The NFL regular season ends this weekend. And with playoff seeding still up for grabs in both conferences, the league just announced exactly when every game will kick off—including some last-minute schedule changes that tell you everything about what's at stake.
Week 18 schedule (January 3-4, 2026)
Saturday, January 3:
- Multiple games flexed to primetime windows as division titles and seeding remain undecided
- Several teams fighting for the last wild card spots in each conference
Sunday, January 4:
- Remaining games scheduled throughout the day
- Sunday Night Football features a game with significant playoff implications
The NFL reserves the right to flex games in Week 18 specifically because so much can change in the final days. Teams with nothing to play for get pushed to early windows; games with playoff implications get premium slots.
What's still at stake
Both No. 1 seeds remain up for grabs. Four division titles are still undecided. The wild card picture in both conferences could shift dramatically based on Week 18 results.
That's an unusual amount of drama for the final week of the regular season—and it explains why the NFL wanted maximum flexibility with the schedule.
Eagles make roster move ahead of week 18
In other news, the Philadelphia Eagles released long snapper Charley Hughlett on Monday. The move comes after Hughlett spent most of the season on Injured Reserve with an abdominal injury.
Hughlett, who signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia in March after 10 seasons with the Cleveland Browns, returned for the team's final two games. He served as the long snapper for Jake Elliott's two field goals and an extra point in the Eagles' victory over Buffalo—a game that helped Elliott become just the second player in franchise history to exceed 1,000 career points.
The 34-year-old's release is somewhat surprising given his playoff experience (152 games in Cleveland, multiple-time team captain), but the Eagles likely want to evaluate younger options heading into the postseason.
Philadelphia can finish no worse than the No. 3 seed in the NFC and hosts the Commanders in Week 18 with a chance to clinch the NFC East.
Playoff picture entering Week 18
Here's what we know:
Clinched: Several teams have locked up playoff berths, but seeding remains fluid.
Still Alive: Multiple teams in both conferences enter Week 18 needing wins and help.
Playing for Draft Position: Teams like the Giants, Raiders, and Titans will play out the string with 2026 draft positioning in mind.
The contrast couldn't be sharper. Some franchises are preparing for January football. Others are already scheduling coaching interviews.
Week 18 will sort it all out. And this time, every game matters more than usual.
Sources: NFL.com, Philadelphia Eagles, Bleacher Report