It is win or go home for many teams this week. There are a handful of clubs who clinched playoff positions weeks ago, and we know who the 1-seeds are in each conference. So, we will see some teams resting their starters before the playoffs begin. However, there are many franchises still battling for a wild card spot and a few division titles still up for grabs. Here are our Top 3 2023 NFL Games Week 18.
Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts
This game is going to be a ton of fun. Whoever wins this game will clinch a spot in the playoffs and if the Jaguars are upset by the Titans, the winner of this game secures the division, which guarantees at least one home game in the postseason. Many eyes will be watching this contest and it’s been flexed to the Saturday night window for that reason. This will be the first time the Texans will play outside of the early Sunday window all season long. This Houston team won just three games last year and is now close to punching their ticket to the postseason for the first time since 2019. C.J. Stroud has already locked up Rookie of the Year and DeMeco Ryans has a nice shot at winning Coach of the Year as well. The Colts have played well under QB Gardner Minshew and keep delivering exciting wins. This game will come down to the wire with neither defense getting many stops the last few weeks and the offenses putting up big numbers. Prediction: Texans 31 Colts 28
Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears
Nothing like a divisional foe that has nothing to play for trying to keep a rival team out of the playoffs. Last year, we watched the Detroit Lions keep Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers out of the postseason in the final regular season game of the year. Can a division foe knock the Packers out of the playoffs for a second straight season? Perhaps, because the easiest way for the Packers to make the playoffs this year is to beat the Bears. Otherwise, there are a few scenarios where they still make it, but they are unlikely and require a lot of help from around the NFC. The Bears have won four of their last five and their lone loss was by three points to the Cleveland Browns. The Packers and Jordan Love have also found their groove so this should be a great game. I love it when a team gets to play spoiler. Prediction: Packers 28 Bears 25
Tampa Bay Bucs vs Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons vs New Orleans Saints
Yet again, the NFC South is a pathetic excuse for a division this season. There is a chance that for the second straight season, the winner of the division will have a losing record. Right now, the Bucs control their destiny. If they win, they are headed back to the postseason and will clinch their third straight division title. If they lose, they need help from the Falcons to win the division, although there are scenarios where they could still make the playoffs. Tampa should easily roll in this game against a Panthers team whose owner just threw a drink at opposing fans last week and whose rookie quarterback was clearly the wrong one to be drafted first overall. The Bucs are in an excellent position to roll in this game, but crazier things have happened. The Saints and Falcons will be watching the Tampa/Carolina score while they play as the Saints try to sneak into the playoffs. The only hope for the Falcons to make the playoffs is for Tampa to lose and for them to beat the Saints.