NFL full Week 18 schedule 2025: Steeler vs Ravens flexed to Sunday night, two games moved to Saturday, teams, preview
NFL Week 18 schedule: NFL regural Season Final Week matchups preview, teams needs
Panthers at Buccaneers (-3, 43.5)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET
There is still a slim scenario where Tampa Bay wins this game but fails to capture the NFC South, but it would require a significant Week 17 upset with Atlanta beating the Rams on Monday night. Assuming that doesn’t happen, this is a straightforward win-and-in situation: the winner hosts a playoff game, while the loser is left wondering what went wrong. Expect plenty of discussion about the oddity of an 8–9 or 9–8 division winner hosting a 12- or 13-win team.
Carolina beat Tampa Bay 23–20 in Week 16 as road underdogs, and the market has reacted accordingly. The Buccaneers’ recent struggles have led to a modest adjustment, with Circa opening at -3 and DraftKings briefly touching -3.5.
Seahawks (-1.5, 49.5) at 49ers
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET
One of the marquee games of Week 18 features major stakes in the NFC West, with the division title and a first-round bye on the line. San Francisco could realistically chart a Super Bowl path without leaving home, as Super Bowl 60 will be played at Levi’s Stadium. Reaching 14–3 may be necessary just to win the division, which highlights how thin the margins are between a bye and a road playoff game.
The opening lines reflected some disagreement between books, with DraftKings posting Seahawks -1.5 while FanDuel opened 49ers -1.5 after San Francisco’s Sunday night win.
Saints at Falcons (-2.5, 43.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
This game only carries playoff relevance if Atlanta pulls off a Monday night upset against the Rams. If not, it’s a pride game for both teams. New Orleans has been playing hard down the stretch, and the organization is fully aware of the importance of Tyler Shough’s late-season performance as he pushes for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. A strong finish would give the Saints a five-game winning streak to close the year.
Atlanta hasn’t mailed it in either, and despite limited stakes, both teams should bring solid effort. DraftKings opened Falcons -3, while FanDuel sat at -2.5 with juice.
Cowboys (-4.5, 52.5) at Giants
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
This matchup carries no playoff implications. Jaxson Dart finishes his rookie season, while Dallas heads into another offseason filled with uncertainty. While the Giants have draft position to consider, players rarely tank, and both teams should show up and compete.
Dallas opened between -4.5 and -5.5 depending on the book, and early bettors were comfortable laying the number.
Browns at Bengals (-7, 43.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
The biggest storyline here is Myles Garrett’s pursuit of the single-season sack record. Cleveland’s draft position also looms large after last week’s win. Cincinnati, meanwhile, is simply trying to close the season on a positive note behind Joe Burrow and carry momentum into a crucial offseason.
Despite uncertainty surrounding Kevin Stefanski’s future, the Browns continue to play hard, and every snap matters for Shedeur Sanders’ development. Cincinnati opened anywhere from -6.5 to -8.5 depending on the sportsbook.
Colts at Texans (-10, 40.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Indianapolis is still undecided at quarterback, with Philip Rivers and Riley Leonard both in consideration. Given that the Colts went winless with Rivers, there’s an argument for giving Leonard extended work in the finale.
Houston enters at 11–5 and owns key head-to-head tiebreakers over both Buffalo and the Chargers. The Texans can still win the division but would need Jacksonville to stumble against Tennessee.
Titans at Jaguars (-10.5, 46)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Jacksonville needs a win to secure the AFC South, and the opening line reflected that urgency. Expect the Jaguars to push early before potentially managing snaps in the second half. Tennessee has played competitively of late, but Jacksonville’s recent form suggests they should handle business.
This game also has live-betting implications, as Houston could adjust its approach if Jacksonville jumps out to a big lead.
Packers at Vikings (-6.5, 37.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Green Bay’s playoff seed is locked in regardless of the outcome, making this a low-stakes game for the Packers. With Jordan Love sidelined last week, he’s expected to sit again. Malik Willis impressed in his place, accounting for over 340 total yards and three touchdowns.
Minnesota continues to compete despite injuries and quarterback instability and can cap a winning season with a victory. The line strongly suggests Clayton Tune will start for Green Bay.
Commanders at Eagles (-7.5, 42.5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Philadelphia survived a messy win over Buffalo and still has a shot at the No. 2 seed, but the Eagles have issues to resolve. They were shut out passing in the second half and barely held on despite a 13–0 lead.
Nick Sirianni could choose to rest key players, especially given the team’s depth. The opening line implies that Jalen Hurts and other starters may sit, making this more of a controlled tune-up than a must-win situation.
Dolphins at Patriots (-10.5, 46.5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Quinn Ewers earned his first win as a starter last week, and Miami has a chance to finish the season with positive momentum. New England remains tied atop the division with Denver, but without a head-to-head result, the Broncos currently hold the tiebreaker.
With Denver facing a tricky matchup, Mike Vrabel may have strategic decisions to make regarding personnel and approach.
Jets at Bills (-11.5, 39.5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
After a blowout loss to New England, the Jets could be in for another rough outing. Buffalo, however, has little incentive to push Josh Allen in a meaningless game. It would not be surprising to see Allen limited or held out entirely, potentially giving Mitchell Trubisky the start.
Oddsmakers appear to be guarding against that possibility, keeping the line lower than it would be if Buffalo were fully motivated. With Houston playing earlier, the Bills will have clarity before kickoff.
Chiefs (-6.5, 35.5) at Raiders
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Chris Oladokun closes out a disappointing season for Kansas City, which will finish outside the playoffs for the first time since the schedule expanded. Fatigue and injuries have caught up to the Chiefs, who have dropped five straight.
Las Vegas would benefit from a loss for draft positioning, though players rarely cooperate with that idea. Despite resting key stars, the Raiders still aren’t favored over Kansas City for the first time since 2012.
Chargers at Broncos (-7.5, 38.5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Denver is playing for a bye and potential home-field advantage, while the Chargers are hoping to climb to the No. 5 seed. While matchup preference matters, both teams must weigh health versus seeding.
Denver has more incentive, particularly with altitude and weather working in its favor, and the value of a bye at this stage of the season can’t be overstated.
Lions at Bears (-1.5, 49.5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Chicago faces a difficult choice: push for the No. 2 seed or prioritize rest ahead of the playoffs. The Bears hold the tiebreaker over Philadelphia, meaning a win combined with an Eagles victory could vault them to the second seed.
Oddsmakers appear undecided on how Chicago will approach the game, leaving bettors to interpret motivation on their own.
Cardinals at Rams (45.5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
This game could carry significant seeding implications. The Rams are eyeing the No. 5 seed, which would likely result in a favorable Wild Card matchup against the NFC South champion. San Francisco currently holds the tiebreaker, but they face a tougher opponent in Seattle.
With the Seahawks and 49ers playing Saturday, the Rams will know exactly what’s at stake before kickoff.
Ravens (-3, 42.5) at Steelers
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
This primetime matchup is as straightforward as it gets, with the winner earning a playoff spot. The NFL placed it in the Sunday night window because no outside results matter.
The spread has hovered around Ravens -3, with the total opening between 42.5 and 43.5. Assuming Lamar Jackson gets through the week healthy, it would be a surprise if he didn’t play given what’s on the line.
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