Brock Purdy secures Niners victory in Week 17
USAT’s Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaka take down Brock Purdy’s clutch play and elite QB performance.
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It all boils down to this.
For the four NFL teams playing Saturday in Week 18, it’s win or go home. Well, almost. The Carolina Panthers will begin the day’s NFC South battle by visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It may have originally been winner-take-all, but that’s no longer the case.
Thanks to the Atlanta Falcons’ come-from-behind victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football to conclude Week 17, the Buccaneers are no closer to making the postseason with just one win. If the Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints and the Buccaneers beat the Panthers, a three-way tiebreaker would send Carolina to the playoffs.
But the challenge remains simple for the Panthers. That’s a win.
A nightcap is much easier to understand. The No. 1 seed in the NFC is on the horizon, as Brock Purdy’s San Francisco 49ers host Sam Darnold’s Seattle Seahawks.
A win would ensure the Niners and their high-flying offense secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Of course, the Super Bowl will also be held at Levi’s Stadium this season, so San Francisco will be able to hoist the Lombardi Trophy from the comfort of its own home.
Seattle’s superior defense will try to deny their rivals that luxury while giving them a week off to begin their playoff run.
Here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s schedule for Week 18.
NFL Saturday Schedule: Week 18 games today
NFL Saturday: Today’s Game TV Channel
- Panthers vs. Buccaneers: ABC, ESPN
- Seahawks vs. 49ers: ABC, ESPN
Watch Saturday NFL Games on Fubo (Free Trial)
NFL Week 18: What time is the game today?
- Panthers vs. Buccaneers: 4:30 p.m. ET
- Seahawks vs. 49ers: 8 p.m. ET
NFL Week 18 Schedule
Always east.
Saturday, January 3rd
- Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:30 p.m.
- Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers, 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 4th
- Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m.
- Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
- Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m.
- New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.
- Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants, 1 p.m.
- Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
- New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills, 4:25 p.m.
- Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m.
- Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m.
- Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m.
- Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m.
- Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots, 4:25 p.m.
- Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m.
- Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m.
When do the NFL playoffs start?
This year’s playoffs begin with a three-day wild card round. Two games will be played on Saturday, January 10th. Two more on Sunday, January 11th. The Wild Card Round then concludes with one game on Monday, January 12th.

