For the second year in a row, the NFL will hold a doubleheader on Saturday in the final week of the regular season, and for the second year in a row, the NFL waited until Sunday games were over in Week 17 to find out who would play in that doubleheader.
The league announced Saturday’s schedule for Week 18 will look like this:
The biggest surprise is the Titans-Jaguars game. With the AFC South title on the line, there was some speculation that the NFL might move the matchup to Sunday night in Week 18, but instead, the league decided to put it on Saturday night.
The Jaguars probably won’t be thrilled to hear the game is being moved to Saturday, and that’s because the Titans will be getting a lot more rest than they are. Not only are the Jaguars playing on a short week, but Tennessee plays Thursday in Week 17, which will give them three full days of extra rest for the matchup.
Although the winner of the Titans-Jaguars game will clinch the AFC South, the loser isn’t necessarily eliminated. If the Titans win on Saturday, the Jagers can still clinch a berth if the Steelers lose to the Browns, the Patriots lose to the Bills and the Dolphins lose to the Jets in Week 18. On the other hand, if the Jaguars win. , then Tennessee’s season will be over.
As for the early game, the Chiefs are likely picked as they are still in contention for the best streak in the AFC. Regardless of what happens Monday night between the Bengals and the Bills, the Chiefs will head into Saturday’s game knowing they have to win if they want any shot at the top seed. If the Raiders pull off the upset, the Bills-Bengals winner will be in the driver’s seat to land the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
If you’re wondering why there’s a doubleheader this week, it’s now a permanent part of the following schedule because it’s part of ESPN’s media deal.
As for Sunday night’s game, it’s still unclear which game will end there. The NFL will almost certainly go with Ravens-Bengals or Lions-Packers. By: of at least one report, the NFL is leaning towards putting the Packers game there because it will be Aaron Rodgers playing in the Packers’ primetime season. The only problem with putting that game in prime time is that the Lions’ playoff chances could be dead before the game even starts if the Seahawks beat the Rams in Week 18.
Of course, if the Bengals beat the Bills on Monday, they’ll clinch the AFC North, and if that happens, Lions-Packers would be the only viable option.
