NFL Week 18 Predictions: Who Will Take Last Remaining Playoff Place? | | NFL

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W.With the final week of the NFL regular season starting on Saturday and continuing on Sunday, the postseason picture remains incomplete. Here’s a rundown of the games that determine the final remaining playoff berths:

AFC’s No.1 Seed

On Thursday, the NFL finally announced that the game between the Bills and Bengals, which was suspended Monday night, will not resume. Doctors at the University of Cincinnati said Thursday that Hamlin showed “significant improvement” after regaining consciousness. asked if the bill won by written note.

On Friday, the league will meet to vote on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s recommendation as to where the Bills or Bengals could be involved in an AFC championship game. The Commissioner recommended playing the AFC title game on a neutral site if the Bills or Bengals qualified for the championship as a lower-seeded team, and outlined several scenarios leading to that schedule. (You can see the full description Here.)


winner takes all

Tennessee Titans v Jacksonville Jaguars (Saturday, 8:15 PM EST/Sunday, 1:15 AM GMT)

An unlikely contender for must-see TV, Saturday night’s battle between Jacksonville and Tennessee will decide the AFC South title. The two franchises entered 2022 with vastly different expectations, and few thought they would be vying for a playoff spot in the final week of the season. For the fourth time in five seasons under head coach Mike Vrabel. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have posted a combined record of 4-29 in his 2020-2021 season, spending most of last year in numerous embarrassments over former head coach Urban Meyer, who was fired after 13 games. Spent fighting with the story.

Jacksonville now has a playoff advantage. Led by rising star quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson, the Jaguars have gone from one of the worst offenses in the league last season to 7 yards per game in 2022. ranked 11th in points per game. They go into Saturday’s game on a four-game winning streak against the ailing Titans, who have lost six in a row and have already sacked their general manager. Tennessee’s starting quarterback is Josh Dobbs, his 27-year-old journeyman who joined the team on Dec. 21 after starting his career against the Cowboys last week.

If the Jaguars win or draw: They earned the #4 seed and the Titans were eliminated from playoff contention.

If the Titans win: They earned the 4th overall seed. The Jaguars are out of playoff contention unless the Patriots, Dolphins and Steelers all lose games in Week 18.


Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 8:20 PM EST/Monday, 1:20 AM GMT)

It’s been another dramatic season for Aaron Rodgers, but he’s one win away from qualifying for his 12th career playoff spot as the Green Bay starting quarterback. The Packers, who are on a four-game winning streak, can get through a tumultuous season with a Sunday night victory over Detroit seeking a playoff spot for the first time in six years.

After losing 40-33 to the Eagles on November 27, the Packers fell 4-8 and looked certain to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Thanks to Rodgers’ improved play and the versatile backfield tandem of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, Green Bay will have a wild card spot if they can beat an exciting Lions team with their thrilling offense and porous defense. can be obtained. Detroit quarterback Jared Goff ranks third in yards per game and fourth in points per game in his 41-10 victory over the Chicago Bears. It has established a high-flying attack that will be carried out.

If the Packers win: They earned a wild card spot.

Lions win or draw: They earned a wildcard spot in a Seahawks loss or tie.


New York Jets v Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 1pm EST/6pm GMT)
New England Patriots v Buffalo Bills (Sunday, 1pm ET/6pm GMT)

On the same day that Green Bay fell to 4-8 in the 2022 season, the Miami Dolphins improved to 8-3 with an easy victory over the Houston Texans and looked headed for the playoffs. Since that win, Miami is on his fifth straight loss and will need to beat the Jets to extend the season. The Dolphins will miss several key players. Starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, left tackle Teron Armstead and linebacker Bradley Chubb are among his three most important starters on the team, with a starting quarterback for Sunday’s game yet to be announced. Absent. Back-up his quarterback Teddy He will head if Bridgewater doesn’t recover from a finger injury, his coach Mike McDaniel said, three-stringer Skyler said he’s either Thompson or veteran Mike Glennon, who was added to the roster Wednesday. Rely on either.

One win isn’t enough for the Dolphins to make the playoffs. Miami needs New England to lose to the Bills, who are back in play for the first time since defensive back Dumar Hamlin collapsed on the field against the Bengals on Monday. The Patriots qualified for the playoffs with a win, but he came in as a winner in two of their last six games, ranking him 26th in yards per game. If they lose, they risk missing out on the playoffs for just the fifth time in 23 seasons under coach Bill Belichick to lead the team.

If the Patriots win: They earned a wild card spot.

If the dolphin wins: They earned a wild card spot in the Patriots loss.

If both teams lose: The Patriots clinch when the Titans and Steelers also lose. The Dolphins’ season ended in a loss.

Jalen Hurts
Philadelphia hopes Jalen Hurts returns from injury to help the Eagles secure the #1 overall seed in the NFC. Photo: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Fight for number one

New York Giants v Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 4:25 PM ET/9:25 PM GMT)
Arizona Cardinals v San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 4:25 PM ET/9:25 PM GMT)
Dallas Cowboys v Washington Commanders (Sunday, 4:25 PM ET/9:25 PM GMT)

The Philadelphia Eagles appeared to be firmly in control of the top seed in the NFC starting in December, but a losing streak has put them in danger of losing their coveted bye week. Starting quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to return to action after missing the final two games with a shoulder injury against the Giants, who qualified for the playoffs last week and are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. ing.

The two teams eligible to take the lead from the Eagles are the San Francisco 49ers, who have won nine games in a row, and the division rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, who hold a tiebreaker that could sink the Eagles to the fifth seed. am. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the Niners and Cowboys each face teams already out of playoff contention.

If the Eagles win or draw: They won the No. 1 seed.

If the Niners win: They lost to the Eagles and secured the #1 overall seed.

if the cowboys win: They lost to the Eagles and lost to the Niners to a draw to secure the #1 overall seed.

If the Niners win, the Cowboys win and the Eagles lose.: The Niners became the #1 overall seed. Dallas won his NFC East and is the No. 2 seed. Philadelphia wins the wildcard spot and the 5th seed.


long shot

Cleveland Browns v Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 1pm ET/6pm GMT)
Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, 4:25 PM ET/9:25 PM GMT)

The Steelers are unlikely to make the playoffs, but they’re playing for one of the NFL’s most notable streaks. If Pittsburgh beats or draws Cleveland on Sunday, head coach Mike Tomlin will complete his 16th straight season, his entire tenure with the Steelers, without losing a record. Tomlin is the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL, behind Belichick, with 10 postseason appearances in his career.

After trading Russell Wilson to Denver and handing the starting quarterback job to veteran Gino Smith, the Seahawks weren’t a popular preseason pick. Already fired the coach, Wilson had a miserable season. Seattle can beat the Rams, lose to the Packers, and snatch a wild card spot. It will be a notable moment for Smith, 32, a former Jets first-round pick who was primarily a backup from 2014 to 2021. More touches than both Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. down.

If the Steelers win: If the Patriots and Dolphins both lose, they’ll get a playoff spot.

If the Seahawks win: They lost to the Packers and made the playoffs.



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