In the Week 18 late afternoon slate, seven games are on tap, two of which will help decide the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Denver Broncos and New England Patriots are the frontrunners for the top seed in the conference. Both teams close the season at home on Sunday, kicking off at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Broncos host the Chargers, while the Dolphins visit the Patriots.
There are still multiple scenarios in play to determine the top seed in the AFC. While the Broncos and Patriots share the same record (13-3), their paths to home-field advantage vary slightly. For Denver, it’s as simple as win and you’re in the top spot, although that will require beating a tough Chargers squad for the second time this season.
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However, with Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh opting to sit their starters for the season finale, including quarterback Justin Herbert, the Broncos’ path to No. 1 became much clearer. Denver can also claim the top seed with a loss, but would need New England and Jacksonville to lose as well.
New England needs to beat Miami, then have the Broncos lose to the Chargers to claim the No. 1 seed. Now, should both Denver and New England lose on Sunday, Jacksonville’s victory over Tennessee would give the Jaguars the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
Jets vs. Bills, 4:25 p.m. on CBS
Lions vs. Bears, 4:25 p.m. on Fox
Chargers vs. Broncos, 4:25 p.m. on CBS
Cardinals vs. Rams, 4:25 p.m. on Fox
Chiefs vs. Raiders, 4:25 p.m. on CBS
Dolphins vs. Patriots, 4:25 p.m. on Fox
Commanders vs. Eagles, 4:25 p.m. on CBS
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more from the afternoon window in Week 18:
Live35 updates
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:43 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Commanders take the lead after a 56-yard field goal from Jake Moody. Moody missed his first field goal attempt of the game. The Commanders lead the Eagles 10-7 at the half.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:41 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Detroit Lions can’t extend the lead after Jake Bates missed a field goal. It was Bates’s first missed field goal after he hit his first two. The Lions are up 13-0 over the Chicago Bears at the half.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:38 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Commanders stop the Eagles again in the red zone after an interception by Jeremy Reaves. The Eagles just received the ball after a diving interception by Jalyx Hunt. The score remains tied up 7-7.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:35 PM PST
Criss Partee
The Rams surge ahead on this Matthew Stafford to Puka Nacua touchdown connection. Nacua already has six catches for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:34 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Eagles get the ball back after an interception by Jalyx Hunt. The score remains tied up 7-7.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:30 PM PST
Kate Magdziuk
The Bills pulled Josh Allen from the lineup, but it hasn’t stopped Buffalo from scoring, as running back Ty Johnson posted the second touchdown of the game and his third of the season. Then, there was another from Trubisky to second-year RB Ray Davis.
Though starting running back James Cook was active, he’s been on the back burner, having notched just two carries for 15 yards.
Davis has led the team thus far with nine carries for 54 rushing yards, adding another 23 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:25 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Eagles drove all the way to the red zone before the Commanders’ big stop on fourth down. The score remains tied up 7-7.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:22 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs makes it look easy on a catch-and-run touchdown. Gibbs scores the first touchdown of the game after two early field goals from Jake Bates.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff is 12-18 for 170 yards. Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has 25 yards on seven carries. Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has seven catches for 87 yards.
The Lions lead the Bears 13-0 in the second quarter.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:19 PM PST
Kate Magdziuk
Quinn Ewers continues his tryout to earn the team’s starting quarterback role next year amid a rocky 2025 campaign from Tua Tagovailoa.
After a turnover on downs in the opening possession, Ewers executed a 10-play, 65-yard drive ending in a two-yard passing touchdown to WR Malik Washington.
Ewers has now thrown for three passing touchdowns and two interceptions thus far in his three career starts. He led the Dolphins to a surprising upset over the Buccaneers in Week 16
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:18 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Eagles and Commanders are tied 7-7 in the second quarter.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:13 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr ties the game at 7 in the second quarter.
Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson is 8-11 for 72 yards. Johnson also has 16 yards on the ground. Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin has three catches for 43 yards.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:11 PM PST
Criss Partee
It’s a low scoring affair at SoFi Stadium for the Rams and Cardinals season finale. Jacoby Brissett has 91 passing yards and a fumble for the Cardinals so far. Tight end Trey McBride has three receptions for 39 yards. For the Rams, Matthew Stafford has 26 yards passing. Running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum have combined for 37 yards.
The game is tied 6-6 just about halfway through the second quarter.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:09 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Jake Bates finishes off another Lions scoring drive with a field goal.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff is 12-18 for 37 yards. Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has 16 yards on three carries. Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has five catches for 46 yards.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:03 PM PST
Kate Magdziuk
Josh Allen has officially kept his consecutive starting streak alive in Week 18, but he wasn’t long for the drive. After making his start official, backup Mitch Trubisky came in to replace him.
They executed a drawn-out, 11-play, 80-yard drive ending with a 17-yard passing touchdown from Trubisky to TE Dawson Knox.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:03 PM PST
Criss Partee
With both teams eliminated from the postseason, it’s a battle of backups in Las Vegas as the Chiefs and Raiders close out the season. Chris Oladokun is starting for Kansas City and completed 3 of 7 passes for 16 yards in the first quarter. Brashard Smith rushed for 35 yards.
The Raiders have Kenny Pickett under center to end the season and he was 1 of 4 for 3 yards in the first quarter. Ashton Jeanty rushed for 14 yards in the first quarter.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 2:03 PM PST
Kate Magdziuk
The New England Patriots are off to a hot start with a 14-0 lead over the Dolphins, posting their second rushing touchdown of the day on a direct snap to Rhamondre Stevenson.
He and rookie TreVeyon Henderson continue to dominate this game, having combined for 96 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns through the first quarter.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 1:59 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra scores the first touchdown of the game on a pass from Tanner McKee. The Eagles lead the Commanders 7-0 early in the second quarter.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 1:55 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner Mckee’s pass to DeVonta Smith gives him over 1,000 receiving yards this season. Smith has three catches for 52 yards against the Commanders.
Smith has 77 catches for 1,007 yards and 4 touchdowns this season.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 1:52 PM PST
Criss Partee
Denver Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillan picks off Chargers quarterback Trey Lance and takes it 45 yards for a touchdown. The Broncos lead the Chargers 10-0 late in the first quarter.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 1:48 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Bears could not score on their first drive. The Lions lead 3-0 in the first quarter.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is 1-2 for 8 yards. Bears running back D’Andre Swift has 21 yards on four carries. Bears tight end Colson Loveland has one catch for eight yards.