The Week 18 schedule will decide the winners of half of the NFL’s eight divisions. The AFC East, AFC South, NFC East, and NFC South remain up for grabs entering the regular-season finale.
We've analyzed all potential scenarios and outcomes. Calculations have been conducted and we've predicted the four winners of each remaining divisional title.
NFC EAST WINNER: DALLAS COWBOYS
At 10-1, the Philadelphia Eagles once looked like runaway winners in the NFC East. Personnel-related struggles have since appeared both offensively and defensively. The Eagles have dropped four of their last five, including a 33-13 drubbing by the Cowboys in Week 14. Concerns reached a breaking point on Sunday when the Eagles were shockingly downed 35-31 by the three-win Arizona Cardinals. An Eagles defense that's littered with past-their-prime starters has allowed 25-plus points in four of the last five games.
The Cowboys now control their own destiny. Sunday's opponent? A Washington Commanders squad that's expected to clean house next week. The Commanders will merely be physically, not mentally, present.
NFC SOUTH WINNER: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wasted a golden opportunity to clinch the division title in Week 17. Instead, they laid an egg, losing 23-13 to their arch-rival New Orleans Saints. That result kept the Buccaneers, Saints, and Atlanta Falcons alive heading into Week 18.
Despite their concerning lack of awareness, the Buccaneers still control their own destiny. And luckily for them, the putrid 2-14 Carolina Panthers are all that stands in the way of the NFC South title. Before Sunday's lackluster showing, Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers had scored 29 or more points in three consecutive victories over quality opponents. The Panthers are the perfect get-right opponent.
AFC SOUTH WINNER: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
The AFC South may quietly be the craziest division. The three contenders are sporting identical 9-7 records. Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars have not taken the desired step forward in 2023 but remain favorites to win the division over the underdog Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts.
The Jaguars control their destiny and have a cupcake meeting with the 5-11 Tennessee Titans on deck. The Titans are 0-5 within the AFC South this season and were dusted aside 34-14 by the Jaguars in Week 11. Ironically, that may have been Jacksonville's last complete performance. The Titans have various notable defenders on IR, including Jeffery Simmons, Amani Hooker, and Kristian Fulton. Even a banged-up Lawrence should manage to outduel the Titans, who are already thinking about the offseason.
AFC EAST WINNER: BUFFALO BILLS
The weekend's most exciting battle will be saved for last. The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills clash in Sunday night's primetime regular-season finale. The lone winner-takes-the-division dual, the Bills-Dolphins game qualifies as must-watch television.
The Dolphins should have claimed the division title weeks ago. Instead, they squandered opportunities by losing 56-19 to the Baltimore Ravens and embarrassingly blew a 14-point lead to the Tennessee Titans with under three minutes remaining. Oppositely, the Bills have rounded off four consecutive victories, including impressive wins over the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys.
I'll believe the Dolphins are capable of outlasting their big brother Bills in a must-win contest when I witness it. Earlier this campaign, the Dolphins followed up a 70-20 victory over the Denver Broncos with a 48-20 non-competitive defeat to the Bills. The Bills are about to snatch the AFC East division title away from the high-scoring Dolphins.
