Armageddon (AFC Week 18)

After the NFC's important games get played on Saturday, the American Football Conference will need the first Sunday of 2026 to determine the last pieces of their playoff puzzle. The AFC has been quite captivating during the entire home stretch, with the possible Wild Cards racking up wins during the last few weeks. With all of that, the results have left quite a few things open in the conference heading into the final Sunday of the regular season.

Here's what we know so far in the AFC at this point. The Broncos are champions of the West, and the Patriots are champions of the East. The Chargers and Bills are official Wild Cards, and either of those two could end up as #5.

As for the rest:

The Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots have done a tit for tat for the #1 seed for pretty much the entire season. Both teams clinched their respective divisions during Week 17, and they are looking to get that top seed during the final week of the season. Both teams are 13-3, but it's Denver who has the tiebreaker (common opponents). As a result, the Broncos control their own destiny; if they win, they get the #1 seed. If they tie, a Patriots loss or tie gets it done. They can even back into the #1 seed if the Patriots lose and the Jaguars lose or tie. However, if the Broncos do lose or tie, then the Patriots get #1 with a win. If the Patriots tie, the Broncos have to lose. Both teams are at home on Sunday; the Broncos host the Chargers, while the Patriots host the Dolphins, with both games taking place during Sunday's late window.

With both the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans winning on Week 17, the AFC South does need the final week as well. The Jags have the added bonus of being alive for the #1 seed as well, but first thing's first for Jacksonville. A win or tie or a Houston loss or tie gets them the division. Regarding the #1 seed, the Jags need a win and losses from the Broncos and Patriots. If the Jags lose, then the Texans can clinch the AFC South with a win. The Jags host the Titans, while the Texans host the Colts. Both AFC South games will take place during Sunday's early window, meaning that if the Jags win, they'll be keeping an eye on things in Denver and Foxboro later in the day.

Finally, the 2025 regular season will end with the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers battling it out for all the marbles in the year's 272nd and final game. The Steelers won the first meeting in Baltimore during Week 14, and they entered Week 17 controlling their own destiny, but not only did the Ravens win, the Steelers were defeated badly in Cleveland. So now, it's come to this. Do or die. Winner take all. Jobs possibly on the line. Lamar Jackson could be back for this one, if he's just healthy enough. Winner gets the division and hosts whoever's #5 in the conference. If the game ends tied, Steelers get the North. This game, Game #272, will be Sunday Night Football's regular season finale.

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The AFC has some delicious storylines in the final week, and the conference will take center stage on Sunday Night Football. I'm very amped for Ravens/Steelers, it's a playoff game that isn't a playoff game, and it should be a classic. I am definitely ready for Week 18 and all of the chaos it will bring!