Next Sunday night’s game between the Lions and Vikings may be the most consequential game on the Week 18 schedule, but it is far from the only one that will impact the playoff picture.
Saturday’s games will determine who wins the AFC North as well as whether the Bengals will have any chance of advancing to the postseason. If they beat the Steelers, they will be alive on Sunday and the Ravens will be the division champions. The Ravens will also take the crown by beating the Browns while a Steelers win and a Ravens loss will make Pittsburgh the AFC North champions.
The winner of the AFC North will be the third seed in the AFC. The Chiefs are No. 1, the Bills are No. 2 and the Texans are No. 4.
If the Bengals win, they’ll need the Broncos to lose to the Chiefs and the Dolphins to lose to the Jets in order to advance. A Broncos win makes them a wild card team while the Dolphins get the spot with a win and a Denver loss.
Atlanta’s loss on Sunday night means the Bucs will win the NFC South by beating the Saints. The Falcons will get the title with a win and a Bucs loss while losses by both teams will mean Tampa advances.
The Lions and Vikings will close out the regular season in Detroit on Sunday night. Both teams are in the playoffs, but the winner will be the NFC North champs and the No. 1 seed in the NFC while the loser will be on the road in the first round as the fifth seed.
Elsewhere in the NFC, the Eagles are guaranteed the No. 2 seed, but either the Rams or the NFC South champ could wind up as the No. 3 seed. The Packers and Commanders will also sort out who finishes sixth and seventh, so there are plenty of meaningful games to be played in Week 18.
