The NFL will be taking over fans’ televisions on both Saturday, January 3, 2026 and the league’s more typical schedule on Sunday, January 4. There are no Monday Night Football or Thursday Night Football games in Week 18 as the league prepares for the NFL playoffs which start on January 10.
There were late changes to Week 18 as the NFL flexed two games to today’s schedule for Saturday, January 3. The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers kickoff the NFL Week 18 schedule on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Eastern. It was initially marketed as a win-and-in game, but the Atlanta Falcons‘ upset victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17 complicated the Bucs’ postseason fate.
Tampa Bay now needs to defeat Carolina, and Atlanta to lose to the New Orleans Saints in order to make the NFL playoffs. If the Bucs win, but the Falcons also win this creates a three-way tie atop the NFC South. The Panthers would advance as the NFC South champions in this scenario, even if Carolina loses to Tampa Bay.
Got all that? The final NFL game on Saturday’s schedule is much clearer with the winner securing the NFC West title and No. 1 seed.
The San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at 8 p.m. Eastern. Both of Saturday’s games will be broadcast on both ABC and ESPN.
Here’s what you need to know about the NFL schedule.
NFL Week 18 Schedule for Saturday, January 3
The Week 18 schedule begins on Saturday, January 3, with an NFC double-header. Here’s a look at today’s schedule and all times listed are in Eastern.
| DATE | GAME | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
| January 3 | Panthers vs. Buccaneers | 4:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN |
| January 3 | Seahawks vs. 49ers | 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN |
NFL Playoff Schedule: Wild Card Round Begins on Saturday, January 10
The NFL typically does not have Thursday Night Football or Monday Night Football games in Week 18. Instead, the league prefers to play all the games close together in preparation for the NFL playoffs.
With the postseason around the corner, here’s a look at the projected NFL playoff schedule (via FBSchedules.com) which begins on January 10. The NFL is expected to announce the official NFL playoff schedule on Sunday, January 4, during the Sunday Night Football matchup. All times listed are in Eastern.
| DATE | GAME | TIME (ET) | TV CHANNEL |
| January 10 | Wild Card Round | 4:30 p.m. | Prime, CBS or FOX |
| January 10 | Wild Card Round | 8 p.m. | Prime, CBS or FOX |
| January 11 | Wild Card Round | 1 p.m. | Prime, CBS or FOX |
| January 11 | Wild Card Round | 4:30 p.m. | Prime, CBS or FOX |
| January 11 | Wild Card Round | 8:15 p.m. | NBC |
| January 12 | Wild Card Round | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN/ABC |
| January 17 | Divisional Round | 4:30 p.m. | TBD |
| January 17 | Divisional Round | 8:15 p.m. | TBD |
| January 18 | Divisional Round | 3 p.m. | TBD |
| January 18 | Divisional Round | 6:30 p.m. | TBD |
| January 25 | AFC Championship | 3 p.m. | CBS |
| January 25 | NFC Championship | 6:30 p.m. | FOX |
| February 8 | Super Bowl 2026 | 6:30 p.m. | NBC |
The NFL Week 18 schedule concludes with a battle for the final AFC playoff spot. With the AFC North title on the line, the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. Eastern on NBC.
The winner not only secures the division title, but the final AFC playoff spot. Meanwhile, the losing team is eliminated from postseason contention.
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