Heading into Week 18 of the NFL season, there are nine teams with double-digit wins and 11 with records of 9-8 or 8-8. Thus, several games this week could decide the fate of one or both team’s playoff and Super Bowl hopes.
Below, we’ll review five of the most critical games regarding playoff implications. Keep in mind, though, that there are plenty more than five.
Colts vs. Texans
- Point spread: Texans , Colts
- Moneyline: Texans , Colts
- Total:
This is one of the more direct games regarding how the results might impact playoff implications. The Houston Texans defeated the Tennessee Titans in Week 17, 26-3. Quarterback C.J. Stroud passed for 213 yards and a touchdown.
The Indianapolis Colts won in Week 17, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders by a score of 23-20. Quarterback Gardner Minshew had 224 passing yards and a touchdown. Running back Jonathan Taylor had 21 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Playoff scenarios
- Texans can clinch the AFC South title with a win plus a Jaguars loss/tie.
- Texans can clinch a playoff berth with a tie, a Jaguars loss, and a Steelers loss/tie.
- Colts can clinch a playoff berth with a win or tie plus a Steelers loss/tie.
Ravens vs. Steelers
- Point spread: Steelers , Ravens
- Moneyline: Steelers , Ravens
- Total:
The Baltimore Ravens are the No. 1 seed in the AFC and will be sitting quarterback Lamar Jackson. Tyler Huntley will draw the start. The Pittsburgh Steelers will need some assistance to make the postseason, but it starts (mostly) with a win here over the Ravens. They are favorites, with Mason Rudolph under center. They beat the Seahawks in Week 17 by a score of 30-23. Rudolph had 274 passing yards.
Playoff scenarios
The Steelers can clinch a playoff berth in the following ways:
- Win plus a Buffalo loss.
- Win plus a Jaguars loss or tie.
- Win plus a Texans/Colts tie.
- Tie plus a Jaguars loss and Texans/Colts not ending in a tie.
- Jaguars lose, Broncos win, and the Texans/Colts game does not end in a tie.
Bills vs. Dolphins
- Point spread: Bills , Dolphins
- Moneyline: Bills , Dolphins
- Total:
The AFC East crown will be determined in Week 18. The Buffalo Bills are favored on the road over the Miami Dolphins. The Bills notched a 27-21 victory over the Patriots in Week 17, while the Dolphins lost on the road to the Ravens, 56-19. Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is dealing with an ankle injury. During practice on Wednesday, his home caught fire, and he left the session early.
Against the Ravens, Hill finished with 76 receiving yards. Against the Patriots, Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed 15 of 30 passes for 169 yards.
Playoff scenarios
- The Dolphins would clinch the AFC East with a win over the Bills or a tie.
- The Bills would clinch the AFC East with a win over the Dolphins.
The Bills can clinch a playoff spot in the following ways aside from a win:
- Tie versus the Dolphins.
- A Steelers loss/tie.
- A Jaguars loss/tie.
- A Texans/Colts tie.
Falcons vs. Saints
- Point spread: Falcons , Saints
- Moneyline: Falcons , Saints
- Total:
The NFC South has three teams in the hunt for a playoff spot, and there is a scenario where two teams could get in, but it would involve one of the two NFC South games and more for that to happen. First up are the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. The Falcons lost on the road last week, allowing 37 points to the Chicago Bears and scoring 17.
The Saints defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road in Week 17, holding them to 13 points and scoring 23. Saints quarterback Derek Carr had 197 passing yards and two touchdowns. Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield had 309 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Playoff scenarios
- Falcons would clinch the NFC South title with a win and a Buccaneers loss.
- Saints would clinch the NFC South with a win plus a Buccaneers loss or if they tie with the Falcons and the Buccaneers lose.
- The Saints can also reach the playoffs by winning and the Seahawks and Packers each losing or tying.
- Lastly, the Saints can make the postseason with a tie in addition to the Seahawks and Packers each losing.
Buccaneers vs. Panthers
- Point spread: Buccaneers , Panthers
- Moneyline: Buccaneers , Panthers
- Total:
While the Carolina Panthers have no playoff implications, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can control their fate with a win here. The Buccaneers scored just 13 in Week 17, but Mayfield had over 300 passing yards. The Panthers scored zero points in their Week 17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 19 of 32 for 112 yards and an interception. The Panthers converted one of 13 third downs and had 124 total yards of offense.
Playoff scenarios
- The Buccaneers can clinch the NFC South with a win or by tying and the Saints losing or tying against the Falcons.
- They can also clinch a playoff berth with a tie, the Seahawks losing, and the Packers losing/tying.
