SerpApi.Org
There's nothing better than heading into the final week of the NFL season with high stakes, and the 2026 regular-season slate is built to deliver the drama in Week 18 across all division races.
But which ones are most likely to come down to the wire before deciding a division champ?
Here are my picks:
NFC South
It may not be the strongest division in the NFL, but the lack of a runaway favorite in this group has given us plenty of late-season drama in recent years. Though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took home the division four years in a row before last year, they rarely did it by a significant margin, and the Carolina Panthers finally wrestled away the crown in 2025. All four teams have made some big additions in the offseason in hopes of improving their chances to be at the top of the heap in 2026, and it could be decided during that Week 18 slate that pits the Bucs against the New Orleans Saints, and the Panthers against the Atlanta Falcons.
AFC North
Even in a down year in 2025, this division still came down to the wire, with a missed field goal on the final play of the regular season handing the title to the Pittsburgh Steelers as the Baltimore Ravens snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. A fully healthy Lamar Jackson should make the Ravens favorites to win it this year, but Joe Burrow's Cincinnati Bengals will have something to say about it, and the Steelers should remain a tough out with Aaron Rodgers back for one more year. Big coaching changes in Baltimore and Pittsburgh will certainly play a role, and Week 18 could decide it yet again, with the Ravens drawing the Steelers once again, while the Cleveland Browns likely try to play spoiler against the Bengals.
NFC West
While the Arizona Cardinals watch from the basement, and the San Francisco 49ers desperately try to get back into the Super Bowl conversation, the top of this division will once again feature two of the best teams in the league. The Seattle Seahawks will be defending their Super Bowl win from a year ago, but offseason additions by the Los Angeles Rams (namely trading for Myles Garrett) has made them the new favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy this time around. They'll have to go though the Seahawks to get it, but they'll get the benefit of hosting their Week 18 rematch of last year's NFC title game, while the 49ers will get the Cards to finish their regular-season slate.
NFC North
There's a path for all four teams in this division to land on top by the end of the year. If the Minnesota Vikings can get reliable quarterback play from either Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy, they should be back in the mix again. If Jordan Love and his supporting cast can finally live up to their full potential and deliver in the postseason, the Green Bay Packers could win it. If the Detroit Lions can stay healthier around Jared Goff and figure out their play-calling inconsistencies from a year ago, they'll be right back in the Super Bowl hunt. IF Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson build on last year's success, there's no reason to believe they shouldn't be the favorites to repeat. The Bears will travel to Minnesota in Week 18 to potentially close the deal, while the indoor Lions will have to brave the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field to make their case.
