It’s been a phenomenal NFL season, and Week 18 began with the Chiefs clinching the top seed in the AFC while the Jaguars won the AFC South Division after back-to-back years of having the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Now, a lot is on the line for the final Sunday of the regular season. The final spots in both conferences are up for grabs. For the AFC, it’s a battle between the Patriots, the Dolphins, and the Steelers. For the NFC, it’s a showdown between the Seahawks, Lions, and Packers. Let’s make our picks for a phenomenal final Sunday:
New England Patriots (8-8) at Buffalo Bills (12-3) (-8)
The Bills have been one of the NFL’s best teams. With Damar Hamlin recovering, they’re more motivated to win this game despite not being able to clinch the #1 seed in the AFC. With a win or a tie, the Patriots would clinch a playoff spot. However, the Bills are way too strong of a team, especially at home.
Tune in to Patriots at Bills at 1 PM ET on CBS.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) at Atlanta Falcons (6-10) (-4)
With a few names out, the Bucs will at least begin with their starters on the field. Tampa cannot move in the seeding, they are locked in as the #4 seed. However, I don’t see the team wanting a losing record going into Wild Card Weekend. The Buccaneers finish the regular season at 9-8.
Tune in to Buccaneers at Falcons at 1 PM ET on FOX.
Minnesota Vikings (12-4) (-7) at Chicago Bears (3-13)
Not only is Justin Fields out for the Bears, but the team isn’t good with or without him. The Vikings can get up to the #2 seed with a win and a 49ers loss or tie. With a loaded offense, I expect the Vikings to easily beat the Bears at Soldier Field.
Tune in to Vikings at Bears at 1 PM ET on FOX.
Baltimore Ravens (10-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) (-9.5)
The Bengals can either be the #2 or #3 seed in the AFC, which the #2 seed requires a win and a Bills loss. The Ravens can either be the #5 or #6 seed, which means there’s a lot on the line at Paycor Stadium. I think the Bengals are one of the best teams in football, and home-field advantage helps them beat the Ravens. Plus, Mark Andrews is inactive for Baltimore.
Tune in to Ravens at Bengals at 1 PM ET on CBS.
Houston Texans (2-13-1) at Indianapolis Colts (4-11-1) (-3)
This may be the weakest matchup of the week, as the two teams don’t have a lot to play for besides spots in the NFL Draft. I’m expecting a home win for the Colts to wrap up their season.
Tune in to Texans at Colts at 1 PM ET on CBS.
New York Jets (7-9) at Miami Dolphins (8-8) (-3.5)
The Jets are out of playoff contention, but that doesn’t mean this game isn’t important for a lot of teams. The Dolphins are in the hunt and can lock into the final spot in the AFC side of the NFL Playoffs with a win and a Patriots loss or tie. Tua Tagovailoa is out, with rookie Skylar Thompson starting at quarterback at Hard Rock Stadium. Joe Flacco will start at quarterback for the Jets, and even I don’t trust them to win even with a banged-up Dolphins team. I’m expecting a tough finish, but Miami winning at home in hopes of a postseason appearance.
Tune in to Jets at Dolphins at 1 PM ET on FOX.
Cleveland Browns (7-9) at Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) (-2.5)
The Steelers are at home with a playoff spot on the line, while the Browns are already eliminated from contention. The Steelers can get in, but they have to win or tie today and receive help from the Jets and Bills. I’m not trusting the Steelers’ offense, so I’m going with the Browns to create a little more chaos.
Tune in to Browns at Steelers at 1 PM ET on CBS.
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) at Denver Broncos (4-12) (-3)
This game depends on the Ravens-Bengals game. If the Ravens lose, which I think happens, I expect the Chargers to rest their starters since they would have clinched the #5 seed. It’s a late-window game, so the inactive list is not out yet. I expect Russell Wilson and the Broncos to finish a disappointing season with a win, but it could go either way depending on what happens in the 1 p.m. window and the Chargers’ decisions.
Tune in to Chargers at Broncos at 4:25 PM ET on CBS.
New York Giants (9-6-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) (-16.5)
The Giants are resting their starters, as they cannot move out of the #6 seed in the NFC. The Eagles will start the game at full strength, as they look to clinch the #1 seed in the NFC with a win or tie. They also have the NFC East Division on the line, so they could be seeded as low as #5. However, I don’t expect that to happen with the Giants conceding already.
Tune in to Giants at Eagles at 4:25 PM ET on CBS.
Arizona Cardinals (4-12) at San Francisco 49ers (12-4) (-14)
The Cardinals will be without eight offensive starters and have 19 total players on IR. The 49ers have a lot to play for as they can be seeded as high as #1 in the NFC and as low as #3. I expect a blowout in Santa Clara, with the Niners coming out on top.
Tune in to Cardinals at 49ers at 4:25 PM ET on FOX.
Los Angeles Rams (5-11) at Seattle Seahawks (8-8) (-5.5)
It’s a big day for the Seahawks, who are currently the #7 seed in the NFC. However, they have not clinched a playoff spot just yet. Seattle cannot afford to lose this game, as that would eliminate them from playoff contention. There are two ways they could get in: the easiest being a win and a Packers loss or tie. The other scenario includes the Seahawks tying, as well as the Lions, with the Commanders losing or tying. If the Seahawks win, it eliminates the Lions, who play the primetime game tonight. I’ll pick Geno Smith and the Seahawks, who seem to have won the Russell Wilson trade by a landslide.
Tune in to Rams at Seahawks at 4:25 PM ET on FOX.
Dallas Cowboys (12-4) (-7) at Washington Commanders (7-8-1)
The Commanders have been eliminated, but the Cowboys have yet to figure out where they will be seeded in the NFC. A perfect day for them would be to clinch the #1 seed and the NFC East Division, but they need to win and have the Eagles and 49ers lose (the 49ers could also tie) for that to happen. I expect them to win, but be the #5 seed at the end of the day.
Tune in to Cowboys at Commanders at 4:25 PM ET on FOX.
Detroit Lions (8-8) at Green Bay Packers (8-8) (-5)
I think Aaron Rodgers plays his best when the spotlight is on him the most, and playing on Sunday Night Football gives him the biggest spotlight. With a win, the Packers are in. It could be a win-and-in game for both Detroit and Green Bay if the Seahawks lose in the 4:25 window. I think the Packers sneak in with a close win at legendary Lambeau Field. If the Lions win this game, it’s because their offense stepped up.
Tune in to Lions at Packers at 8:20 PM ET on NBC.
Calhoun's Corner 