NFL Week 18 schedule: Breaking down the games, playoff scenarios in regular season finale

The NFL regular season finale is here. Sixteen games are all that remain before the top teams in each conference square off in the NFL playoffs.

Five total playoff spots are in play across the two conferences, three in the AFC and two in the NFC. Eleven teams are in play for those spots - five in the AFC and six in the NFC. For the teams that have clinched spots, some specific seeding is not fully decided either, leaving some stakes in the regular season finale.

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Here's the full Week 18 lineup:

Saturday, January 6

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) at Baltimore Ravens (13-3), 4:30 p.m., ET, ESPN/ABC

The Ravens already have both the AFC North division title and conference No. 1 seed wrapped up thanks to dominant wins over the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins in consecutive weeks.

The Steelers, by contrast, have their playoff lives to fight for on Saturday. Pittsburgh is on the outside looking in thanks to losses to the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans. If the Steelers win, they need Buffalo to lose, Jacksonville to lose or tie, or Houston-Indianapolis to end in a tie to secure a playoff spot. If the Steelers tie, they need Jacksonville to lose and Houston-Indianapolis to not end in a tie. If Jacksonville loses, Denver wins, and Houston-Indianapolis doesn't end in a tie, Pittsburgh will be in regardless of this game's outcome.

Houston Texans (9-7) at Indianapolis Colts (9-7), 8:15 p.m., ET, ESPN/ABC

The two teams met in Week 2 of the season with Indianapolis winning 31-20. This time they meet in what could decide the AFC South title.

Houston can clinch the AFC South and a wild card home playoff game with a win or a Jacksonville loss or tie. The Texans can also make the playoffs as a wild card team with a win or a tie plus a Jacksonville loss or Pittsburgh loss or tie.

Indianapolis can win the AFC South title with a win plus a Jacksonville loss or tie or a tie plus a Jacksonville loss. The Colts would be a wild card team with a win or a tie plus a Pittsburgh loss or tie.

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Sunday, January 7

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) at Carolina Panthers (2-14), 1:00 p.m., ET, FOX

These two teams met in Week 13 with the Buccaneers winning that one 21-18.

Tampa Bay has the inside track for the NFC South title despite playing on the road. The Buccaneers will clinch the division and the no. 4 seed in the NFC playoff bracket with a win or a tie and a New Orleans loss or tie. They can also make it as a wild card team with a tie and a Seattle loss and a Green Bay loss or tie.

Carolina enters Week 18 following the Panthers' worst offensive performance in 2023 and off-the-field news surrounding owner David Tepper, who was fined for throwing a drink at Jaguars fans after Carolina's 26-0 loss to Jacksonville. Ending the playoff hopes of a division rival with a victory would be a great way to close out the disappointing season.

Cleveland Browns (11-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (8-8), 1:00 p.m., ET, CBS

This matchup bookends the 2023 season for both teams. Cleveland won the first matchup 24-3 in Week 1.

The Browns, behind quarterback Joe Flacco and one of the best defenses in the NFL, have secured the no. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs regardless of what happens on Sunday. Flacco and other starters will sit out this one to rest up for a wild card weekend matchup, likely against the AFC South winner.

Cincinnati's postseason hopes looked grim after franchise quarterback Joe Burrow's injury in a Week 11 loss to the Ravens. Backup quarterback Jake Browning provided some thrills in a three-game winning streak but consecutive losses have the Bengals out of the playoff hunt in 2023.

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Minnesota Vikings (7-9) at Detroit Lions (11-5), 1:00 p.m., ET, FOX

These two teams met just two weeks ago on Christmas Eve with the Lions earning a 30-24 win on the road.

Minnesota is still in play for the final wild card spot in the NFC playoffs despite three consecutive losses. To make it, the Vikings need to win. If that happens, Minnesota needs Green Bay, Seattle, and Tampa Bay or New Orleans to lose.

Detroit has already clinched the division and a home game for wild card weekend. The only way the Lions would move out of the no. 3 seed in the playoffs would be if both Dallas and Philadelphia lost in Week 18.

New York Jets (6-10) at New England Patriots (4-12), 1:00 p.m., ET, CBS

These AFC East foes met in Week 3 with the Patriots earning their first win of the season 15-10.

Both of these teams are well out of the AFC playoff picture. Instead, this game will impact where each of them will select players in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Patriots can draft as high as second overall with wins by Washington and Arizona. The Jets are currently set for the eighth overall pick but can move up to seventh with a loss or as far down as 10th with a win.

Atlanta Falcons (8-8) at New Orleans Saints (8-8) 1:00 p.m., ET, CBS

The Falcons won the last matchup between these NFC South foes 24-15 in Week 12. Both teams are still in play for the division title and a playoff spot.

Atlanta's playoff scenario is simple: if they win this game and the Buccaneers lose, they are the NFC South champions and will host the Eagles or Cowboys in the wild card weekend. If they lose, they're out.

New Orleans can win the NFC South with a win and a Tampa Bay loss or tie. The Saints can also win the division with a tie and a Tampa Bay loss. If the Buccaneers win, New Orleans can still make the playoffs as a wild card team. In this scenario, the Saints need a win plus a Seattle loss or tie and a Green Bay loss or tie. They can also make it with a tie and losses by both Seattle and Green Bay.

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Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) at Tennessee Titans (5-11), 1:00 p.m., ET, CBS

The Jaguars won the first meeting between these teams 34-14 at home in Week 11.

Jacksonville can win the division and secure the no. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs with a win or a tie plus a tie between Houston and Indianapolis. The Jaguars can also make the playoffs as a wild card with a tie plus a Pittsburgh loss or tie, or losses by Pittsburgh and Denver and the Houston-Indianapolis game not ending in a tie.

Tennessee is locked into a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft regardless of Sunday's outcome. The Titans sit seventh in the draft order ahead of Week 18 and can move up a could spots with a loss and wins by the Chargers and Giants.

Seattle Seahawks (8-8) at Arizona Cardinals (4-12), 4:25 p.m., ET, FOX

Seattle won the first meeting between these teams 20-10 in Week 7.

Seattle's on the bubble of the playoffs after losing to the Steelers last week. The Seahawks can still make the playoffs as a wild card team with a win and a Green Bay loss or tie. If the Seahawks tie, they can also make the playoffs with a Green Bay loss plus a Tampa Bay loss or tie, or a Green Bay loss plus a New Orleans loss or tie.

Arizona is out of the playoff picture so this game will impact their NFL Draft position. Ahead of Week 18, they're in line for the fourth overall pick. They can move as high as the second overall pick with a loss and wins by New England and Washington. Arizona can drop as far down as seventh with a win and losses by the Giants, Chargers, and Titans.

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Chicago Bears (7-9) at Green Bay Packers (8-8), 4:25 p.m., ET, CBS

A Bears-Packers game bookends the 2023 season for these teams. Green Bay won the first matchup 38-20 in Week 1.

Chicago's long shot at the playoffs ended last week but, with Carolina's loss, the Bears have secured the no. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. They could put a bow on the season by winning and likely ending the Packers' hopes of a playoff berth.

Green Bay has the most scenarios for making the playoffs of an NFC team. They can make it as the seventh seed with a win. With a tie, Green Bay can make the playoffs with:

• A loss or tie by both Seattle and New Orleans, or

• Losses by Seattle and Tampa Bay, or

• Seattle tie plus a Tampa Bay loss or tie.

The Packers can also lose this game and make the playoffs with:

• Minnesota loss or tie and losses by Seattle and Tampa Bay, or

• Minnesota loss or tie and losses by Seattle and New Orleans.

Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) at Los Angeles Chargers (5-11), 4:25 p.m., ET, CBS

These two teams met in Week 7 with the Chiefs winning 31-17 at home.

Kansas City has the AFC West title wrapped up for the eighth year in a row but they are locked into the no. 3 seed. The Chiefs will have to wait and see which team they'll host in the wild card round.

Los Angeles is well out of the playoff picture with franchise quarterback Justin Herbert out for the season with a finger injury. The Chargers are slotted for the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft but can jump up as high as the second overall pick or down to the eighth.

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Denver Broncos (8-8) at Las Vegas Raiders (7-9), 4:25 p.m., ET, FOX

The Raiders won the first matchup between these two teams 17-16 in Week 1. Both are now out of playoff contention and facing big offseason questions.

Denver is slotted for the 14th overall pick in the NFL Draft. A loss could potentially jump them up into the top 10 pending other results and a win would push them to the high teens.

Las Vegas is also facing a change in draft position. The Raiders are currently slotted for the 11th overall pick. A loss could move them as high as the eighth overall pick and a win could drop them as low as 14th overall.

Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) at New York Giants (5-11), 4:25 p.m., ET, CBS

These two teams met just two weeks ago on Christmas with the Eagles winning 33-25.

Philadelphia has clinched a playoff berth regardless of Sunday's outcome. They'll be the NFC East winner and the no. 2 seed with a win and a Cowboys loss or tie, or a tie and a Vikings win or tie and Cowboys loss. They'll be the division winner and no. 3 seed with a tie plus a Lions win and a Cowboys loss. Philadelphia would be the no. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs with a win plus a Cowboys win, a tie plus a Vikings win or tie and Cowboys win or tie, or a tie plus a Lions win and a Cowboys win or tie.

The Giants are slotted for the fifth overall pick ahead of Week 18. They can jump up to second overall with wins by Washington, New England, and Arizona. A win could push them as far down as the seventh overall pick.

Los Angeles Rams (9-7) at San Francisco 49ers (12-4), 4:25 p.m., ET, FOX

These two teams met in Week 2 with the 49ers winning 30-23.

Both of these teams have secured their playoff positioning so there's nothing to play for in this game. San Francisco and Los Angeles will both be sitting starters for this game.

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Dallas Cowboys (11-5) at Washington Commanders (4-12), 4:25 p.m., ET, FOX

These two teams met on Thanksgiving with the Cowboys winning 45-10.

Dallas has the inside track for the NFC East title. A win secures the division crown and the no. 2 seed, as does a tie plus a Philadelphia tie or a Philadelphia loss. If the Cowboys lose or tie, they'd be the no. 5 seed with a Vikings win plus a Eagles win or tie or a Lions win or tie plus an Eagles win or tie.

Washington owns the longest losing streak in the league at seven games. They're currently slotted for the second overall pick in the NFL Draft and could stay there with a loss or move farther down the top five with a win.

Buffalo Bills (10-6) at Miami Dolphins (11-5), 8:20 p.m., ET, NBC

Buffalo won the first matchup between these teams 48-20 in Week 4. Now they meet to decide the AFC East division winner.

The Bills win the division and will be the no. 2 seed with a win. If the teams tie, Buffalo would be the no. 6 seed. If the Bills lose, they need a Pittsburgh or Jacksonville to lose or tie, or Houston and Indianapolis to tie to be the sixth seed as well.

Miami can take their first AFC East title since 2008 with a win and secure the no. 2 seed. If they lose, they'll be the no. 6 seed.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Week 18: Playoff scenarios, draft implications in season finale