Who clinches the final two available NFL playoff spots?
The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to battle for the NFC South title and associated playoff spot. In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers clash for the division crown in a high stakes win-or-go-home game.
The final week of the regular season is here. Playoff seedings will be official by the end of Sunday. Who is in the best position for a trip to Santa Clara for Super Bowl 60? Here’s an early look at predictions and picks to win the AFC, NFC and which team will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.
AFC standings ahead of Week 18
- Denver Broncos (13-3)
- New England Patriots (13-3)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
- Houston Texans (11-5)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-5)
AFC Championship prediction: Bills survive against Patriots
Josh Allen’s the fourth player in NFL history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes in six of his first eight career seasons, per NFL Research. The Bills are too reliant on Allen, but I predict he’ll have plenty of assistance against the Patriots in an all-AFC East championship game.
Running back James Cook produces more than 130 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. Buffalo’s defense gets just enough stops as the Bills upset the Patriots in Foxborough again.
It’ll mark Buffalo’s first Super Bowl appearance since the 1993 season.
NFC standings ahead of Week 18
- Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
- Chicago Bears (11-5)
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
- Carolina Panthers (8-8)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4) ******
- Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)
NFC Championship prediction: Eagles hang on against Rams (again)
The Eagles are starting to play better football. I believe the Eagles finally find their groove during win-or-go-home situations in the postseason.
Philadelphia’s offense has struggled to establish an identity and they haven’t been consistent this season. But I predict they return to form with running back Saquon Barkley leading the way.
Barkley ran all over the Rams in two meetings last season, but he was limited to 55 yards from scrimmage in a Week 3 win over Los Angeles.
The Eagles have won four straight games, including the playoffs, against the Rams dating back to 2023. The Rams’ explosive offense will keep this game close, but Philly’s overall talent on both sides of the ball prevails.
Super Bowl 60 prediction
Losers of four Super Bowls in a row in the early 90s, the Bills have a painful Super Bowl history. Unfortunately for Buffalo, Feb. 8 will add to the franchise’s Super Bowl misery.
The Eagles have back-to-back standout performances to complete their title defense and win their second-straight Super Bowl.
Philadelphia’s opportunistic defense forces two takeaways and the team scores 14 points off the turnovers.
Super Bowl 60 odds breakdown
According to the current betting odds at BetMGM, the Los Angeles Rams have the best odds of winning Super Bowl 60 at +475.
NFL playoff schedule
- Wild card round: Saturday, Jan. 10 to Monday, Jan. 12, 2026
- Divisional round: Saturday, Jan. 17 to Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026
- Conference championship: Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026
- Super Bowl: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
