What is the NFL Saturday schedule? Matchups, TV channels for Week 18 games

It's all comes down to this.

For the quartet of NFL teams playing on Saturday in Week 18, it's win-or-go-home. Well, almost. The Carolina Panthers visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to open the day's action in a battle for the NFC South. While it might've originally been winner-take-all, that is no longer the case.

Thanks to the Atlanta Falcons' upset win over the Los Angeles Rams on "Monday Night Football" to close Week 17, the Buccaneers are not just a win away from getting into the postseason. If the Falcons defeat the New Orleans Saints and the Buccaneers defeat the Panthers, it would be Carolina getting into the playoffs courtesy of a three-way tiebreaker.

However, the task remains simple for the Panthers: it's win-and-in.

The nightcap is much easier to figure out. The NFC's No. 1 seed is up for grabs as Brock Purdy's San Francisco 49ers host Sam Darnold's Seattle Seahawks.

With a win, the Niners and their high-flying offense can secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Of course, the Super Bowl is also set to be played at Levi's Stadium this season, meaning San Francisco could hoist the Lombardi Trophy without leaving the comfort of home.

Seattle's stellar defense will try to ensure its rivals don't have that luxury while also giving itself a week off to start its playoff appearance.

Here's what to know about the Saturday schedule in Week 18.

NFL Saturday schedule: Week 18 games today

• Carolina Panthers (8-8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
• Seattle Seahawks (13-3) at San Francisco 49ers (12-4)

NFL Saturday: TV channels for today's games

• Panthers at Buccaneers: ABC, ESPN
• Seahawks at 49ers: ABC, ESPN

NFL Week 18: What time are today's games?

• Panthers at Buccaneers: 4:30 p.m. ET
• Seahawks at 49ers: 8:00 p.m. ET

NFL Week 18 schedule

All times Eastern.

Saturday, Jan. 3

• Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:30 p.m.
• Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 4

• Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m.
• Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
• Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans, 1 p.m.
• New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.
• Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants, 1 p.m.
• Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
• New York Jets at Buffalo Bills, 4:25 p.m.
• Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m.
• Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m.
• Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m.
• Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m.
• Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots, 4:25 p.m.
• Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m.
• Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m.

When do the NFL playoffs start?

• Dates: Jan. 10-12, 2026

This year's playoffs will start with a three-day wild-card round slate. Two games will take place on Saturday, Jan. 10; two more on Sunday, Jan. 11; and the wild-card round will conclude with a single game on Monday, Jan. 12.