Ravens Steelers in Week 18 face big questions
USAT’s Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaca break down Lamar Jackson’s status and DK Metcalf’s suspension as Steelers and Ravens fight for AFC North.
Sports Seriously
The Houston Texans entered Week 18 with an outside chance to win a third consecutive AFC South title. They needed to beat the Indianapolis Colts and have the Tennessee Titans upset the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Texans delivered on their end of the bargain. They beat the Colts 38-30 despite pulling quarterback C.J. Stroud and other starters midway through the game.
However, the Titans lost to the Jaguars 41-7 after losing starting quarterback Cam Ward to a shoulder injury in the first quarter. That locked Houston into an AFC wild-card spot.
The good news for the Texans? They were able to clinch the top wild-card spot by virtue of their victory over the Colts. That will allow Houston to face the AFC North champion when the NFL playoffs kick off.
Here’s a look at the Texans’ playoff scenarios as they go to the postseason for a third straight season under DeMeco Ryans.
The Texans have clinched the top wild-card spot in the AFC after their win over the Colts and the Jaguars’ win over the Titans. That will position them to play the AFC North champion, who will have the worst record among the conference’s division winners.
The winner of the AFC North was decided in the Steelers-Ravens game on “Sunday Night Football.” Pittsburgh earned the division title with a 26-24 win in Week 18 and will host Houston in the wild-card round.
The matchup will be on Monday, Jan. 12, at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN.
Below is a look at the AFC playoff bracket:
No. 1 Denver Broncos (BYE)No. 2 New England Patriots vs. No. 7 Los Angeles ChargersNo. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars vs. No. 6 Buffalo BillsNo. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. No. 5 Houston TexansNFL playoff schedule
The NFL playoffs will kick off on Jan. 10 with the league’s first two wild-card matchups before concluding on Feb. 8 with Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Wild Card weekend
All times Eastern
Saturday, Jan. 10
AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.AFC/NFC wild card game: 8 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 11
AFC/NFC wild card game: 1 p.m.AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 12
AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.Divisional round
Saturday, Jan. 17
AFC/NFC divisional game: 4:30 p.m.AFC/NFC division game: 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 18
AFC/NFC divisional game: 3 p.m.AFC/NFC divisional game: 6:30 p.m.NFL conference championship round
Sunday, Jan. 25
AFC championship game: 3 p.m.NFC championship game: 6:30 p.m.Super Bowl 60Date: Feb. 8, 2026Location: Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)Time: 6:30 p.m.TV: NBCAFCDenver Broncos (14-3, AFC West winners)*New England Patriots (14-3, AFC East winners)*Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4, AFC South winners)*Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, AFC North leaders)Houston Texans (12-5, wild card No. 1)*Buffalo Bills (12-5, wild card No. 2)*Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, wild card No. 3)*
In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
NFCSeattle Seahawks (14-3, NFC West winners)*Chicago Bears (11-6, NFC North winners)*Philadelphia Eagles (11-6, NFC East winners)*Carolina Panthers (8-9, NFC South winners)*Los Angeles Rams (12-5, wild card No. 1)*San Francisco 49ers (12-5, wild card No. 2)*Green Bay Packers (9-7-1, wild card No. 3)*
An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Teams that have clinched division titles are noted accordingly.