NFL Playoff Picture: What is up for grabs in Week 18?

The final week of the 2023 NFL regular season is here. Three teams will battle for the AFC South, another three will fight for the NFC South, and in all, 11 teams are set to compete for the final five playoff spots.

Nine teams have already secured their place in the postseason, while 11 sides have already been eliminated and are playing for nothing but pride in Week 18.

That means there are five playoff spots and four division titles still to claim, so it is fair to say this weekend could be fairly dramatic.

We already know the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens have secured their spots as the number one seeds in the NFC and AFC respectively, but we take a look at what is still to play for in Week 18.

Cowboys, Eagles fighting for NFC East title

The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles still have work to do in their quest for the NFC East title. 

The Cowboys can clinch the crown by beating the Washington Commanders, and they are expected to do so, with odds of -1600 available for them to finish top.

Should they lose, they open up the door for the Philadelphia Eagles, who are hoping to land their second straight division title and are +850 to do so.

Nick Sirianni's team faces the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium, but it is a game they are expected to win.

Both teams stand on 11-5 records as it stands, but it is simple for the Cowboys. Win, and they will take the division before they head into the postseason.

Trio competing for NFC South crown

The race for the NFC South crown could be the most dramatic of the lot this weekend as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, and New Orleans Saints try to cement their place at the top.

Todd Bowles' Bucs are in the driver's seat, as they just need to win to take the division and bring their record to 9-8. They face a trip to the Carolina Panthers this weekend, the worst team in the NFL this season.

The Bucs are -250 to finish first in the NFC South, while the Saints are +380 and the Falcons +650.

The Saints and the Falcons face each other at Caesars Superdome, so it could be a winner-takes-all encounter in New Orleans. But neither team controls its own destiny: they need to win and need the Panthers to beat the Bucs to make the playoffs.

The Saints could also progress even if they win and the Bucs win, but New Orleans would need both the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers to slip up in their respective matches.

Bills hoping to catch Dolphins

The Buffalo Bills have been quietly effective since mid-November, and after playing second fiddle to the Miami Dolphins all season, they have the chance to beat them and clinch the AFC East title this weekend.

Sean McDermott's team are -165 to win the division, and everything seems to be falling into place for the Bills.

The Dolphins are top thanks to their 11-5 record, but the Bills' 10-6 record - and their win over Miami earlier this season - means Buffalo wins the division if they beat Mike McDaniel's team.

The Bills are favored by -3.0 heading into the division decider.

Read more: NFL Week 18 schedule, odds, and games to watch

Jaguars clinging to AFC South lead

The Tennessee Titans will be fired up ahead of their Week 18 clash against the Jacksonville Jaguars as they try to ruin their rivals' AFC South title hopes.

Since their bye in Week 9, the Jaguars have lost five of their eight matches, and that has allowed both the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans to catch up. Now, all three teams are 9-7 this season.

The Titans are one of those teams who cannot secure a playoff spot, but they will be desperate to dent the Jaguars' hopes.

Doug Pederson's team can win the AFC South title if they win or tie. A defeat for Jacksonville means the winner of the game between the Colts and Texans is then secured as AFC South champions.

Jacksonville are -230 to hold onto the first spot, the Texans are +425, while the Colts are +475 to take the division.

A wild Wild Card race

While plenty of the attention will be focused on the division-clinching scenarios, there are still some teams that can make the playoffs without winning their division.

The Green Bay Packers cannot finish any higher than second in the NFC North after the Detroit Lions clinched that honor, but Green Bay is -210 to make the playoffs as all they need to do is beat the Chicago Bears.

Should they tie with the Bears, the Packers will need the Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints to lose.

NFC North rivals the Minnesota Vikings can also sneak in, but they need to beat the Lions and hope the Packers, Seahawks, and Saints lose.

Pete Carroll's Seattle have their fate in other teams' hands, as they need to beat the Arizona Cardinals and hope the Packers lose.

In the AFC, the Steelers take on the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, and a win and a Bills defeat puts them into the postseason mix. Mike Tomlin's team can still make it if they tie, but that would require the Jaguars to lose, and they also need the Colts-Texans match to not end in a tie.

With so much to play for, Week 18 promises to be another thrilling few days in the NFL before the attention switches to the playoffs later this month.