NFL Week 18 schedule rankings: Top 5 Sunday rivalry games with lasting stakes
SOURCE:The Athletic|BY:Steven Louis Goldstein
Week 18 is the league's true rivalry slate, with 16 divisional duels to round out the campaign.
It’s been 17 weeks of high drama, highlights and hijinks. Now, we cruise into the final Sunday of the NFL’s regular season. Take, take me home (has anyone else noticed this Phil Collins banger in every Monday night broadcast?).
Week 18 is the league’s true rivalry slate, with 16 divisional duels to round out the campaign. Sunday night eliminates 18 teams into the long winter, while 14 playoff entrants formally begin their Super Bowl quests. The two most consequential (Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers) have been flexed to Saturday, but there’s still a lot of weight on the rest of this TV lineup. To wrap up our weekly Sunday schedule rankings, here’s a look at the five enemy matchups with the highest stakes.
_In-market CBS and Fox games are free over the air. “Sunday Night Football” is a national broadcast, and NBC is also free over the air.
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Two honorable mentions to acknowledge:
There’s a tinge of hype to the New Orleans Saints (6-10) at Atlanta Falcons (7-9), mostly because of the latter’s ability to spoil Tampa Bay via a three-way tiebreaker. But that’s all washed out if Carolina wins on Saturday. If nothing else, Tyler Shough is finding a groove for New Orleans, and Atlanta can end on an encouraging four-game win streak.
There are also some implications to Miami Dolphins (7-9) at New England Patriots (13-3). But the Pats do not control their fate in pursuit of the AFC’s first seed (more on that below). And according to Ian Rapoport, Mike McDaniel is “likely to be back” with the Phins in 2026. It’s still worth watching for fans on either side, but the stakes are a bit adjusted. Now, for the top five …
5.Cleveland Browns (4-12) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)
It might be (extra) light on the playoff stakes, but Browns-Bengals carries long-term implications. For the hosts, it’s a last chance to remind Joe Burrow that football can be fun, before another early offseason creeps on. “If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing this,” Cincinnati’s franchise quarterback told the media on Dec. 10. A buoyant house party with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and the tiger-striped faithful would be the best way to finish this strange season.
And for the visitors, well, there’s much to consider. Kevin Stefanski, two-time NFL Coach of the Year, could be bidding to keep his job against Cleveland’s in-state nemesis. Shedeur Sanders gets a massive and urgent proving ground of his own. Above all, Myles Garrett goes for the NFL’s single-season sack mark. Like the QB he’ll chase around on Sunday, Garrett has been bummed out by 2025. It’s hard to stay sad while breaking records.
The peacemaker (current player to wear both jerseys): Joe Flacco. He did it this season!
4.Detroit Lions (8-8) atChicago Bears (11-5)
Chicago locks in the NFC’s No. 2 seeding if it wins Sunday. That’s significant, as it would bring a first-round matchup against the lowest-ranked wild card, plus a possible home game in the divisional stage. There are mental hurdles to clear, too. Ben Johnson has a chance to beat his former employer. He was booed by fans (and players) during his Week 2 homecoming, which ended as a “kick in the teeth” loss.
Also, Caleb Williams can notch the franchise’s first 4,000-yard passing season. He needs 270 more in this finale, after averaging 233.1 through 16 games. The Bears have been psychically tormented at the QB position for decades now. A few deep completions would absolutely send up Soldier Field:
For Detroit, the stakes are simple: leave Chicago with some semblance of pride. Maybe that’s trite for some coaches, but it should land in Dan Campbell’s locker room. Kneecap-biting is a lifestyle, after all.
The peacemaker (current player to wear both jerseys): D’Andre Swift, or David Montgomery. We’ll see both running backs on Sunday.
3. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) at Denver Broncos (13-3)
This would land a better ranking if Los Angeles were at full strength. But Justin Herbert is resting now that his Chargers are bolted into a wild-card slot. According to Jim Harbaugh, some veteran starters could join him on the sideline. So, cue the music for Trey Lance. The No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft is still just 25 years old, with only five career starts. It feels unlikely, but Lance could always earn starting consideration for next season — here’s looking at you, Browns. The recent reclamations of Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones and Mac Jones give him something to strive for, anyway. And everyone remembers the parable of Matt Flynn (it has its own Wikipedia page, whoa).
It’s still a massive game for the Broncos. If they handle business at home, then the AFC’s road to the Super Bowl will go through Mile High altitude. Denver lifted the Lombardi Trophy the last time it was a No. 1 seed.
The peacemaker (current player to wear both jerseys): J.K. Dobbins, though he’s on injured reserve.
Trap game of all trap games. The Jags clinch the AFC South if they win in Duval. That would give them a No. 3 seed at absolute worst, and an even better spot if the late slate breaks their way. A Sunday afternoon W would also bring Jacksonville its second-best record in franchise history; the 14-win Jaguars from 1999 went all the way to the conference championship game. Not bad for Liam Coen’s debut. However, a stumble to the Titans could drop them as far down as No. 7 on the bracket. What a swing.
Tennessee tries to ship off Cam Ward’s rookie campaign in decent spirits. Don’t look now, but 2025’s top draft choice has six touchdowns to zero interceptions in his last three outings. No matter how it goes down, it’s going to look great. The color balance between the Titans’ white-and-blue jerseys and the Jaguars’ teal-and-white counterparts is sublime, especially with the home Prowler uniforms out:
The peacemaker (current player to wear both jerseys): Calvin Ridley, though he’s also on IR for this one.
Game No. 272 of 272. It all comes down to “Sunday Night Football,” where Cris Collinsworth’s chair slide commences an AFC North championship game. Either Baltimore will win its division for the third straight year, or Pittsburgh will get back to its perch for the first time in a half-decade.
John Harbaugh can throw some coolant on his new hot seat; Mike Tomlin can salvage his migraine of a season. Lamar Jackson might be able to deliver heroics from the darkest depths of his pro tenure, if his mounting injuries don’t keep him on ice. And what will it be for Aaron Rodgers: a spirited 10-win playoff berth at the age of 42, or a two-week collapse to limp off with into the offseason? We’ll get our answers at weekend’s end, under the lights and in unison.
The peacemaker (current player to wear both jerseys): Patrick Queen, who has one Pro Bowl nod with each team.
Updated Week 18 odds
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