Week 18 Winners and Postseason Bracket Prediction
Week 18 is here, and the playoff implications are as crazy as ever. We took a look at every matchup today and the impact on the playoffs each one will have. We also created what we believe will be the playoff bracket after all the dust settles tonight.
Spot Already Locked
AFC
1 Seed – Baltimore
3 Seed – Kansas City
5 Seed – Cleveland Browns
NFC
1 Seed – San Francisco
Matchups That Matter
Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins
This is a win or go home game for Buffalo. If they beat Miami, they will win the AFC East and move into the 2 seed. With a Miami win, Buffalo goes home. It would take a Jacksonville loss at Tennessee for Buffalo to stay in and grab the 7th seed. Winner: Buffalo Bills
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers
If Tampa Bay beats Carolina, they win the NFC South. A loss and they are eliminated. To be honest, if the Buccaneers don’t beat Carolina, they don’t deserve to be in the playoffs anyway. This is arguably the easiest opponent in the NFL to have in this spot. Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints
Staying in the NFC South, if the Saints win their game and the Buccaneers lose, the Saints claim a spot in the playoffs with a division crown. Winner: New Orleans Saints
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans
With Houston’s win yesterday, Jacksonville has to win, or they will forfeit the division and miss out on the playoffs altogether. If a team is going to miss the playoffs, like the Titans are, there can’t be a better spot to be in than a home Week 18 game against a division rival and a chance to kick them out of the playoffs. The Jaguars aren’t going to be able to coast to a win. They’re going to get Tennessee’s best shot. Winner: Tennessee Titans
Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Commanders
If Dallas wins, they take the NFC East. If they lose and Philadelphia wins, they will get bumped to the 5th seed. Philadelphia’s loss to Arizona last weekend was massive. It’s the difference between Dallas likely having at least one home playoff game (probably two) and zero home playoff games. The Eagles really screwed themselves. Winner: Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants
As I said above, Philadelphia has to win to still have a shot at the NFC East title. They currently own the 5th seed, and a loss doesn’t change that. Winner: Philadelphia Eagles
Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers already have the one seed and they’re benching their players because of it. Los Angeles has locked up either the sixth or seventh seed and they don’t care which one they get as they’re resting their players too. They will play Detroit in the first round unless they lose and Green Bay wins. Winner: San Francisco 49ers
Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers
Packers win and they’re in. Lose and they’re out. Winner: Chicago Bears
Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals
Seattle has to win in order to have a shot, but they will also need a Green Bay loss. Winner: Seattle Seahawks
Games with No Impact
Cleveland @ Cincinnati
Minnesota @ Detroit
New York Jets @ New England
Kansas City @ Los Angeles Chargers
Denver @ Las Vegas
Predicted Playoff Bracket
