the winner secures both, while the loser drops to a wild-card spot. The NFC South features the Carolina Panthers (8-8) hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Panthers clinch with a win or tie, or even a loss if the Atlanta Falcons (7-9) beat the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, creating a three-way tie that Carolina would win on tiebreakers. The Buccaneers need a victory and a Falcons loss or tie to advance.
The Green Bay Packers are the only team locked into the No. 7 NFC seed. Other clinched spots include the Chicago Bears (NFC North), Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East), Broncos, Patriots, Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Chargers, and Texans in the AFC, plus several NFC teams like the Rams and Eagles.
