At a Glance
- Panthers vs. Buccaneers decide NFC South title and playoff spot.
- 49ers vs. Seahawks decide NFC West title and No. 1 seed.
- Game times: Panthers 4:30 p.m. ET, Seahawks 8 p.m. ET.
- Why it matters: Outcomes set playoff seeds and determine home-field advantage.
Week 18’s doubleheader will decide two NFC division titles and the conference’s top seed. With the Panthers, Buccaneers, 49ers, and Seahawks all in contention, the Saturday games carry huge playoff implications.
NFC South Showdown
In Tampa, the 8-8 Carolina Panthers face the 7-9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A win or tie for Carolina clinches the NFC South for the first time since 2015 and the first playoff berth since 2017. If the Buccaneers win and the Atlanta Falcons beat the Saints, a three-way tie would give the Panthers the tiebreaker, allowing a team with a losing record to make the playoffs.
- Panthers win → NFC South champs, playoff berth.
- Buccaneers win → need Falcons to lose and Saints to win for Panthers to tie.
- Falcons beat Saints → Panthers keep tiebreaker.
NFC West Title Race
At Levi’s Stadium, the 12-4 San Francisco 49ers host the 13-3 Seattle Seahawks. A 49ers victory secures the NFC West and the No. 1 seed, granting home-field advantage through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl. A Seahawks win or tie would give Seattle the division, while a 49ers loss would drop San Francisco to the No. 5 seed, depending on the Rams’ result.
- 49ers win → No. 1 seed, home-field advantage.
- Seahawks win/tie → Seahawks win division.
- 49ers loss → No. 5 seed, contingent on Rams.
Game Times and Broadcasts
Both games air on ABC and ESPN, with streaming available on ESPN.com, the ESPN app, and NFL+.
| Game | Time (ET) | Time (CT) | Time (PT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers @ Buccaneers | 4:30 p.m. | 3:30 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. |
| Seahawks @ 49ers | 8 p.m. | 7 p.m. | 5 p.m. |
Key Takeaways
- Panthers vs. Buccaneers decide NFC South title.
- 49ers vs. Seahawks decide NFC West title and No. 1 seed.
- Saturday games set playoff seeds and home-field advantage.
As the final week of the regular season kicks off, fans can’t miss the high-stakes matchups that will shape the NFC’s playoff picture.
