Ravens Steelers in Week 18 face big questions
USAT’s Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaca break down Lamar Jackson’s status and DK Metcalf’s suspension as Steelers and Ravens fight for AFC North.
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The Houston Texans entered Week 18 with an outside chance to win a third consecutive AFC South title. They needed to beat the Indianapolis Colts and have the Tennessee Titans upset the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Texans delivered on their end of the bargain. They beat the Colts 38-30 despite pulling quarterback C.J. Stroud and other starters midway through the game.
However, the Titans lost to the Jaguars 41-10 after losing starting quarterback Cam Ward to a shoulder injury in the first quarter. That locked Houston into an AFC wild-card spot.
The good news for the Texans? They were able to clinch the top wild-card spot by virtue of their victory over the Colts. That will allow Houston to face the AFC North champion when the NFL playoffs kick off.
Here’s a look at the Texans’ playoff scenarios as they go to the postseason for a third straight season under DeMeco Ryans.
Who will Texans play next?
The Texans have clinched the top wild-card spot in the AFC after their win over the Colts and the Jaguars’ win over the Titans. That will position them to play the AFC North champion, who will have the worst record among the conference’s division winners.
Below is a look at Houston’s potential wild-card opponents:
The winner of the AFC North will be decided by the Steelers vs. Ravens game on “Sunday Night Football.” Pittsburgh will get into the postseason with a win or a tie against Baltimore while the Ravens will earn the division title with a win.
AFC playoff bracket 2025
Below is a look at the current projected AFC playoff bracket as the final day of the regular season unfolds:
- No. 1 Denver Broncos (BYE)
- No. 2 New England Patriots vs. No. 7 Buffalo Bills
- No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars vs. No. 6 Los Angeles Chargers
- No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. No. 5 Houston Texans
The Texans are the lone AFC team locked into its current seed. The remainder of the conference’s seeding will be decided in the late-afternoon window, when the Broncos, Patriots, Chargers and Bills are all in action.
NFL playoff schedule
The NFL playoffs will kick off on Jan. 10 with the league’s first two wild-card matchups before concluding on Feb. 8 with Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Wild Card weekend
All times Eastern
Saturday, Jan. 10
- AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.
- AFC/NFC wild card game: 8 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 11
- AFC/NFC wild card game: 1 p.m.
- AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.
- AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 12
- AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.
Divisional round
Saturday, Jan. 17
- AFC/NFC divisional game: 4:30 p.m.
- AFC/NFC division game: 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 18
- AFC/NFC divisional game: 3 p.m.
- AFC/NFC divisional game: 6:30 p.m.
NFL conference championship round
Sunday, Jan. 25
- AFC championship game: 3 p.m.
- NFC championship game: 6:30 p.m.
Super Bowl 60
- Date: Feb. 8, 2026
- Location: Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- TV: NBC
NFL playoff picture Week 18
AFC
- Denver Broncos (13-3, AFC West winners)*
- New England Patriots (13-3, AFC East winners)*
- Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4, AFC South winners)*
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, AFC North leaders)
- Houston Texans (12-5, wild card No. 1)*
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5, wild card No. 2)*
- Buffalo Bills (11-5, wild card No. 3)*
In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
NFC
- Seattle Seahawks (14-3, NFC West winners)*
- Chicago Bears (11-5, NFC North winners)*
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, NFC East winners)*
- Carolina Panthers (8-9, NFC South winners)*
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5, wild card No. 1)*
- Los Angeles Rams (11-5, wild card No. 2)*
- Green Bay Packers (9-7-1, wild card No. 3)*
An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Teams that have clinched division titles are noted accordingly.
