By Mummy Grace 
Week 18 Madness: Playoff Spots, Draft Order, and Bragging Rights on the Line!
Alright, folks, we made it—Week 18! It’s the last hurrah for the 2024 NFL regular season, and there’s a lot at stake. The playoff picture? Not quite settled. Draft picks? Still shaking out. MVP chatter? Oh, you bet it’s buzzing. And don’t even get us started on the coaching carousel drama.
Picking winners this week feels like throwing darts blindfolded. Why? Well, playoff teams are playing it safe, benching their stars, including the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley. (Guess we’re not getting those highlight reels we hoped for.)
But the crown jewel of Week 18? That’d be the NFC North showdown: Lions vs. Vikings. This is the game, people. Winner grabs the No. 1 seed. Loser? They hit the road as the No. 5 seed. Talk about high stakes. Our expert pickers are split right down the middle on this one—because, honestly, how do you choose between two powerhouses?
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a golden ticket to the NFC South crown—just beat the Saints, and it’s theirs. And here’s a shocker: our entire panel thinks the Bucs will pull it off. (No pressure, guys.)
Over in the AFC North, Saturday’s games are the key to Sunday’s survival. The Bengals need to win and get some serious help if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. So, yeah, it’s a nail-biter.
Here’s who’s making the tough calls this season:
- Albert Breer: Senior NFL reporter (X/Twitter)
- Conor Orr: Senior writer (X/Twitter, BlueSky)
- Gilberto Manzano: Staff writer (X/Twitter, BlueSky)
- Matt Verderame: Staff writer (X/Twitter)
- John Pluym: Managing editor (X/Twitter)
- Mitch Goldich: Senior editor (X/Twitter, BlueSky)
They’re picking winners straight up, so if you’re looking for spreads and betting tips, check out SI Betting for all the juicy details.
Stay tuned, buckle up, and enjoy the chaos—Week 18 is here to deliver!