NFL Week 18 picks, predictions: Bills, Steelers, Texans get wins, Packers, Seahawks upset
Many games on the NFL Week 18 schedule this week have playoff implications with NFL postseason berths and seeding still up for grabs in the final week of the regular season.
In the AFC, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers are fighting for three remaining spots.
In the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons are battling for two available bids.
Which teams will help their playoff cause with wins Saturday and Sunday?
Check out our NFL Week 18 picks and NFL Week 18 predictions for the 16 NFL Week 18 games.
All times MST. Click on each game for more picks and predictions for that matchup.
NFL Week 18 picks: Steelers at Ravens | Texans at Colts | Falcons at Saints | Browns at Bengals | Jaguars at Titans | Vikings at Lions | Jets at Patriots | Buccaneers at Panthers | Bears at Packers | Chiefs at Chargers | Eagles at Giants | Cowboys at Commanders | Broncos at Raiders | Rams at 49ers | Seahawks at Cardinals | Bills at Dolphins | Power rankings | Playoffs: AFC | NFC | Odds | TV
Saturday NFL game predictions, Jan. 6
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, 2:30 p.m., ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Ravens have locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC and will likely rest key players. That bodes well for the Steelers, who need a win and help to make the postseason.
Prediction: Steelers 23, Ravens 13
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts, 6:15 p.m., ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The winner of this game gets a playoff berth and has a shot at the AFC South title. That both of these teams are in this situation is a surprise. Rookie C.J. Stroud will make a difference late.
Prediction: Texans 24, Colts 23
NFL power rankings Week 18: Browns, Bills, Cowboys, Lions, Chiefs Super Bowl contenders?
Sunday early NFL game predictions, Jan. 7
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints, 11 a.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)
Both of these teams still have an outside shot at the postseason. The Falcons are just 2-6 on the road, however, and the Saints impressed in their win over the Buccaneers in Week 17.
Prediction: Saints 27, Falcons 20
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals, 11 a.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Browns are locked into their postseason seed and will likely rest their key players, allowing the Bengals to finish above .500 on the season after the injury to Joe Burrow.
Prediction: Bengals 21, Browns 13
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans, 11 a.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)
Win and the Jaguars are AFC South champions. If they can't beat the struggling Titans, they don't deserve to make the postseason.
Prediction: Jaguars 24, Titans 14
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions, 11 a.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Vikings still have a shot at the postseason, albeit a very small one. The Lions, mad at the world after their controversial loss to the Cowboys, will end that shot.
Prediction: Lions 30, Vikings 16
New York Jets at New England Patriots, 11 a.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)
Both of these teams are playing out the season. Will it be Bill Belichick's last game in New England? If so, the Patriots will send him out a winner.
Prediction: Patriots 20, Jets 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers, 11 a.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Buccaneers are the NFC South champions with a win in Carolina. If you can't beat the Panthers in the last game of the season, you don't deserve to make the postseason.
Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Panthers 14
AFC playoff picture Week 18: Jaguars, Bills, Colts, Texans, Steelers in postseason hunt
NFC playoff picture Week 18: Buccaneers, Packers, Seahawks, Saints, Vikings, Falcons alive
Sunday late NFL game predictions, Jan. 7
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers, 2:25 p.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Packers are in the playoffs with a win, but the Bears have won four of their last five games and would love to spoil their NFC North rival's season. Spoil they will.
Prediction: Bears 24, Packers 21
Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers, 2:25 p.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Chiefs are locked into their playoff spot and will likely rest key players, giving the Chargers the opportunity to end a disappointing season with a win.
Prediction: Chargers 21, Chiefs 14
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants, 2:25 p.m., CBS (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The Eagles need to win this game and see the Cowboys lose for Philadelphia to win the NFC East. Jalen Hurts and company will do their part.
Prediction: Eagles 28, Giants 17
Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders, 2:25 p.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)
It's simple for the Cowboys, win and they are NFC East champions. Dallas is only 3-5 on the road this season, but it should be able to beat a Commanders team that has lost seven straight.
Prediction: Cowboys 31, Commanders 16
Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders, 2:25 p.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)
One of the few games on the schedule that doesn't have NFL Playoff implications. It could have head coaching implications for Raiders interim coach Antonio Pierce.
Prediction: Raiders 24, Broncos 14
Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers, 2:25 p.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The 49ers have locked up the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and the Rams have secured a playoff berth. Both of these teams might just try to avoid injury in this one.
Prediction: Rams 24, 49ers 20
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals, 2:25 p.m., FOX (stream with free trial from FUBO)
This is a must-win game for the Seahawks, who also need help to make the postseason. Kyler Murray and Arizona are flying high after the win over the Eagles and would love to spoil Seattle's chances.
Prediction: Cardinals 28, Seahawks 24
NFL Week 18 odds: Point spreads, moneylines, over/unders for betting on games
NFL Week 18 schedule: Television channels, how to watch, stream games
Sunday Night Football prediction, Jan. 7
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins, 6:20 p.m., NBC (stream with free trial from FUBO)
The winner of this game wins the AFC East. The Dolphins are 7-1 at home, but the Bills have won four straight and might not make the playoffs if they lose this game.
Prediction: Bills 28, Dolphins 20
NOTE: NFL games can be streamed locally on FUBO, click here for a free trial
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL Week 18 picks, predictions: Buffalo Bills top Miami Dolphins, more
