Ravens-Steelers face big questions in Week 18
USAT’s Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaka break down Lamar Jackson’s status and DK Metcalf’s suspension as the Steelers and Ravens battle it out for the AFC North.
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USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates on the NFL’s evolving playoff picture each week during the 2025 regular season. We typically start on Sunday afternoon and work our way through the rest of the week (Monday and Thursday games, or Saturday games if applicable). And when the holidays are over, I’ll watch it then too.
What the hell happened? What does that mean? As the seven-team brackets for each conference begin to take shape, what are the relevant factors (and perhaps the tiebreakers)? All will be explained and analyzed leading up to postseason berths being determined on Sunday, January 4th.
Here’s where things stand now as the final day of the 2025 regular season draws to a close.
AFC playoff photos
yz − 1. Denver Broncos (14-3), AFC West Champions: Sunday’s victory over the Chargers gave Denver its first division title in 10 years, giving it home-field advantage and a first-round bye. This was also the last time they won a Super Bowl. Due to the common game tiebreaker, the Broncos will be the No. 1 seed instead of New England. Remaining schedule: Goodbye, undecided
y − 2. New England Patriots (14-3), AFC East Champions: They won their first division title since 2019, even if they didn’t quite reach the top of the conference, as Tom Brady and others have often done. remaining schedule: vs. Chargers, Jan. 11 (8 p.m. ET)
y − 3. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4), AFC South Champions: They won nine straight on Sunday and captured the division crown for the first time since 2022. remaining schedule: vs. Bills, Jan. 11 (1 p.m. ET)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7), AFC North leader: They lost the district championship in Week 17. They have to beat Baltimore in Week 18. remaining schedule: vs. Ravens
x − 5. Houston Texans (12-5), 1st Wild Card: They won 10 of 11 games, including nine in a row after Sunday’s narrow loss to Indianapolis, but were unable to overtake fellow surging Jacksonville for the top spot in the AFC South. But Houston, which defeated both the Chargers and Bills this season, has clinched the No. 5 seed and is guaranteed a wild-card matchup on the road against the AFC North champions. Remaining schedule: January 12 Ravens or Steelers (8 p.m. ET)
x − 6. Buffalo Bills (12-5), Wild Card No. 2: Their secondary team defeated the Jets, lifting the Bills to the No. 6 seed and qualifying for Duval County. Remaining schedule: Jaguars, Jan. 11 (1 p.m. ET)
x − 7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6), Wild Card No. 3: As far as the postseason is concerned, they will be on the road. Remaining schedule: At the Patriots, Jan. 11 (8 p.m. ET)
8. Baltimore Ravens (8 wins, 8 losses), battle for first place: With a win at Green Bay and a loss at Pittsburgh in Week 17, the Steelers and Ravens will battle for the AFC North crown on Sunday night. remaining schedule: At the Steelers
yz − 1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3), NFC West Champions: Saturday night’s big win in Silicon Valley ensures that he will take a week off and remain at home in the Pacific Northwest unless he returns to Santa Clara for Super Bowl 60. remaining schedule: Goodbye, undecided
y − 2. Chicago Bears (11-6), NFC North Champions: Despite their loss to the Lions, they still had a chance to remain in the No. 2 seed and two home playoff games. Next? 2025 season trilogy matchup with Green Bay. remaining schedule: vs. Packers, Jan. 10 (8 p.m. ET)
y − 3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5), NFC East Champions: By defeating Washington in Week 16, Philadelphia became the first team to finish Division I this season in 2025, and the first team to win a championship. this Since splitting 21 years ago, the company has split several years in a row. remaining schedule: vs. 49ers, Jan. 11 (4:30 p.m. ET)
y − 4. Carolina Panthers (8-9), NFC South Champions: Saturday’s loss to Tampa proved not to be the end for the Panthers. Atlanta defeated New Orleans on Sunday, saving teams from a three-way tie for first place in the division. The Panthers’ 3-1 loss against the Falcons and Bucks resulted in a decisive tiebreaker. remaining schedule: vs. Rams, Jan. 10 (4:30 p.m. ET)
x − 5. Los Angeles Rams (11-5), Wild Card No. 2: They were the first team to qualify for the playoffs this season, but consecutive losses cost them home-field advantage and a path to a first-round bye. However, they regained their form against Arizona on Sunday, clinching the No. 5 seed and ending the regular season with a matchup against the NFC South champion Panthers. remaining schedule: At Panthers, Jan. 10 (4:30 p.m. ET)
x − 6. San Francisco 49ers (12-5), Wild Card No. 1: Had they kept winning, they might have been able to stay home for the next month. Unfortunately, they lost on Saturday and plummeted to the No. 6 seed on Sunday. It means a road trip to the City of Brotherly Love. remaining schedule: At Eagles, January 11 (4:30 p.m. ET)
x − 7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1), Wild Card No. 3: The Lions’ Christmas defeat left a battered pack on the pitch. However, with a loss to Baltimore in Week 17, Green Bay was confirmed as the No. 7 seed and will no longer play at Lambeau Field this season. remaining schedule: At the Bears, Jan. 10 (8 p.m. ET)
January 10th
Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears, 8pm ET, Prime Video
January 11th
Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30pm ET, FOX
Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots, 8 p.m. ET, NBC
January 12th
Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens/Pittsburgh Steelers, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
NFL Playoff Schedule: Divisional Round Games
January 17th
undetermined vs. undetermined
undetermined vs. undetermined
January 18th
undetermined vs. undetermined
undetermined vs. undetermined
NFL Playoff Schedule: Conference Championship Game
January 25th
AFC Championship Game, TBA
NFC Championship Game, TBA
NFL Playoff Schedule: Super Bowl 60
February 8th
AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion, NBC
Week 18 NFL Playoff Decision Scenarios
Pittsburgh won the AFC North with the following results:
▶ Win or draw?
Baltimore wins the AFC North with:
▶Win
NFL teams will be eliminated from playoff contention in 2025
▶ New York Giants
▶ Arizona Cardinals
▶ New Orleans Saints
▶ Tennessee Titans
▶ Las Vegas Raiders
▶ Commander Washington
▶ Atlanta Falcons
▶ New York Jets
▶ Cleveland Browns
▶ Cincinnati Bengals
▶ Kansas City Chiefs
▶ Minnesota Vikings
▶ Miami Dolphins
▶ Dallas Cowboys
▶ Detroit Lions
▶ Indianapolis Colts
▶ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
× – qualify for the playoffs
yes – clinched division
z- Secure home field advantage and win a 1st round bye
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