NFL 2025: Week 18 Picks

It feels like Opening Kickoff in September was just yesterday, but it’s already 2026, and with the turn of the calendar comes the final week of the NFL’s regular season.

Twelve of the league’s fourteen playoff spots are already locked up heading in to Week 18, but there’s still plenty of drama. First, on Saturday, a wacky NFC South scenario begins to unfold: if the Carolina Panthers win, they’re in. But if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win, they’ll still need the New Orleans Saints to defeat the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday to avoid a three-way tie atop the division, which would give the title to Carolina.

In a less confusing scenario on Saturday night, the winner between Sam Darnold’s 13-3 Seattle Seahawks and Brock Purdy’s 12-4 San Francisco 49ers will earn the NFC West crown, as well as the conference’s #1 seed, while the loser will be relegated to the conference’s top wildcard position.

On Sunday, the 13-3 Denver Broncos will be playing for the #1 seed in the AFC as they host a Justin Herbert-less Los Angeles Chargers team that has already clinched a playoff spot, with the 13-3 New England Patriots hoping that Denver slips up.

Finally, on Sunday Night Football, either Aaron Rodgers and the 9-7 Pittsburgh Steelers or Lamar Jackson and the 8-8 Baltimore Ravens will be crowned the AFC North winner, as well as the #4 seed in the AFC playoffs.

Read on for my 2025-26 NFL Week 18 Picks, and if you’d like to debate or discuss any picks, join the conversation with @SakSports on Twitter/X, on Facebook, or by commenting directly on this post!

Picks Record

Week 1: 10-6

Week 2: 13-3

Week 3: 11-5

Week 4: 10-5-1

Week 5: 5-9

Week 6: 9-6

Week 7: 11-5

Week 8: 10-3

Week 9: 8-6

Week 10: 11-3

Week 11: 11-4

Week 12: 8-6

Week 13: 11-5

Week 14: 7-7

Week 15: 10-6

Week 16: 8-8

Week 17: 10-6

Overall Record: 162-93-1 (64%)

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