NFL Schedule 2024-25: Week 18 Dates, Times Announced; Vikings vs Lions Set for SNF | News, Achievements, Highlights, Statistics, and Rumors

Week 18 in the NFL brings a number of interesting divisional games, many of which carry significant meaning.

The title will be a showdown between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings that will decide the winner of the NFC North and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The loser would drop to the 5th seed in the conference, and the game is scheduled Sunday Night Football.

The full schedule for Week 18 is as follows:

The Vikings defeated the Green Bay Packers 27-25 on Sunday to improve to 14-2 and claim first place in the NFC while the Lions (13-2) were idle in the waiting list. Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers. Minnesota has won nine straight games and has everything to make the playoffs, but one of its two losses came against Detroit, 31-29 in Week 7.

The Lions were in first place in the NFC for many years. The team went on an 11-game winning streak two weeks ago with a loss to the Buffalo Bills, but bounced back last week with a win over the Chicago Bears. Even if Detroit loses to San Francisco, it can win the championship in Minnesota and win their Week 18 game.

The NFC South is also in jeopardy, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a win over the New Orleans Saints to clinch their fourth straight title. if the Bucs lose and the Atlanta Falcons beat the Carolina Panthers, the Falcons will take the division crown and eliminate them from the playoffs. Atlanta was in control of the division until a long loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football put Tampa Bay ahead going into the final week of the season.

In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens need a win against the Cleveland Browns to secure the AFC North title. A loss would open the door for the Pittsburgh Steelers to win against the Cincinnati Bengals, who are still alive for playoff contention. However, the Bengals need a lot of help.

The Denver Broncos are tied for seventh and last in the AFC. However, they face the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18. Fortunately for the Broncos, the Chiefs have already secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC and may choose to rest many of their starters.

If Denver loses to Kansas City, the Miami Dolphins can clinch the final spot in the AFC with a win over the New York Jets. The Bengals need both the Broncos and Dolphins to lose if they want to get a playoff spot by defeating the Steelers.

All of this makes for an exciting finish to the 2024 regular season, and the NFL playoffs will bring even more excitement no matter how things go.