NFL Week 18 Schedule Kickoff
As anticipation builds for the climax of the NFL season, the eagerly awaited Week 18 schedule was unveiled on a Sunday night. The grand finale will unfold with a Saturday doubleheader, followed by the ultimate clash on Sunday night between the Dolphins and Bills in Miami. The stakes are high, as the victor will claim the coveted AFC East title in the 272nd and final game of the 2023 season.
Before the spotlight shines on the Dolphins and Bills, a total of 15 games, each brimming with playoff implications, will unfold. The action kicks off on Saturday with an ESPN doubleheader. The Ravens, having secured the no. 1 overall seed in the AFC, will host the Steelers in the first game. While Baltimore has their position guaranteed, and Pittsburgh eyes a playoff spot, with their fate hinging on the outcomes of the Bills or Jaguars games. The late Saturday’s game features a win-and-in AFC South showdown between the Colts and the Texans, promising a wild card berth and a potential shot at the AFC South title.
The Week 18 NFL schedule, recently disclosed by the league, showcases 16 divisional matchups. Saturday’s excitement includes the Pittsburgh Ravens facing the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans taking on the Indianapolis Colts in a decisive win-and-in scenario. Sunday’s 14 matchups culminate with the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins headlining “Sunday Night Football” in a winner-takes-all battle for the AFC East division crown and the No. 2 seed in the conference.
The NFL, in its pursuit of maintaining the integrity of the game and optimizing viewership, strategically placed games with playoff implications. Notably, the Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins clash secured a primetime slot, underscoring its significance. The victorious team in this marquee matchup will not only clinch the AFC East title for the 2023 season but also secure the second seed in the AFC playoff picture.
The Week 18 schedule unfolds with two Saturday games, broadcasted by ESPN, and continues on Sunday with CBS and FOX airing doubleheaders in the standard 1 p.m. ET and 4:25 p.m. ET slots. The season concludes with NBC airing the final game on Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET.
In a spotlight on one of the NFL’s marquee matchups in the final week, the Buffalo Bills take on the Miami Dolphins. Miami, with an 11-5 record, can seal the AFC East Division title with a win. Buffalo, standing at 10-6, aims to tie for first place with a victory, having previously defeated the Dolphins 49-20 in Week 4. Meanwhile, in the NFC East Division, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles share an 11-5 record, heightening the competition in a gripping end to the regular season.
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NFL Week 18 Schedule:
|
Date |
Time |
Matchup |
TV Network |
|
Saturday, Jan. 6 |
4:30 p.m. ET |
Steelers at Ravens |
ESPN/ABC |
|
Saturday, Jan. 6 |
8:15 p.m. ET |
Texans at Colts |
ESPN/ABC |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
1 p.m. ET |
Buccaneers at Panthers |
Fox |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
1 p.m. ET |
Browns at Bengals |
CBS |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
1 p.m. ET |
Vikings at Lions |
Fox |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
1 p.m. ET |
Jaguars at Titans |
CBS |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
1 p.m. ET |
Falcons at Saints |
CBS |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
1 p.m. ET |
Jets at Patriots |
Fox |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
4:25 p.m. ET |
Bears at Packers |
CBS |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
4:25 p.m. ET |
Chiefs at Chargers |
CBS |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
4:25 p.m. ET |
Broncos at Raiders |
Fox |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
4:25 p.m. ET |
Eagles at Giants |
CBS |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
4:25 p.m. ET |
Rams at 49ers |
Fox |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
4:25 p.m. ET |
Cowboys at Commanders |
Fox |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
4:25 p.m. ET |
Seahawks at Cardinals |
Fox |
|
Sunday, Jan. 7 |
8:20 p.m. ET |
Bills at Dolphins |
NBC |
FAQs
When was the Week 18 schedule unveiled, and what does it include?
The Week 18 schedule was unveiled on a Sunday night, showcasing 16 divisional matchups, including a Saturday doubleheader and a Sunday night clash between the Dolphins and Bills.
Which teams will face off in the ultimate Sunday night showdown in Week 18?
The Dolphins and Bills will engage in a winner-takes-all battle on Sunday night, with the victor claiming the coveted AFC East title and securing the No. 2 seed in the conference.
How many games with playoff implications are featured before the Dolphins and Bills matchup?
Before the Dolphins and Bills take the spotlight, a total of 15 games with playoff implications will unfold, starting with an ESPN doubleheader on Saturday.
What is the scenario for the Ravens in their Saturday game, considering they have secured the No. 1 overall seed?
Although the Ravens have secured the No. 1 overall seed, the Saturday game against the Steelers holds playoff implications for Pittsburgh, with their fate depending on the outcomes of the Bills or Jaguars games.
Which AFC South teams will participate in a win-and-in showdown on late Saturday in Week 18?
The Colts and the Texans will engage in a win-and-in AFC South showdown on late Saturday, promising a wild card berth and a potential shot at the AFC South title.
What makes the Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins clash particularly significant in Week 18?
The Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins clash is in a primetime slot, underscoring its significance as the marquee matchup that will determine the AFC East title for the 2023 season and the second seed in the AFC playoff picture.
Which TV networks will broadcast the Saturday games in Week 18, and how does the schedule unfold on Sunday?
ESPN will broadcast the two Saturday games in Week 18. On Sunday, CBS and FOX will air doubleheaders in the standard 1 p.m. ET and 4:25 p.m. ET slots, concluding with NBC airing the final game on Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET.