The last week distributes two tickets to the playoffs, defines the seeding in both conferences and confirms the first overall selection of the draft
We reach the final week of the regular season and there is still a lot at stake for some teams.
Saturday's doubleheader delivers the final berth to the National Conference playoffs in the match between Carolina Panthers y Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the afternoon, at night it will define the No. 1 seed in the NFC and the West champion with the visit of the Seattle Seahawks to the San Francisco 49ers.
On Sunday it will be confirmed if Las Vegas Raiders oh go New York Giants They keep the first overall pick in the draft.
In the last game of the Week 18 –and the regular season– Baltimore Ravens they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers with the AFC North ticket and the last ticket to the American Conference postseason at stake.
These are the reasons not to miss the rest of the games of Week 18.
Note: For this edition we are focusing only on matches where something was directly at stake.
Carolina Panthers en Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saturday, 16:30 ET | 15:30 CDMX
ESPN/ABC in the United States | ESPN y Disney+ in Mexico and Latin America
What is at stake? The NFC South title and the last berth to the National Conference playoffs
The victory in Week 17 of the Falcons has removed the category of elimination game from the contest between the Panthers and Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
For the Bucs, the game is transcendental, however, they no longer control their destiny 100 percent because even winning they can be out of the playoffs. Tampa Bay has been quite inconsistent and only has one win in its most recent eight games. The inconsistency has been reflected in the second part of the season and despite being at home, it will not be easy for them to win. Baker Mayfield has averaged two interceptions in his last two games and this is a point against him.
Quite the opposite with the Panthers who, although they have just lost, have had a better end to the season. They already defeated the Bucs a couple of weeks ago and if they repeat it this Saturday afternoon, they will be ending a nine-year streak without making the playoffs. — Enrique Ortega
Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers
Saturday, 20 ET | 19 CDMX
ESPN/ABC in the United States | ESPN y Disney+ in Mexico and Latin America
What is at stake? The NFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the National Conference
Seattle (13-3) and San Francisco (12-4) gave us two of the most striking games of the season last week and in both cases they came out on the victorious side, thus setting the stage for another clash that could be of epic proportions between these divisional rivals and with great implications on the road to the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks have been the most consistent team in the National Conference and in other campaigns they would already have the home field advantage in the playoffs, but now they must avenge the Gambusinos' Week 1 loss at home to force all National Conference games to go through Seattle.
For its part, San Francisco has the second best record in the entire National League and yet, due to the seeding of the division champions, it currently occupies fifth position and would visit the South champion, but a victory against Seattle would allow them to play the entire postseason at home, including the Super Bowl. — Luis Miguel Vasavilbaso
Tennessee Titans en Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, 13 ET | 12 CDMX
FOX in the United States | Channel 5 in Mexico
What is at stake? AFC South title
Cam Ward and the Titans have come into their own in recent weeks and could put the Jaguars, who are currently assured of a home game in the playoffs, in serious trouble.
Jacksonville has had a great season despite not having the spotlight on them and that makes them a dangerous team, however, they cannot allow mistakes from now on if they want to transcend to become a serious team and finally make that pending leap to the Super Bowl.
Tennessee plays with the motivation of ruining the plans of a division rival and Jacksonville with the pressure of the favorite and the need to obtain a victory to avoid losing the AFC South title. — Erick Cervantes There
Cam Ward is a magician 🪄
NOvsTEN on CBS/Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/3xKTWruCgB
— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2025
Indianapolis Colts en Houston Texans
Sunday, 13 ET | 12 CDMX
CBS in the United States | Fox Sports in Mexico in Mexico
What is at stake? AFC South title
Indianapolis is one of the great disappointments of the season, after having the best record in the NFL in the middle of the season, since the trade deadline they have only won once and are eliminated in the last week. The return of Phillip Rivers was not enough to stay in contention and now they will give rookie quarterback Riley Leonard the opportunity to start the game.
Houston is already qualified for the playoffs, having overcome a three-game losing streak to start the season. The Texans, with their great defense, will seek to win their twelfth game of the year and continue with their aspiration to be champions of the South division. They need the victory and for Jacksonville to fall to the Titans to aspire to win their division. — Enrique Ortega
Dallas Cowboys en New York Giants
Sunday, 13 ET | 12 CDMX
FOX in the United States
What is at stake? The first overall draft pick
A rivalry that in recent years has been tilted towards the Cowboys. Before this match, they are on a nine-game winning streak. And New York has only won one game since 2017, for this match it seems that the trend can be repeated.
Dallas is no longer playing for anything, but the offense is still one of the best in the NFL and it is the last showcase that George Pickens will have to show that he deserves a big contract, because he will be a free agent for next season. In the same vein is running back Javonte Williams who has also had a good revenge with Dallas.
The Giants, with only two wins, are on track to have the second pick in the draft and it seems that nothing can move them due to their terrible record against Dallas. The offense has been greatly diminished by injuries to Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo. — Enrique Ortega
Kansas City Chiefs en Las Vegas Raiders
Sunday, 16:25 ET | 15:25 CDMX
CBS in the United States
What is at stake? The first overall draft pick
Will this really be the last game of Travis Kelce's career? Something tells me that that competitive spirit will not allow him to leave the NFL with such a low grade and such an illustrious career of what could be the best tight end in history deserves to end at least playing for something in January.
On the Raiders side, they are in the driver's seat to end up with the first overall pick in the draft and seem to be trying to achieve it for a few weeks now, but if for some reason they win on Sunday they will need a loss for the Giants to choose at the top of the draft in the spring. — Erick Cervantes There
Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos
Sunday, 16:25 ET | 15:25 CDMX
CBS in the United States | Channel 5 in Mexico
What is at stake? The No. 1 seed in the American Conference
The 'Wild West' finally changed hands and Denver (13-3) can boast that they ended the reign of the Chiefs, something that their current rival, the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5), also appreciates, but the time has come to see for yourself and the great implications that this clash in Colorado has.
Bo Nix and company have everything in their hands to force all American Conference games to take place at Empower Field, but in Massachusetts they will also be very attentive to what happens in this game and to know if they can aspire to home field.
In turn, the Chargers have been in postseason mode for several weeks, but they did not come out well in their last home game when they lost to the Texans and that is why now their seeding is so volatile since they can go from fifth to seventh position. — Luis Miguel Vasavilbaso
Miami Dolphins en New England Patriots
Sunday, 16:25 ET | 15:25 CDMX
FOX in the United States | Fox Sports in Mexico
What is at stake? The No. 1 seed in the American Conference
This is the type of game that head coach Mike McDaniel needs to send the message that he is the right man to lead the Dolphins into the future, regardless of the poor results with Tua Tagovailoa as their quarterback.
If Miami's players really love their head coach they will go out and play with that extra in an adverse climate in New England to prevent their division rivals from finishing as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, although to be honest this does not depend entirely on the Patriots, since if Denver wins its game against the Chargers the result in Foxborough will be irrelevant.
So New England faces the dilemma of going out to play with all its strength to win a game that could have no meaning or rest its starters with the risk of wasting the opportunity to receive the playoffs at home in the event of a Broncos loss.
If you were coach Mike Vrabel, what decision would you make? — Erick Cervantes There
Baltimore Ravens en Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, 20:20 ET 19:20 CDMX
NBC/Peacock in the United States | ESPN y Disney+ in Mexico and Latin America
What is at stake? The AFC North title and the last berth to the National Conference playoffs
Despite so many low moments, inconsistency and unexpected defeats, Pittsburgh (9-7) and Baltimore (8-8) have the great opportunity to seal their ticket to the playoffs at the expense of their greatest rival in recent years and in addition to traveling to the postseason, staying for at least one year with the 'bragging rights' in one of the most intense rivalries in recent years in the NFL.
Myles Garrett was the first to 'throw a jab' at the Steelers last Sunday by pointing out that they seemed more focused on containing him than thinking about the victory that would have given them the AL North crown, but we have to thank the Pittsburgh team for having a game of this magnitude in Week 18.
Meanwhile, some Ravens who were hopeless revived with the best performance of the year by Derrick Henry and will now seek to repeat the dose to sneak into the postseason, where no one will want to see Lamar Jackson and company.
The tie continues to benefit the Steelers. — Luis Miguel Vasavilbaso
Which Rodgers will we see against the Ravens in Pittsburgh?
Great direct elimination game and a great rivalry in the division. Neither team has had a regular season, but Baltimore They found the formula for their success last week by handing the ball over 30 times to Derrick Henry; That has to be their way of winning. It is their identity and main strength and they have to bet on that.
Pittsburgh They do not have an explosive attack and with DK Metcalf outside they lose their main vertical threat – and it was notorious against Cleveland-. The bet is on the ground game since Aaron Rodgers Recover your memory and present one of your versions of the past. Even for that reason it is an attractive game because what Rodgers will we see; It will be the last time we see him playing in the NFL? — Ciro Procuna
