NFL Week 18 talking points: Niners, Seahawks play for NFC's top seed, win and in for Ravens at Steelers

Six teams have already clinched the playoffs in each conference, making this NFL Week 18 all about the top seeds in the AFC and NFC and the squads who can win to sneak into the postseason.

The winner of the Seattle Seahawks visiting the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night will not only clinch the NFC West division title but also become the conference’s No. 1 seed.

Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers play for the NFC South division Saturday as well, with the Panthers needing a win to clinch the title, but the Bucs needing a victory plus some help.

Over in the AFC, the AFC North division will be up for grabs when Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens visit Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. All that and more as DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla tackles all the talking points for the final week of the NFL’s regular season.

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Panthers visit Buccaneers with final NFC playoff spot at stake

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The Carolina Panthers (8-8) could have clinched the NFC South division with a win over the win over the Seattle Seahawks and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. The Bucs (7-9) managed to lose to the Dolphins, but the Panthers were routed by the Seahawks.

That makes this Week 18 matchup at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay on Saturday all the more urgent as final spot in the NFC playoffs is on the line. A win and Carolina is in. However, the Buccaneers will need to win in addition to having an Atlanta Falcons loss at the hands of the New Orleans Saints to take the final NFC playoff spot.

When the teams met in Week 16, Bryce Young powered Carolina to victory over Tampa Bay with 191 yards and two touchdowns passing, while Panthers’ rookie safety Lathan Ransom intercepted Baker Mayfield late to secure the 23-20 win.

Mayfield was held to 145 yards passing and one touchdown, finding star wideout Mike Evans for that score. The tandem may need to deliver a bigger one-two punch to defeat the Panthers and stamp their spot in the postseason.

Niners, Seahawks play for division and top seed in NFC

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The NFC West has been the only division in the NFL this year that has birthed three playoff teams as the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams have all made the cut comfortably.

Now, two of them — the Niners (12-4) and Seahawks (13-3) — will battle in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California with the NFC’s top seed and NFC West division title on the line.

The teams met all the way back in Week 1of the season with the Niners eking out a 17-13 road victory behind 277 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions from Brock Purdy. In addition, Christian McCaffrey was the dual threat he is known for being with 69 yards rushing and another 73 yards receiving out the backfield.

Both the Niners and Seahawks enter this tilt hot, riding a six-game win streak apiece.

Who will sew up the division and the NFC’s top seed? We are about to find out.

Broncos have a chance to lock up AFC’s top seed

The Denver Broncos (13-3) have already locked up the AFC West. A win over the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) Sunday on Empower Field at Mile High, however, will give the Broncos the top seed in the AFC playoffs.

When the division rivals met back in Week 3, Justin Herbert rallied the Chargers to a 23-20 home victory behind 300 yards passing and Keenan Allen’s seven receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown.

Perhaps playing at Mile High will make a difference for Bo Nix and the Broncos this time around.

Patriots still have a chance to take AFC’s No. 1 seed

In being crowned the AFC East champs, there is still a route for Drake Maye and the New England Patriots (13-3) to seize the No. 1 seed in the conference, though they will need some help.

The Patriots will need to defeat the Miami Dolphins (7-9) at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, but will also need the Denver Broncos to lose to the Los Angeles Chargers. A Patriots’ tie and a Broncos’ loss will also give New England the top seed in the AFC playoffs.

The Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins, 33-27, back in Week 2 with Maye airing it out for 230 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing in for another score.

Steelers host Ravens with winner securing AFC North

All Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers needed was a win over the lowly Cleveland Browns to wrap up the AFC North and punch their postseason ticket. Instead, they squandered that opportunity mightily, failing to score a touchdown in their dreadful 13-6 loss to the Browns last week.

That gives Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens (8-8) the chance to steal the division from the Steelers (9-7) at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh under the lone spotlight of Sunday Night Football.

When the teams clashed in early December, Rodgers aired it out for 284 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for another score in the Steelers' 27-22 victory.

Will Rodgers and the Steelers sweep the season series to claim the final spot in the AFC playoffs? Or will Jackson and the Ravens seize the opening and sneak into the postseason themselves?