If you read my playoff prediction piece from earlier in the week, you know how I think this opening round is going to unfold. For those who missed it, I'll give you my Super Bowl pick here and now: Los Angeles Rams over Jacksonville Jaguars.

NFL playoff picks: Rams at Panthers | Packers at Bears | Bills at Jaguars | 49ers at Eagles | Chargers at Patriots | Texans at Steelers | The Republic's score predictions | Win probabilities | Super Bowl projection

The Athletic’s Mike Jones has been a fan of the work of both New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye for much of the season. The national NFL writer tabbed Vrabel as his Coach of the Year pick at the midway point of the 2025 campaign and called Maye’s Patriots one

SportsLine's model simulates every game 10,000 times and reveals its NFL picks today for spread, over/under and money line

The Underdog promo code NEWSWEEK will introduce a $75 bonus to new users for NFL Wild Card, NBA, and CFP picks this week.

The NFL wraps up the 2025-26 regular season this weekend as Week 18 will finalize the 2026 playoff bracket and the first 18 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft. We’ll see an assortment of teams resting players in preparation for the playoffs, as teams without a chance at a bye are looking to get ready for next weekend’s Wild Card round.

The NFL playoff picture will finalize after the NFL Week 18 schedule. The top seeds in both the AFC and NFC are still at stake, as is who is going to take the NFC South and AFC North title and the playoff spot that comes with it.