Eight NFL teams will decide their fate in Week 18

Eight NFL teams will decide their fate in Week 18.

Ahead of the final week of the season, these eight teams control their playoff fate

Week 18 of the NFL regular season is quickly approaching,

and it’s already promising to be a memorable one.

In addition to several division winners that are still up for grabs,

three AFC and two NFC playoff spots are up for grabs in the penultimate week.

Later in the week, we will dissect the entire roster of playoff and elimination scenarios,

but for now, let’s quickly examine the eight teams that “control their destiny.”

These eight teams are capable of winning their division or just making it to the dance,

and they won’t require any assistance to reach their objectives next week.

Win, and the task is completed.

These teams are capable of handling things on their own, even though a total

of 11 teams are still in contention for playoff spots.

NFC

Let’s start with the NFC, where there are still two playoff spots available and several

division winners up for grabs.

Dallas Cowboys

at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, FOX,

at Washington Commanders

In the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys are in charge of their own fate.

Although Dallas has already guaranteed a postseason berth, the division winner is still up for grabs.

With a victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday afternoon, the Cowboys can secure the NFC East.

Dallas can still win the East even if they lose, but that would require the

Philadelphia Eagles to fall to the New York Giants.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
at the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET on FOX

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still in the lead even after their Week 17 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

the NFC South is still up for grabs. If Tampa Bay defeats the Panthers,

they can secure the division and a home playoff game. Should that game end in a loss,

the Saints-Falcons winner will have the opportunity to secure the division.

Green Bay Packers
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET vs. Chicago BearsCBS

Following their victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night and the Seattle Seahawks

defeat by the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Green Bay Packers have gained the seventh and final NFC playoff spot.

That will be theirs if they defeat the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

No matter how they play Chicago, Green Bay can still make it in with the correct mix of losses;

however, a victory will clear the simplest route for them.

There are three AFC playoff berths up for grabs, including the AFC East and AFC South winners.

Miami Dolphins
versus the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ETNBC

It appeared inevitable a few weeks ago that the Miami Dolphins would win the AFC East.

They still have work to do, though, given their recent stumbles

(a startling home loss to the Tennessee Titans stands out in particular)

and the pursuit by a revitalized Buffalo Bills squad.

But the Dolphins secure the division with a victory over Buffalo in the season finale.

But a defeat presents the next possibility.

Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
Sunday, NBC at 8:20 p.m. ET

The Bills have one more chance to win the AFC East. All they have to do is prevail in the

regular-season finale against Miami. It is noteworthy that

Buffalo is in with either a Steelers loss to the Ravens on Saturday or a Jaguars loss to the

Titans on Sunday, meaning the Bills might have already secured a postseason berth before kickoff.

Jacksonville Jaguars
at the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET on CBS

The Jaguars maintained their lead in the AFC South with their victory over the

Carolina Panthers on Sunday. But the work is not finished yet.

However, a victory over the Titans on Sunday afternoon would secure the

AFC South for Jacksonville and set up a home playoff game for the second consecutive year.

Indianapolis Colts
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC/ESPN+ vs. Houston Texans

Houston Texans
on Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC/ESPN+, at the Indianapolis Colts

Considering that this is essentially the first playoff game of the season, it seemed

appropriate to list these two together.

The winner of this Saturday night’s AFC South matchup secures a

postseason berth and keeps a chance to win the division.

The winner of this game will win the AFC South if the Jaguars falter in their season finale.

The winner of this game advances to the playoffs, even if Jacksonville

wins on Sunday and wins the division.

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