2 NFL division titles on the line in Week 18 after crucial losses tighten playoff picture

Three different Week 17 games successful nan NFL group up 2 highly important matchups for nan regular-season finale crossed nan convention adjacent week.

The NFC South and AFC North divisions will some beryllium decided by who wins, arsenic nan Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Pittsburgh Steelers each mislaid connected Sunday.

The first 2 teams, nan Panthers and Bucs, are section rivals who some knew what was astatine liking erstwhile they entered their contests against nan Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins respectively.

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Aaron Rodgers of nan Pittsburgh Steelers reacts during nan 2nd 4th of nan crippled against nan Cleveland Browns astatine Huntington Bank Field connected Dec. 28, 2025 successful Cleveland, Ohio. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

For nan Panthers, a triumph astatine location against nan Seahawks meant winning nan NFC South. But Seattle had already clinched their playoff berth and owned nan apical seed successful nan NFC pinch a 12-3 grounds entering nan game.

Bryce Young and institution were incapable to get thing going against a suffocating Seattle defense, which has been 1 of nan champion units int he convention each play long. Young scored a meaningless touchdown successful nan 4th quarter, but nan Seahawks came distant pinch nan 27-10 triumph connected nan roadworthy to thief their ain No. 1 seed status.

Meanwhile, nan Bucs knew they would decidedly for illustration Carolina to suffer against nan Seahawks, but they had to return attraction of nan Dolphins to get a amended chance astatine winning nan division.

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Instead, Baker Mayfield had problem again being accordant connected offense, throwing 2 interceptions arsenic good arsenic 2 touchdowns successful nan 20-17 nonaccomplishment to Quinn Ewers and nan Dolphins. The seventh-round prime by Miami was 14-of-22 for 172 yards pinch 2 touchdown passes successful nan triumph that put nan Dolphins astatine 7-9, though their playoff hopes were already done.

When looking astatine nan NFC South standings, nan Bucs are sitting astatine 7-9 aft losing their 4th consecutive game, while nan Panthers are astatine 8-8.

So, really would nan Buccaneers triumph nan section if they some person nan aforesaid grounds astatine nan extremity of Week 18 (8-9)? When you position nan NFL tiebreaker rules, it originates pinch a head-to-head matchup. The Panthers took their first meeting, a 23-20 victory, truthful it would beryllium divided if Tampa Bay wins successful Week 18.

Then, nan tiebreaker would beryllium section record, but a Buccaneers triumph would mean nan aforesaid divisional grounds for some themselves and nan Panthers (3-3). The adjacent connected nan database is grounds successful communal games, meaning those contests wherever they’ve faced nan aforesaid opponent. The Buccaneers person nan Panthers hit successful that class considering their triumph complete nan Arizona Cardinals successful Week 13, while nan Panthers mislaid successful Week 2 to nan aforesaid Arizona squad.

Bryce Young of nan Carolina Panthers is seen earlier playing nan Seattle Seahawks astatine Bank of America Stadium connected Dec. 28, 2025 successful Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Moving connected to nan AFC North, Aaron Rodgers and nan Steelers would’ve wrapped nan section title up pinch a front if they could return attraction of business against nan Cleveland Browns connected nan road. But nan Browns’ defense had different things successful mind successful nan end.

It each came down to nan last play of nan game, wherever Rodgers led his Steelers squad down nan section into nan reddish area successful hopes they could unafraid their first touchdown of nan game, and possibly spell for 2 points to triumph 14-13.

But a arguable ending connected fourth-and-goal occurred erstwhile Rodgers tried lofting a walk to Marquez Valdes-Scantling successful nan extremity zone, and it appeared Browns cornerback Denzel Ward committed walk interference, arsenic he deed him earlier making interaction pinch nan ball. However, nary flags were thrown, and nan Browns celebrated astatine location arsenic they possibly spoiled their rival’s chances astatine winning nan division.

The Steelers still power their ain destiny, though nan Baltimore Ravens now person a chance to do nan same.

The Ravens started nan twelvemonth 1-5 successful mind-boggling fashion, and it appeared nan playoffs were not successful nan cards. That each changed successful caller weeks, and Derrick Henry’s champion crippled of his profession came astatine nan cleanable clip connected Saturday nighttime successful Green Bay, arsenic he scored 4 touchdowns to thief nan Ravens hit nan Packers and move to 8-8.

Everyone supporting nan Ravens were watching intently to spot if nan Browns could propulsion disconnected nan upset astatine home, and they did conscionable that.

Bundle FOX One and FOX Nation to watercourse nan full FOX Nation library, positive unrecorded FOX News, Sports, and Entertainment astatine our lowest value of nan year. The connection ends connected Jan. 4, 2026. (Fox One; Fox Nation)

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Whoever wins nan Week 18 bout astatine Acrisure Stadium betwixt nan Ravens and Steelers will beryllium crowned AFC North champions and gain a spot successful nan playoffs.

Week 18 was looking for illustration an NFL slate without these sorts of matchups, pinch galore teams already punching their tickets to nan playoffs.

Now, 2 cardinal rivalry games person everything astatine liking pinch section titles connected nan line.

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