Happy New Year, everyone! The regular season is officially winding down, and now it’s time for the postseason to take center stage. Late Sunday night, the NFL released its finalized Week 18 schedule, and it’s a doozy.
Is There a Thursday Night Football Game Tonight?
There’s no Thursday Night Football in Week 18 — and it’s by design.
With 32 teams and a 16-week TNF slate running from Week 2 through Week 17, every team already gets its Thursday appearance.
More importantly, the league avoids putting playoff-hopeful teams at a rest disadvantage heading into the final, season-defining weekend. As a result, there will be a couple of games on Saturday, with the rest kicking off on Sunday.
The weekend slate begins with an exciting doubleheader.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers
The NFC South could come down to Saturday in Tampa, where the Buccaneers (7-9) host the Panthers (8-8) with the division title on the line. It was once a simple win-and-in scenario, but Atlanta’s Monday night win over the Rams added a wrinkle.
Carolina can still clinch the division even with a loss if the Falcons beat the Saints on Sunday. Still, the simplest path is obvious. A Panthers win sends them to the playoffs.
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However, Tampa’s hopes of a fifth straight NFC South crown are already on life support after losing five of their last seven games, including a Week 16 loss to these same Panthers.
Neither offense is good. The Buccaneers rank 22nd and the Panthers 26th in PFSN’s offensive impact rankings.
Baker Mayfield has gutted through what appears to be a lingering shoulder issue, while Bryce Young has quietly found his footing, throwing for 191 yards and two scores in that Week 16 win over Tampa and repeatedly delivering in late-game moments. This one feels less like a survival test for the NFC South crown.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
The conference’s No. 1 seed will be decided Saturday at Levi’s Stadium when the San Francisco 49ers (12-4) host the Seattle Seahawks (13-3). It’s a heavyweight clash between two top-10 offenses per PFSN’s Offensive Impact Metric, with San Francisco ranked 2nd and Seattle 9th.
The Seahawks enter the game riding a six-game winning streak, holding a one-game edge after outscoring their opponents 29-18 during that span. Their defense has been the separator, allowing just 31 total touchdowns all season and only one last week in a 27-10 win over Carolina.
The 49ers, though, looked every bit like a No. 1 seed contender last weekend. Brock Purdy delivered his best performance of the season in a 42-38 win over Chicago, completing 24 of 33 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns, while Christian McCaffrey piled up 181 total yards and a score.
San Francisco already edged Seattle 17-13 in the season opener, with Purdy throwing for 277 yards and McCaffrey totaling 142 yards. This rematch feels like a playoff game.
Week 18 Games on Sunday
Here’s the full Sunday game slate (all times ET):
