2025 NFL Week 18 Preview and Predictions

(8-8) Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

The final weekend of the 2025 NFL Regular Season starts with the Carolina Panthers needing one more victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to seal the NFC South! The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost yet again last time out against the Miami Dolphins, and they currently sit second in the NFC South! As it stands, The Buccaneers need multiple things to go their way in order to reach the Postseason! As for Carolina, they came up short at home to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17, but they do still currently lead the NFC South! If the season ended today, The Panthers would host the San Francisco 49ers on Super Wild Card Weekend! In the end, I’m picking The Panthers to seal the NFC South Title here! Whilst they’re still in Playoff contention even if they lose this game, I’m not sure Carolina are going to even come close to taking that chance, mostly because The Bucs are horrendous!

(13-3) Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (12-4)

The biggest game of the Regular Season takes place on Saturday Night Football as the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers collide for the right to be the NFC’s Number 1 seed! The San Francisco 49ers edged out the Chicago Bears in a 42-38 thriller last Sunday Night, and they currently sit second in the NFC West! As it stands, The 49ers occupy the NFC’s Number 5 seed! As for Seattle, they picked up another win over the Carolina Panthers last time out, and they currently lead the NFC West! If the season ended today, The Seahawks would get a Bye straight through to the Divisional Round! In the end, I have to go with The Niners to take the Number 1 seed! Both of these teams are great; they’re both on 6-game winning streaks, but San Fran’s offense is potentially the key to unlocking Seattle’s incredible defense!

(6-10) New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons (7-9)

If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat the Carolina Panthers, this game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons all of a sudden becomes big! The Atlanta Falcons managed to stun the Los Angeles Rams on the final Monday Night Football of the Regular Season, and they currently find themselves third in the NFC South! As it stands, The Falcons are already out of Playoff contention! As for New Orleans, they managed to earn their 4th-straight win last time out over the Tennessee Titans, but they do still currently sit bottom of the NFC South! If the season ended today, The Saints would still receive a Top 10 Draft Pick! In the end, I’m going with The Falcons over The Saints! Firstly, I don’t see The Buccaneers beating The Panthers, but even if they do, I think Atlanta will get Carolina over the line, despite New Orleans’ upturn in form!

(4-12) Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

The Cincinnati Bengals thrashed the Arizona Cardinals last weekend, and they currently sit third in the AFC North! As it stands, The Bengals currently have the 9th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft! As for Cleveland, they managed to ruin the Pittsburgh Steelers’ celebration last time out, but they do still currently find themselves last in the AFC North! If the season ended today, The Browns would get the Number 7 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft! In the end, Cincinnati will win this game comfortably! Out of the two Ohio teams, The Bengals are far superior to The Browns (even though Cleveland won last week)!

(9-6-1) Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

The Minnesota Vikings ruined the Detroit Lions’ Playoff hopes on Christmas Day, and they currently sit third in the NFC North! As it stands, The Vikings are just one win away from ending the 2025 Season with a positive record! As for Green Bay, they lost comfortably at home to the Baltimore Ravens last time out, and they currently find themselves second in the NFC North! If the season ended today, The Packers would be travelling to Chicago to take on The Bears in the Wild Card Round of the Playoffs! In the end, Minnesota will win this game! The Packers look completely destroyed right now, but thanks to their opponents in this game, they’re still making the Playoffs regardless!

(7-8-1) Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants (3-13)

The New York Giants managed to thrash the Las Vegas Raiders last time out, but they do still currently sit bottom of the NFC East! As it stands, The Giants are the second-worst team in the National Football League! As for Dallas, they beat the Washington Commanders on Christmas Day, and they currently find themselves second in the NFC East! If the season ended today, The Cowboys would make the 14th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft! In the end, I expect Dallas to beat New York at MetLife Stadium! I don’t know why, but there’s something insanely satisfying about the Dallas Cowboys ending the season at 8-8-1!

(3-13) Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)

The Jacksonville Jaguars are one win over the Tennessee Titans away from sealing the AFC South crown! The Jacksonville Jaguars earned a strong win in Indianapolis last weekend, and they currently lead the AFC South! As it stands, The Jaguars occupy the AFC’s Number 3 seed! As for Tennessee, they lost 34-26 to the New Orleans Saints last time out, and they currently sit bottom of the AFC South! If the season ended today, The Titans would get the Number 4 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft! In the end, Jacksonville will become the latest AFC South Champions! It’s not impossible for The Jags to get the Number 1 seed yet, but their main focus should be on securing the Division Title!

(8-8) Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans (11-5)

The Houston Texans made it 8-straight wins with a great victory over the Los Angeles Chargers last Saturday, and they currently find themselves second in the AFC South! As it stands, The Texans are on for the AFC’s Number 5 seed! As for Indianapolis, they lost yet against last time out against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and they currently sit third in the AFC South! If the season ended today, The Colts would end up as the best team not to make the Playoffs! In the end, I expect Houston to breeze past Indianapolis! The 2025 Season has unfortunately fallen apart for The Colts, but The Texans are positioning themselves as quite the force to break down!

(3-13) New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills (11-5)

The Buffalo Bills suffered a disappointing 13-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend, and they currently sit second in the AFC East! As it stands, The Bills occupy the 7th and final spot in the AFC Playoffs! As for New York, they got smashed 42-10 by the New England Patriots last time out, and they currently find themselves last in the AFC East! If the season ended today, The Jets would acquire a Top 3 Draft Pick! In the end, this should be a cakewalk for Buffalo! Even if most of their star players get rested, The Bills are still playing the New York Jets!

(8-8) Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears (11-5)

The Chicago Bears lost 38-42 in an epic Sunday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers last weekend, but they do still currently lead the NFC North! As it stands, The Bears occupy the NFC’s Number 2 seed! As for Detroit, their hearts got crushed last time out by the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day (of all days!), and they currently sit bottom of the NFC North! If the season ended today, The Lions would at least gain from an easier schedule next season! In the end, Chicago have what it takes to win this game! I do think that The Lions will be up for winning this game, but I rate The Bears higher!

(11-5) Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (13-3)

The Denver Broncos task is simple: beat a much-rotated Los Angeles Chargers side to seal the AFC’s Number 1 seed! The Denver Broncos bounced back on Christmas Night with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs, and they currently lead the AFC West! As it stands, The Broncos are in Pole Position to enter the AFC side of the Playoffs as the Number 1 seed! As for LA, they suffered a tough loss last time out at home against the Houston Texans, and they currently sit second in the AFC West! If the season ended today, The Chargers would take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Super Wild Card Weekend! In the end, The Broncos are heavy favourites to win this game for a reason! The Chargers will be more than happy to rest their key players ahead of the Postseason, and that should be music to the ears of anyone who is situated in Denver!

(6-10) Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)

The Las Vegas Raiders got thrashed by the New York Giants last time out, and they currently find themselves last in the AFC West! As it stands, The Raiders are the worst team in the entire NFL! As for Kansas City, they lost at home to the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day, and they currently sit third in the AFC West! If the season ended today, The Chiefs would get a Top 10 Draft Pick! In the end, I’m actually going to say that the Las Vegas Raiders will win this game! Honestly, it would sum up The Chiefs’ season, and would also potentially cost The Raiders the Number 1 pick in the Draft (which would be pretty hilarious)!

(3-13) Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams (11-5)

The Los Angeles Rams were shocked again by the Atlanta Falcons on Week 17’s Monday Night Football, and they currently sit third in the NFC West! As it stands, The Rams are on to take the NFC’s Number 6 seed! As for Arizona, they got thrashed yet again last time out in Cincinnati (by The Bengals), and they currently find themselves bottom of the NFC West! If the season ended today, The Cardinals would receive the 5th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft! In the end, The Rams should smash The Cardinals! Realistically, the LA Rams need to build some confidence back after the last couple of weeks, and Arizona are the perfect opportunity to do just that!

(7-9) Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (13-3)

The New England Patriots smashed the New York Jets 42-10 last weekend, and they currently lead the AFC East! As it stands, The Patriots are the Number 2 seed in the AFC! As for Miami, they managed to knock off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last time out, and they currently sit third in the AFC East! If the season ended today, The Dolphins would just miss out on a Top 10 Draft Pick! In the end, New England will win this game, but it won’t be enough for them to take the Number 1 seed! Still, a 14-3 record is a very impressive achievement for The Patriots!

(4-12) Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

The Philadelphia Eagles earned themselves a great win in Buffalo last time out, and they currently lead the NFC East! As it stands, The Eagles are the NFC’s Number 3 seed, but they can still rise to Number 2 status! As for Washington, they lost to the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day, and they currently sit third in the NFC East! If the season ended today, The Commanders would get the Number 6 Pick in this year’s Draft! In the end, this should be another win for Philly! The Eagles are far too strong for The Commanders to deal with, but we’ll have to wait and see whether it’s enough for them to get the Number 2 seed!

(8-8) Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

The final game of the 2025 NFL Regular Season sees the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Baltimore Ravens, live on Sunday Night Football, for the right to be named AFC North Champions! The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a horrendous loss in Cleveland against The Browns last time out, but they do still currently lead the AFC North! As it stands, The Steelers are set to take the Number 4 seed heading into the Playoffs! As for Baltimore, they kept their season alive with a strong win in Green Bay on last weekend’s Saturday Night Football, and they currently sit second in the AFC North! If the season ended today, The Ravens would miss out on the Playoffs for the first time since 2022! In the end, I’m going to say that Baltimore will nick the AFC North Title from under Pittsburgh’s nose! If this is to be the last game in the career of Aaron Rodgers, that would be sad, but honestly, The Steelers blew it last week!