{"id":77981,"date":"2026-01-05T04:17:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T04:17:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/77981\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T04:17:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T04:17:25","slug":"nfl-week-18-scenarios-ravens-vs-steelers-to-decide-final-piece-of-playoff-puzzle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/77981\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Week 18 scenarios: Ravens vs. Steelers to decide final piece of playoff puzzle"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The final week of the NFL regular season is just about complete, and a lot has been decided, including nearly every division champion, both No. 1 seeds and the No. 1 pick in then 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n<p>The only thing still hanging in the balance in the AFC North title, which will be decided in Sunday night&#8217;s game between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s your rundown of what each result this week means.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#carolina-panthers-at-tampa-bay-buccaneers\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Panthers at Buccaneers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Panthers at Buccaneers<\/a> | <a href=\"#seattle-seahawks-at-san-francisco-49ers\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Seahawks at 49ers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Seahawks at 49ers<\/a> | <a href=\"#indianapolis-colts-at-houston-texans\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Colts at Texans;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Colts at Texans<\/a> | <a href=\"#tennessee-titans-at-jacksonville-jaguars\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Titans at Jaguars;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Titans at Jaguars<\/a> | <a href=\"#dallas-cowboys-at-new-york-giants\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Cowboys at Giants;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Cowboys at Giants<\/a> | <a href=\"#cleveland-browns-at-cincinnati-bengals\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Browns at Bengals;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Browns at Bengals<\/a> | <a href=\"#green-bay-packers-at-minnesota-vikings\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Packers at Vikings;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Packers at Vikings<\/a> | <a href=\"#new-orleans-saints-at-atlanta-falcons\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Saints at Falcons;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Saints at Falcons<\/a> | <a href=\"#miami-dolphins-at-new-england-patriots\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Dolphins at Patriots;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Dolphins at Patriots<\/a> | <a href=\"#los-angeles-chargers-at-denver-broncos\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Chargers at Broncos;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Chargers at Broncos<\/a> | <a href=\"#washington-commanders-at-philadelphia-eagles\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Commanders at Eagles;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Commanders at Eagles<\/a> | <a href=\"#detroit-lions-at-chicago-bears\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Lions at Bears;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Lions at Bears<\/a> | <a href=\"#new-york-jets-at-buffalo-bills\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jets at Bills;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Jets at Bills<\/a> | <a href=\"#arizona-cardinals-at-los-angeles-rams\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Cardinals at Rams;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Cardinals at Rams<\/a> | <a href=\"#kansas-city-chiefs-at-las-vegas-raiders\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Chiefs at Raiders;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Chiefs at Raiders<\/a> | <a href=\"#baltimore-ravens-at-pittsburgh-steelers\" data-jump-link=\"\" data-ylk=\"slk:Ravens at Steelers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Ravens at Steelers<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/p>\n<p>Result: The Buccaneers beat the Panthers, but Carolina wins the NFC South anyway because the Falcons won on Sunday to force a three-way tie for the division lead. The Panthers have the upper hand in the tie breaker and will head to the playoffs as the No. 4 seed. The Bucs are eliminated.<\/p>\n<p>Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers<\/p>\n<p>Result: The Seahawks stifled the 49ers to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs and the NFC West title. The 49ers fall to the sixth seed after the Rams won on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans<\/p>\n<p>Result: Houston lost out on a shot at the AFC South title via the Jaguars&#8217; win. But the Texans did secure the No. 5 seed with the win.<\/p>\n<p>Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars<\/p>\n<p>Result: The Jaguars comfortably secured the AFC South title with a blowout win over the Titans. They slot into the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs. Tennessee gets the No. 4 pick in the 2026 draft.<\/p>\n<p>Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants<\/p>\n<p>Result: The Cowboys sat Dak Prescott in the second half, and the Giants pulled away for a victory that dropped them to the No. 5 pick in the draft.<\/p>\n<p>Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals<\/p>\n<p>Result: The biggest story from this game was Browns edge rusher <a data-i13n=\"cpos:17;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/breaking-news\/article\/browns-edge-rusher-myles-garrett-sets-nfl-single-season-sack-record-by-taking-down-joe-burrow-in-week-18-202638145.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Myles Garrett breaking the NFL single-season sack record by tallying his 23rd of the season;cpos:17;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Myles Garrett breaking the NFL single-season sack record by tallying his 23rd of the season<\/a>. Other than that, the Browns fell to the No. 6 pick in the draft.<\/p>\n<p>Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings<\/p>\n<p>Result: The Packers rested several starters because they were already locked into the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The Vikings end their season on a five-game win streak.<\/p>\n<p>New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons<\/p>\n<p>Result: Neither team had much to play for in this game, but the Falcons&#8217; win pushed the Panthers to the NFC South title thanks to a three-way tiebreaker between Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Carolina. Atlanta&#8217;s win also hurts the draft position of the Los Angeles Rams, who own the Falcons&#8217; 2026 first-round pick.<\/p>\n<p>Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots<\/p>\n<p>Result: The Patriots won to secure the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs.<\/p>\n<p>Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos<\/p>\n<p>Result: Denver wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye in the playoffs by beating the Chargers, who fell to the seventh seed with the loss.<\/p>\n<p>Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles<\/p>\n<p>Result: Despite a Bears loss providing the opportunity for Philadelphia to move up in playoff seeding, the Eagles settled for the third seed resting starters in Sunday&#8217;s loss. The Commanders fall to the No. 7 draft pick.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears<\/p>\n<p>Result: Chicago maintained the No. 2 seed despite losing on a last-second field goal. The Bears kept the spot because of the Eagles&#8217; loss to the Commanders on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>New York Jets at Buffalo Bills<\/p>\n<p>Result: The Bills moved up to the No. 6 seed with a win coupled with the Chargers&#8217; loss on Sunday. The Jets clinched the No. 2 pick in the draft with the loss.<\/p>\n<p>Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams<\/p>\n<p>Result: The Rams moved up to the No. 5 seed thanks to Sunday&#8217;s win. The Cardinals secure the No. 3 pick in the draft.<\/p>\n<p>Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders<\/p>\n<p>Result: The Raiders got to finish their season with good vibes after beating a division rival on a field goal in the closing seconds. Either way, Las Vegas already had the No. 1 pick in the draft wrapped up. The Chiefs locked up the No. 9 pick in the draft.<\/p>\n<p>Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s at stake for Ravens: If the Ravens win, they&#8217;re the AFC North champion and the No. 4 seed. If they lose or tie, they&#8217;re out of the playoff race.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s at stake for Steelers: If the Steelers win or tie, they&#8217;re the AFC North champion and the No. 4 seed. If they lose, they&#8217;re out of the playoff hunt.<\/p>\n<p>Are both teams going for it? Hell, yes. There&#8217;s a reason this is Game 272. And <a data-i13n=\"cpos:18;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/breaking-news\/article\/ravens-qb-lamar-jackson-will-play-in-sundays-winner-take-all-game-against-steelers-215017304.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Lamar Jackson says he&#039;ll be back from injury;cpos:18;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Lamar Jackson says he&#8217;ll be back from injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The final week of the NFL regular season is just about complete, and a lot has been decided,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":77982,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[5004,4701,4916,4988,3616,4997,4967,4977,18911,27507,4989,24103,4992,4979,4994,4990,4982,11866,6644,4976,4987,4919,4993,6549,4968,16704,6550,10353,6645,6734,5005,4538,73,75,74,1833,4981,4986,4978,39837,15291,4999],"class_list":{"0":"post-77981","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-pittsburgh","8":"tag-49ers","9":"tag-afc-north","10":"tag-baltimore-ravens","11":"tag-bears","12":"tag-bengals","13":"tag-bills","14":"tag-broncos","15":"tag-browns","16":"tag-buccaneers","17":"tag-cardinals","18":"tag-chargers","19":"tag-chicago-bears","20":"tag-chiefs","21":"tag-colts","22":"tag-commanders","23":"tag-cowboys","24":"tag-dak-prescott","25":"tag-detroit-lions","26":"tag-falcons","27":"tag-jaguars","28":"tag-jets","29":"tag-lamar-jackson","30":"tag-las-vegas","31":"tag-miami-dolphins","32":"tag-minnesota-vikings","33":"tag-myles-garrett","34":"tag-new-orleans-saints","35":"tag-new-york-giants","36":"tag-packers","37":"tag-panthers","38":"tag-patriots","39":"tag-philadelphia-eagles","40":"tag-pittsburgh","41":"tag-pittsburgh-headlines","42":"tag-pittsburgh-news","43":"tag-pittsburgh-steelers","44":"tag-raiders","45":"tag-rams","46":"tag-seahawks","47":"tag-tampa-bay","48":"tag-tennessee-titans","49":"tag-texans"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77981"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77981\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}