The Most Important Games Remaining In The NFL

We all heard at some time that games in December and January are worth more. While I don’t totally agree, as losing a game in September can hurt just as much, you have less room for error later. Entering Week 16, only two teams have clinched a playoff spot. No division has a winner. 17 teams are still fighting for a playoff spot. With divisions, wildcard spots, first seed, and draft order still in play, there’s a lot at stake as we finish the 2025 season.

This won’t be a ranking or anything like that. Especially because, for Panthers fans (just an example), the game against the Bucs is way more important than Seattle vs. San Francisco. If your team is eliminated and/or embarrassed you enough in 2025, think of this as a guide to which games to watch.

Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks, Week 16 (TNF)

Probably the game with the most at stake. The Rams can’t be division champions just yet, but a win on Thursday almost guarantees it. A Los Angeles victory would put them at 11-3, basically knock the Seahawks out of the NFC West race, and maintain their one-game lead over the San Francisco 49ers. It would also put them closer to clinching the #1 seed in the NFC.

Meanwhile, if the Seahawks win this game, the NFC West would be wide open. Seattle would have the upper hand in the division, leapfrogging the Rams. If this happens, there’s a scenario in which the division finishes in a three-way tie with the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers all at 14-3. If you think last year’s race for the NFC North was crazy, imagine this.

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears, Week 16 (Saturday)

If Detroit loses on Sunday, the winner of this game will clinch a playoff spot. The Bears are first in the division by half a game, and a win on Saturday would do wonders for their chances to win the division for the first time since 2018. With the Packers having a tie, there will be no tiebreakers involved, which is great for Chicago, as they have a 1-3 division record.

The head coaches took some shots at each other in the offseason, which is rare, but I thought it was fun. Matt LaFleur can sweep Ben Johnson after the Bears’ HC said he enjoyed beating the Packers twice a year in his opening press conference. Ben Johnson can have a statement win against their bitter rivals in his first season and take a giant step towards the division championship. Get your popcorn ready for Saturday, this will be a fun one.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers, Week 16

The football gods were generous with this one. With both teams at 7-7 and 2-2 in the division, the tiebreaker comes down to common opponents, and the Bucs have the upper hand. Surprisingly, they have yet to play this season. This means that, in the final three weeks, they face each other twice. The Bucs just need to win one of the matchups and can even lose next week (if Carolina loses too).

Both teams have struggled, including losses to the Saints in back-to-back weeks. The Bucs started the season hot, but have won just once since their Week 9 bye. The Panthers have been up and down, but pulled off great wins against the Packers and Rams. With everything on the table, both their games are must-see TV.

Houston Texans @ Los Angeles Chargers, Week 17 (Saturday)

The only non-divisional game on the list. This game will, at the very least, impact the playoff seeding in the AFC. This would already be important, as it can be the difference between facing the AFC North and the AFC East winner. But, with both teams alive in their divisions, the loser is almost guaranteed to be a wildcard. In the Chargers’ case, they can’t lose another game and need the Broncos to lose once. If that happens, the winner of the Chargers-Broncos Week 18 game will win the AFC West for the first time in a while.

The Texans are in a more difficult situation. They need to have a better record than the Jaguars in the next three games. With the Jaguars facing the Philip Rivers-led Colts and the Tennessee Titans in the final two games, their hopes rely on winning every game and hoping that the Broncos beat the Jaguars in Week 16. Not only must both teams win to keep their hopes alive, but they also need their rival to lose this week.

Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers, Week 18

This will be the only Week 18 game. With so much to decide, a game that could mean a lot can end up deciding nothing, and vice versa. However, this game will be important no matter what. It can have a huge influence if Seattle wins against the Rams, as the Seahawks-49ers game can decide the #1 seed in the NFC. But, at the very least, it should decide the #5 and #6 seeds. So, while the winner is likely to face whoever wins the NFC South, the loser will have to travel to Philadelphia, Chicago, or Green Bay. It can also be the deciding factor between facing the Rams in the divisional round or not.

This is also likely to be the last game of the regular season, and the last time they played the final game, it was a memorable one. If you aren’t a Rams fan, you should hope for a Seahawks win against the Rams. A game between the Seahawks and 49ers with the division and #1 seed for grabs would feed generations.

There are other interesting games that I didn’t put in the list. The Jaguars-Broncos and Steelers-Lions, for example, are very interesting as well. Other games can mean a lot, too. We can’t be sure about what will be at play in the Week 18 games right now. An unexpected result can have huge ramifications in the playoffs and draft positioning. What we can do is enjoy some great matchups in the final three weeks of the season.