NFL Facing a Week 18 Disaster Like Never Before

Just a few weeks ago, it looked like Week 18 of the 2025 NFL season would be full of dramatic, can’t-miss showdowns. But times change quickly in the NFL.

There was a three-way horse race between the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers for the NFC North. The Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts were poised to give the AFC wild-card holders a big-time scare for the last remaining playoff spots, too.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens were poised to meet in a win-or-go-home Week 18 contest, too.

But here we are, just eight days away from the final week of the NFL season. Instead of compelling drama and nailbiting affairs? It looks like the 2025 NFL regular-season finale will go down as the most dull in league history.

Why is that? 11 of the 14 playoff berths have already been locked up. And there’s a good chance that all postseason berths will be clinched before Week 18 rolls around.

Wins this weekend by the
Dolphins
Packers
Panthers
Jaguars
would completely set the NFL playoff field before Week 18.

— sportswithben (@sportswithben1) December 26, 2025

Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs were eliminated from contention in Week 15, after he suffered a season-ending ACL tear. Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions, coming off a 15-win season, were eliminated after their loss to the Minnesota Vikings yesterday.

All 14 Playoff Spots Could Be Clinched By Week 18

The NFC South, AFC North and the AFC’s final wild-card spot are the last three playoff berths up for grabs.

Amid rumors that Lamar Jackson’s relationship with John Harbaugh has fallen apart? The star quarterback will likely miss Saturday’s game against the Green Bay Packers. The Steelers need just a win over the Cleveland Browns OR a Ravens loss to Green Bay to win the division.

Per Darin Gannt, the surprising Carolina Panthers can win the NFC South with a victory over the Seattle Seahawks and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Houston Texans clinch the AFC’s last wild card berth with a win OR an Indianapolis Colts loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Add it all up, and fans will have little reason to spend next Sunday in front of their televisions watching NFL football.