Just like that, the final week of the 2025 NFL regular season has arrived. It seemed like just a few weeks ago that the season had begun with the NFL Kickoff Game, but we’re now at the regular-season finale. Of note entering Week 18, many of the playoff spots have already been locked up but there are two win-and-in scenarios and No. 1 seeds at stake this weekend.
Let’s dive into our NFL Week 18 predictions. Of note with our NFL picks this week, we’ll have to factor in the number of backups that could see extended playing time on Sunday.
Carolina Panthers 27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20
It is the battle for the NFC South crown, with the winner hosting a playoff game and the loser’s season coming to an end in Week 18. Just two weeks ago, the Carolina Panthers emerged victorious at home (23–20) over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Bryce Young outplaying Baker Mayfield and winning despite losing the time-of-possession battle (34:36 to 25:24). Carolina has simply looked like the better team over the last two months of the season, and Mayfield’s second-half collapse (9–8 TD-INT, 60.8 percent completion rate, and 77.0 passer rating) is an underrated factor in Tampa Bay’s downfall. Even on the road, we have more confidence in Young and the Panthers’ coaching staff than we do in the Buccaneers.
Related: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coaching Candidates to Replace Todd Bowles
Seattle Seahawks 20, San Francisco 49ers 17
When the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks met in Week 1—a 17–13 victory for San Francisco—the 49ers had a healthy Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Trent Williams, and Renardo Green. That won’t be the case in Week 18. San Francisco’s defense has fallen off drastically as a result of injuries; however, near MVP-caliber play from quarterback Brock Purdy has made up for it. With the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line, we would bet on the Seahawks’ offense doing just enough to outpace San Francisco’s offense, given the two defenses they are each facing on Saturday.
Read More:Â NFL Week 18 Power Rankings, Evaluating all 32 Teams after Week 17
New Orleans Saints 24, Atlanta Falcons 17
During this four-game winning streak by the New Orleans Saints, they have held opponents to just 17.3 points per game, with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough also completing 71.1 percent of his pass attempts and averaging 264.3 passing yards per game with a 102.9 QB rating. Atlanta did win this rivalry game easily a few weeks ago (24–10), but it was a six-point game until early in the fourth quarter. With New Orleans riding a wave of momentum behind its rookie quarterback, we think the Saints take down the Falcons in Atlanta to finish the year 7–10, while the Falcons fire Raheem Morris hours after the game.
Cincinnati Bengals 21, Cleveland Browns 14
The Cleveland Browns will be trying to get Myles Garrett the single-season sack record in this game, and given Joe Burrow’s tendency to hold onto the football, we believe the record will be broken in Week 18. With that said, Cincinnati will likely have success on the ground, as Cleveland has surrendered 155.3 rushing yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry over the last month. As for Shedeur Sanders, he is on track to record his fifth consecutive game with an interception (maintaining a 5.2 percent interception rate as a starter), and that will likely be the difference in a relatively low-scoring game.
Related: 4 Offseason Moves the Cleveland Browns Should Make
Minnesota Vikings 17, Green Bay Packers 13
Unfortunately for Malik Willis, the Green Bay Packers will be resting a majority of their starters in Week 18, as they are already locked into the No. 7 seed. That means Willis will have a much more limited supporting cast around him as he takes on a defense that has allowed just 12.3 points and 250.3 total yards per game over the last four weeks. The Minnesota Vikings will likely rely on a defensive clinic and a strong performance on the ground to secure a victory.
Related: Malik Willis Landing Spots in NFL Free Agency
Dallas Cowboys 35, New York Giants 31
Rivalry games in Week 18 at least bring something out of both teams, even if they are eliminated from playoff contention. The last time the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants faced off, we got an entertaining Week 2 shootout that ended with a 40–37 finish and nearly 1,000 total yards of offense. While we do not anticipate quite as much offensive production in this one, given the injuries on the Cowboys’ offensive line, Dallas and New York should both be able to clear 30 points on Sunday. Ultimately, the better quarterback with the superior supporting cast comes out on top.
Related: New York Giants Offseason Moves that Should be Made
Jacksonville Jaguars 28, Tennessee Titans 14
The Jacksonville Jaguars can clinch the AFC South with a victory, and there would at least be a shot at the conference’s No. 1 seed. Suffice it to say, Trevor Lawrence and Co. very much have something to play for in Week 18. While Cam Ward has performed like a franchise-caliber quarterback to close out the season, his weak supporting cast will really be exposed in this matchup. Jacksonville comes out on top in dominating fashion, but it will just narrowly miss out on home-field advantage and a first-round bye.
Related: Tennessee Titans Offseason Moves that Should be Made
Houston Texans 21, Indianapolis Colts 10
With Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward, and DeForest Buckner all out in Week 18, the Indianapolis Colts won’t be able to cause C.J. Stroud the same issues that Los Angeles did this past Saturday. Consequently, the Houston Texans’ offense should be able to deliver several explosive plays with the vertical passing game to make this a one-sided battle. We’re just hoping 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers comes out of this game healthy, because Houston’s defense relishes delivering bone-crunching hits and the pass rush is the best in football.
Buffalo Bills 27, New York Jets 10
The Buffalo Bills’ offense needs to use this as a get-right game, even if the potential impact on playoff seeding is minimal. We are not suggesting an injured Josh Allen needs to play the entire game, but Buffalo needs to find some offensive momentum before the NFL playoffs, and there is a golden opportunity for that against a defense that has surrendered 13 passing touchdowns with a 127.8 QB rating in the last four weeks. Besides, the New York Jets quit on this season weeks ago.
Chicago Bears 31, Detroit Lions 28
Dan Campbell will absolutely see Week 18 as an opportunity to create something positive for the Detroit Lions to carry over into the offseason after a down year. However, all the injuries defensively for Detroit put the team at a massive disadvantage against the Chicago Bears. A victory on Sunday would also lock the Bears into the No. 2 seed—a worthwhile goal for Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams.
Denver Broncos 20, Los Angeles Chargers 14
Even with the AFC West decided, a win in Week 18 would be significant for either of these teams. From the Los Angeles Chargers, coming out victorious on Sunday could mean facing the AFC North champion on Wild Card Weekend instead of having to face one of the league’s best defenses. As for the Denver Broncos, defeating Los Angeles could put them atop the AFC with the all-important bye in the first round and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. In this matchup, we simply don’t have any faith in the Chargers offensive line against a defense that leads the NFL in sacks.
Related: NFL Defense Rankings 2025
Las Vegas Raiders 17, Kansas City Chiefs 14
We can think of nothing the Kansas City Chiefs would love more in Week 18 than to be the reason why the Las Vegas Raiders don’t have the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft? Besides, Kansas City has already put most of its top starters on injured reserve and certainly could find ‘issues’ to hold out other top players come Sunday. Meanwhile, Pete Carroll is fighting for his job and could see a victory in Week 18 as a potential Lovie Smith-caliber revenge against the franchise that may fire him.
Related: Las Vegas Raiders Offseason Moves that Should be Made
Los Angeles Rams 28, Arizona Cardinals 17
The Los Angeles Rams will know by the end of Saturday night if they are playing for anything on Sunday. If the 49ers win, Los Angeles is locked into the NFC’s No. 6 seed and a potential first-round matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. If Seattle wins, then the Rams would face the NFC South winner as long as they beat the Arizona Cardinals. The thing is, with how Arizona has performed lately, even Jimmy Garoppolo and Blake Corum could wind up beating the Cardinals’ defense.
New England Patriots 27, Miami Dolphins 17
The New England Patriots can earn the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage in the AFC with a victory and a loss by the Broncos on Sunday. Both games are kicking off at the same time; however, Mike Vrabel will not get a definitive answer until very late Sunday afternoon. Consequently, the Patriots will not have any excuse to take their proverbial foot off the gas. Perhaps the Miami Dolphins will show a little extra fight to try to play spoiler, but that seems unlikely with Quinn Ewers under center.
Philadelphia Eagles 27, Washington Commanders 10
The Washington Commanders might try to be a little feisty considering the fracas that broke out the last time they faced the Philadelphia Eagles, but the talent differential between these two teams is massive. Besides, Chicago’s game kicks off at the same time, so it is not as if the Eagles will know one way or another which playoff seed they are locked into, even at halftime. Jalen Hurts and Co. must use this game as a chance to get the offense back on track before the playoffs begin.
Baltimore Ravens 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 16
The Pittsburgh Steelers needed to win in Week 17, but they could not. That loss, in addition to the DK Metcalf suspension, may very well cost them a playoff spot. With Metcalf and Darnell Washington (broken arm) sidelined, there is virtually no Steelers’ passing game to speak of here. It also feels as though John Harbaugh has finally learned that this Baltimore Ravens’ offense can function properly when Derrick Henry is treated like a workhorse. The Ravens can shut down the Steelers’ ground game, and if that is off the table, Pittsburgh has little else it can depend on offensively.
