NFL Week 18 Schedule: Breaking Down the Regular Season's High-Stakes Finale

While it may feel like the 2023 NFL season just started, we're already entering the final stanza. The calendar has turned to 2024, and Week 18 of the regular season has arrived. Every team will take the field this weekend, and then it's time for the playoffs. Either you're in it with a chance to win the Lombardi Trophy, or you're sitting at home waiting for the start of training camp.

But the end-of-year calendar comes with a twist. We've known the matchups for quite a while, but the games weren't officially scheduled until the 11th hour. That gives the league the ability to get strategic, putting the most meaningful games in front of the biggest audience.

And with the relatively recent confirmation of the game times in mind, let's consider the NFL Week 18 schedule and the matchups that you won't want to miss.

Looking at the Week 18 Schedule

If you're a football fan, everything starts with the schedule. That master document tells you not only when your team will be playing, but the other matchups that shape the league. Now, at long last, the NFL Week 18 picture is complete.

The final round of regular season games will unfold as follows:

Saturday, January 6

• Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens: 4:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
• Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts: 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN

Sunday, January 7

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers: 1 p.m. ET, FOX
• Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals: 1 p.m. ET, CBS
• Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions: 1 p.m. ET, FOX
• New York Jets at New England Patriots: 1 p.m. ET, FOX
• Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints: 1 p.m. ET, FOX
• Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans: 1 p.m. ET, FOX
• Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
• Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
• Kansas City Chiefs at LA Chargers: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
• Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
• Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
• LA Rams at San Francisco 49ers: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
• Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
• Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

What's at Stake on the Week 18 Schedule?

On paper, these games will simply round out the NFL's regular season. In practice, though, some teams will be playing postseason games a week early.

Chief among those is the Buffalo Bills, who visit Miami on Sunday night. Depending on how results break earlier in the weekend, Josh Allen and company could need a win to secure a playoff berth. A loss (again, pending some other results) could leave them on the outside looking in.

But that's not the only game with big-time implications.

On Saturday afternoon, the Steelers can take another step toward the postseason with a win; they could also qualify with a loss, but either way, they'll need some help. Later that night, the Colts-Texans game will send the winner to the playoffs. The AFC South title could also be on the line, pending Jacksonville's performance the following day.

Turning the page to Sunday, Philadelphia and Dallas are chasing the NFC East title in their respective games; the Cowboys, however, control their own destiny. The Buccaneers can clinch the NFC South with a win, while the Saints and Falcons are still alive but hoping for help. Elsewhere, a victory will punch the Packers' playoff ticket, but a loss could open a window for Minnesota or Seattle to slip into the picture.

With all of that on the table, you could argue that Week 18 is the real must-see weekend for NFL fans. Losing in the playoffs may be a drag, but failing to even reach the postseason can have serious consequences for players, coaches and executives.

And with stakes like that, the drama couldn't be higher.