The curtain falls on the thrilling 2025 NFL regular season this Sunday, with Week 18 poised to deliver a dramatic finale. While a dozen teams have already booked their tickets to the postseason, several crucial battles remain unresolved. The final Sunday of action will determine division champions, the coveted top seed in the AFC, and which team secures the last remaining playoff spot, setting the stage for an electrifying Super Bowl chase.
Playoff Picture: Who's In and Who's Fighting
As the league heads into the final weekend, the playoff field is nearly complete. Twelve teams have officially clinched their postseason berths across the American and National Football Conferences.
In the AFC, the confirmed entrants are the Denver Broncos (AFC West winners), New England Patriots (AFC East winners), Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans (wild card), Los Angeles Chargers (wild card), and the Buffalo Bills (wild card).
Over in the NFC, the teams celebrating early include the Seattle Seahawks (NFC West winners and current No. 1 seed), Chicago Bears (NFC North winners), Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East winners), San Francisco 49ers (wild card), Los Angeles Rams (wild card), and the Green Bay Packers (wild card, locked into the No. 7 seed).
The remaining drama centres on the final wild card spot in the AFC and the utterly unpredictable NFC South division title.
The High-Stakes Battles for Seeding and Survival
The race for the AFC's No. 1 seed and the precious first-round bye that comes with it is a three-way thriller. The Denver Broncos (13-3) control their destiny; a victory against the Los Angeles Chargers seals the top spot. They can still clinch it with a loss if both the Patriots and Jaguars also falter.
The New England Patriots (13-3) must defeat the Miami Dolphins and hope for a Broncos loss to jump into first place. The Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) have the toughest path, needing a win over the Tennessee Titans coupled with losses by both Denver and New England.
Division titles are also on the line. In the AFC South, Jacksonville can claim the crown with a win or tie against Tennessee. The Houston Texans (11-5) need a win over Indianapolis and a Jaguars loss to snatch the title and the higher No. 3 seed.
The AFC North will be decided in a winner-take-all Monday Night Football clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) and the Baltimore Ravens (8-8). The victor wins the division and a playoff berth; the loser's season ends.
NFC: Seahawks Secure Top Spot, South Remains Chaotic
The Seattle Seahawks (13-3) have locked up the NFC's No. 1 seed and the accompanying bye week, guaranteeing home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
Meanwhile, the NFC South has lived up to its reputation for unpredictability. After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers narrowly defeated the Carolina Panthers 16-14 on Saturday, the division remains up for grabs. The standings show Tampa Bay and Carolina both at 7-9, with the Atlanta Falcons at 8-8.
Everything now hinges on Sunday's game between Atlanta and the New Orleans Saints. An Atlanta win would trigger complex tiebreakers that currently favour the Carolina Panthers for the division title. However, a Saints victory would send the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the playoffs as the unlikely NFC South champions.
As the clock winds down on the 2025 NFL regular season, fans can expect a Sunday filled with tension, triumph, and heartbreak, perfectly setting the scene for the upcoming playoff spectacle.
