Week 18 action kicks off with a Saturday doubleheader, however, which features the Carolina Panthers at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC, and the Seattle Seahawks at the San Francisco 49ers at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC.

Four-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl XLV MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers guided the Pittsburgh Steelers back to the playoffs at the age of 42 after his 26-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin held up as the game winner in Game No. 272 against the Baltimore Ravens thanks to a missed 44-yard Ravens field goal at the buzzer.

The NFL Week 18 schedule is headlined by the 49ers and Seahawks to decide the NFC's No. 1 seed. See the NFL schedule for Week 18 in Nashville here.

Buried in that chaff, however, are a few stalks of gridiron wheat that can sustain us through to the Wild Card round of the 2026 NFL Playoffs. The first week of the new calendar year is set to deliver three different division title games -- including one that will determine the NFC's top seed and recipient of a roster-rejuvenating bye.

Get the opening NFL Week 18 odds with point spreads, Over/Unders, and football moneylines for every matchup starting on Jan. 3, 2026.

It was three years ago in the NFC Championship Game when the Philadelphia Eagles trounced the San Francisco 49ers 31-7 to advance to Super Bowl LVII. Brock Purdy was injured in that game, hindering San Francisco’s chances.

The top NFL survivor pool picks for Week 18 of the 2025 NFL season. Kevin's weekly survivor league pool targets and avoids -- expert picks for survivor leagues.

NFL playoff scenarios for Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears game. Who would winner play next? When would they play? Who would they play? Plan ahead.