The NFL season is coming to an end. There is only one week remaining for the regular season. Week 18 is shaping up to be a critical week for some teams.
Three divisions are still up for grabs, and the final wild-card spot in the AFC has yet to be determined.
The NFC has all their seven teams locked in the playoffs but seeding and a massive divisional showdown await.
Below we go over all the key NFL games to watch in week 18.
Key NFL Games To Watch For In Week 18
There is one contest that everyone will be waiting for, the showdown in the NFC North.
Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions(-3.0) (O/U:57.0)
The Vikings and Lions are set for a massive showdown on Sunday Night Football for the NFC North crown and first place in the NFC. The winner gets home-field advantage throughout the playoffs while the loser falls to fifth.
This game is not only the best game of week 18 but also the most important game of the regular season.
The stakes are high for both teams. On Sunday night, Ford Field in Detroit will have a playoff-like atmosphere.
This is the most anticipated contest of week 18 but there are still several other key games to watch in week 18 that have a lot on the line.
New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers(-13.5) (O/U:43.5)
It is simple for the Bucs. Defeat the New Orleans Saints in week 18 and win the NFC South. They are massive favorites and should take care of business. However, if for some reason the Bucs lose to the Saints, Tampa Bay can still win the NFC South but it will take the Panthers defeating the Falcons.
Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons(-8.5) (O/U:48.0)
The Atlanta Falcons ruined their chance of controlling their destiny. Losing to the Commanders in week 17 significantly hurt their chance of making the playoffs. Poor use of timeouts by the Falcons hurt them in week 17.
Atlanta must defeat the Carolina Panthers and have the Bucs lose to the lowly Saints in week 18 to win the division and make the playoffs.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos(-11.0) (O/U:40.0)
There are two ways for the Broncos to clinch a playoff spot.
- Defeat the Chiefs in week 18
- Bengals and Dolphins lose in week 18
The easiest way for Denver to get in the playoffs is to defeat a Chiefs team that has nothing to play for. The Chiefs are expected to rest many key starters as they have clinched the number one seed in the AFC. If Denver loses to Kansas City, they need the Bengals and Dolphins to lose in week 18.
Miami Dolphins(-1.5) @ New York Jets (O/U:39.5)
Miami still has a chance to make the playoffs. They need to defeat the Jets and hope the Broncos lose to the Chiefs. The problem for Miami is that Kansas City has nothing to play for, as they wrapped up the number one seed in the AFC and the Chiefs are expected to rest many key starters.
Cincinnati Bengals(-1.5) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (48.5)
The team nobody in the AFC wants to see in the playoffs is the Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Burrow has been extraordinary this year and can defeat any team in the AFC. It will be challenging for the Bengals to make the playoffs. They need to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and have the Broncos and Dolphins each lose in week 18. Denver faces a Chiefs team with nothing to play for and the Dolphins face a Jets team that seems to have checked out.
For the Steelers, they still have a small chance to win the AFC North but they will know before game time whether they do or not. Pittsburgh needs to defeat the Bengals and hope the Ravens somehow lose to the Browns to win the AFC North. Another reason the Steelers want to win this game is to lock up the fifth seed if they can’t win the division so they face the Texans on the road instead of the Ravens.
Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens(-17.5) (O/U:41.5)
It is simple for the Ravens. Defeat the Cleveland Browns in week 18 and win the AFC North. They are massive favorites and should take care of business. However, if for some reason the Ravens lose to the Browns, Baltimore can still win the AFC North but it will take the Bengals defeating the Steelers, which is also very possible.
