Sportsnaut
Just like that, the final week of the 2025 NFL regular season has arrived. It seemed like just a few weeks ago that the season had begun with the NFL Kickoff Game, but we’re now at the regular-season finale. Of note entering Week 18, many of the playoff spots have already been locked up but there are two win-and-in scenarios and No. 1 seeds at stake this weekend.
Let’s dive into our NFL Week 18 predictions. Of note with our NFL picks this week, we’ll have to factor in the number of backups that could see extended playing time on Sunday.
It is the battle for the NFC South crown, with the winner hosting a playoff game and the loser’s season coming to an end in Week 18. Just two weeks ago, the Carolina Panthers emerged victorious at home (23–20) over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Bryce Young outplaying Baker Mayfield and winning despite losing the time-of-possession battle (34:36 to 25:24). Carolina has simply looked like the better team over the last two months of the season, and Mayfield’s second-half collapse (9–8 TD-INT, 60.8 percent completion rate, and 77.0 passer rating) is an underrated factor in Tampa Bay’s downfall. Even on the road, we have more confidence in Young and the Panthers’ coaching staff than we do in the Buccaneers.
Related: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coaching Candidates to Replace Todd Bowles
When the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks met in Week 1—a 17–13 victory for San Francisco—the 49ers had a healthy Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Trent Williams, and Renardo Green. That won’t be the case in Week 18. San Francisco’s defense has fallen off drastically as a result of injuries; however, near MVP-caliber play from quarterback Brock Purdy has made up for it. With the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line, we would bet on the Seahawks’ offense doing just enough to outpace San Francisco’s offense, given the two defenses they are each facing on Saturday.
Read More: NFL Week 18 Power Rankings, Evaluating all 32 Teams after Week 17
During this four-game winning streak by the New Orleans Saints, they have held opponents to just 17.3 points per game, with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough also completing 71.1 percent of his pass attempts and averaging 264.3 passing yards per game with a 102.9 QB rating. Atlanta did win this rivalry game easily a few weeks ago (24–10), but it was a six-point game until early in the fourth quarter. With New Orleans riding a wave of momentum behind its rookie quarterback, we think the Saints take down the Falcons in Atlanta to finish the year 7–10, while the Falcons fire Raheem Morris hours after the game.
The Cleveland Browns will be trying to get Myles Garrett the single-season sack record in this game, and given Joe Burrow’s tendency...
