The 2025 NFL regular season concludes this weekend and the playoffs will get going during the second weekend of January. All seven spots are settled but both conferences still have division winners to be decided and that will be the focus on Saturday and Sunday.
The three biggest games in Week Eighteen will be between the Carolina Panthers (8-8) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) for the NFC South division title while the San Francisco 49ers (12-4) host the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) to decide the NFC West title and the top seed in the NFC. Both of those games take place on Saturday while on Sunday Night Football, the AFC North crown showdown will be in Pittsburgh as the Steelers (9-7) take on the Baltimore Ravens (8-8), who stayed alive last weekend when they defeated the Green Bay Packers while the Steelers blew a chance to wrap things up as they lost to the Cleveland Browns.
The Denver Broncos (13-3) can wrap up the top seed in the AFC playoff chase if they win at home against the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5), who will be resting Justin Herbert, their starting quarterback. The Chargers have already clinched a wild card playoff spot, so they are looking to be healthy and ready to go when the playoffs begin in the second weekend of January. Meanwhile, the New England Patriots (13-3) can still get the top AFC spot with a win against the Miami Dolphins (7-9) and a loss by Denver against the L.A. Chargers.
The final games for the 2025 regular season are featured in the capsule style format and the Heftyinfo predictions follow up.
Happy New Year!
Carolina Panthers (8-8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) - This game is for the NFC South title . . . toss up.
Seattle Seahawks (13-3) at San Francisco 49ers (12-4) - This game is for the NFC West title and the top seed in the NFC playoffs. Toss up.
New Orleans Saints (6-10) at Atlanta Falcons (7-9) - Yet another toss up in this one between two teams finishing up the schedule.
N.Y. Jets (3-13) at Buffalo Bills (11-5) - The Bills are already in the AFC playoffs, so who knows how many starters will play.
Detroit Lions (8-8) at Chicago Bears (11-5) - The Bears have incentive to win to remain in the number two spot in the NFC playoffs.
Cleveland Browns (4-12) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-10) - The battle of Ohio . . . is it really worth fighting for?
L.A. Chargers (11-5) at Denver Broncos (13-3) - The Chargers are resting starters, including starting quarterback Justin Herbert . . . take the Broncos.
Indianapolis Colts (8-8) at Houston Texans (11-5) - Texans need to win and hope the Jacksonville Jaguars lose to win the AFC South title.
Tennessee Titans (3-13) at Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) - Jaguars riding a seven game win streak and a win here assures them of the AFC South crown.
Arizona Cardinals (3-13) at L.A. Rams (11-5) - Rams looking to right the ship in the season finale heading into the playoffs.
Kansas City Chiefs (6-10) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-14) - Who cares?
Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) at Minnesota Vikings (8-8) - The Packers are locked into the seventh seed in the NFC playoffs; Vikings looking to finish season on a high note.
Miami Dolphins (7-9) at New England Patriots (13-3) - Patriots roll !
Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1) at N.Y. Giants (3-13) - Cowboys fell off recently and will be looking to finish at .500 this season.
Washington Commanders (4-12) at Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) - Eagles could still get the number two seed in the NFC, so they have some motivation in the regular season home finale.
Baltimore Ravens (8-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) - The Sunday night game and the winner of this one wins the AFC North and the wild card round home playoff game . . . the loser is going on vacation until next season.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week Eighteen . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
Tampa Bay over Carolina
San Francisco over Seattle
Atlanta over New Orleans
Buffalo over N.Y. Jets
Chicago over Detroit
Cincinnati over Cleveland
Denver over L.A. Chargers
Houston over Indianapolis
Jacksonville over Tennessee
L.A. Rams over Arizona
Kansas City over Las Vegas
Minnesota over Green Bay
NEW ENGLAND over Miami
Dallas over N.Y. Giants
Philadelphia over Washington
Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Last Week's Record - 9-7
SEASON RECORD - 166-89-1
Lock of the Week Record - 15-2
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