- Seahawks–Rams in Week 18 is for all the marbles: Last year's NFC championship game rematch could decide the NFC West and No. 1 overall seed in the final week of the season.
- A lot on the line in Eagles–49ers: This Week 17 tilt should mean plenty for the NFC playoff picture, and could be the first of two contests in three weeks between Philadelphia and San Francisco.
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The 2026 NFL preseason has already been a treat, but it’s only the amuse-bouche to a lengthy helping of fully meaningful football in September. Indeed, the 272-game season delivers from Game 1 to the very end.
Every game inherently carries some level of import, but certain contests are simply more compelling or revelatory than others. These 10 showdowns are ones to circle given when they occur, who they feature and any other noteworthy storylines.
Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Rams (Week 18)
Last year, every iteration of Seahawks-Rams felt like a heavyweight fight. More of the same should continue in 2026, especially with these two titans set to close the season against one another.
The defending champion Seahawks ultimately distinguished themselves against the Rams late in the 2025 season thanks to a thrilling 38-37 comeback win in overtime in Week 16, then a triumph in a contested NFC championship game five weeks later. Although Seattle will navigate multiple losses on both sides of the ball, the team still looks difficult to beat going into this season with a stingy defense and an explosive offense.
Meanwhile, the Rams have approached this offseason with extreme discontent at their 2025 result — going all in on being title favorites for this campaign. Los Angeles enters the year first in PFF’s Power Ratings after trading for two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie, plus signing cornerback Jaylen Watson.
The NFC West looks like a three-headed monster yet again, and everything could come down to this last dance. That includes the top overall seed in the conference being at stake.
Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers (Week 18)
The two favorites in the NFC North doing battle over the final weekend certainly has to merit a high ranking on this list.
After a disappointing campaign in which Detroit missed the playoffs for the first time since 2022, the team eyes a bounce-back season. The Lions’ star-studded offense figures to remain potent after ranking fifth in EPA per play last season, although new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing will look for more synergy. Meanwhile, defensive health will be key after seeing Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, D.J. Reed and others all play fewer than 750 snaps a year ago.
The Packers might be tested early as they await Micah Parsons’ ACL recovery, plus navigate a new-look receiving corps now without Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks. Nonetheless, Jordan Love returns after producing the second-best PFF passing grade (88.7) last season, and Green Bay boasts other stars in Xavier McKinney, Tucker Kraft and Edgerrin Cooper.
In another division that doesn’t seem to have a ton of separation at the top, it wouldn’t be a shock whatsoever if the winner is decided in the last week of the slate.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (Week 18)
This Week 18 schedule sure is loaded, because there could be a third division’s fate at stake on Jan. 9 or 10.
The Chargers enter 2026 with additional optimism after hiring former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator, looking to lift a group that finished 23rd in EPA per play despite the efforts of Justin Herbert (78.0 overall PFF grade). A healthier offensive line and a returning defensive nucleus also bode in LA’s favor, even without defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
The 2025 AFC runners-up look to build on a wildly successful season that saw a sixth-place finish in overall PFF grade. While questions linger about avoiding regression, the Broncos added a star receiver in Jaylen Waddle (85.2 PFF receiving grade) next to their league-best offensive line. Denver’s defense also remains among the sport’s best on the heels of two straight top-five EPA-per-play finishes.
The best two teams in last year’s AFC West look to stay at the top despite the sleeping giant Chiefs looming. Even if this game isn’t for the division crown, it should carry a magnitude for the wild-card race at minimum.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys (Week 12)
It’s a bit of a shame this finale isn’t happening later in the calendar, but it nonetheless holds tremendous importance for shaping the NFC East.
Last year, the Eagles became the first repeat winner of the division since 2003-04, mostly courtesy of a defense that tied for eighth in success rate. Philadelphia’s offense faces uncertainty with no more A.J. Brown and ushering in new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, but the team’s roster is still dotted with talent on both sides.
Dallas produced a sub-.500 mark for the second straight season in 2025, but the team has the ingredients for a big turnaround in 2026. The Cowboys’ offense averaged the second-most yards per play last season and returns its foundation, while its much-maligned defense looks better under new guide Christian Parker.
Every Eagles-Cowboys game brings typical intensity, but this Thanksgiving clash carries additional gravity given that it might just sway the trajectory of who prevails in the division.
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals (Week 17)
Year after year, Ravens-Bengals games are must-watch affairs. That concept very much extends to this New Year’s Eve battle.
Baltimore was left with a sour taste after missing the playoffs and ranking just 14th in overall PFF grade. Yet a healthy Lamar Jackson and a Minter-led defense — which now has Trey Hendrickson and a returning Nnamdi Madubuike, among other stars — make the Ravens legitimate AFC contenders.
Cincinnati also disappointed last season, failing to reach the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Joe Burrow playing only 478 snaps was a culprit, but so too was a defense that ranked last in success rate. Offensive continuity, mixed with an upgraded defense, give the Bengals reasons to believe.
Every Jackson-Burrow matchup regularly produces fireworks and seems to come down to the final possession. Even without Burrow last year, the Bengals spoiled the Ravens’ Thanksgiving, with their 32-14 victory helping bury Baltimore’s contenting aspirations. This game should mean something for the playoff picture, whether the AFC North crown or a wild-card berth.
Philadelphia Eagles @ San Francisco 49ers (Week 17)
Seeing these two goliaths match up this late in the season means it’s almost assured to be a pivotal game in the NFC playoff race.
The 49ers persevered through grave injuries to beat the Eagles in the wild-card game last season, although their 24th-ranked defense by EPA per play wasn’t enough to overcome the Seahawks in the divisional round. With All-Pros Fred Warner and Nick Bosa returning, San Francisco hopes that unit can get in better shape, although a thin wide receiver corps and other injury worries linger.
The matchups in this game look thrilling, from Nick Bosa taking on Jordan Mailata/Lane Johnson to Jonathan Greenard battling Trent Williams. This result very well might be a playoff seeding tiebreaker — or could outright decide who secures a wild-card berth.
Buffalo Bills @ Denver Broncos (Week 16)
This 2025 AFC divisional rematch looks just as entertaining a year later, especially given when it will occur.
Buffalo ranked second in offensive EPA per play behind the usual heroics of Josh Allen and James Cook despite a lackluster receiving corps, and its defense was also 13th in success rate. Yet the team’s playoff loss to Denver spurred meaningful change, including promoting Joe Brady to head coach, trading for receiver D.J. Moore and hiring Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator.
Leonhard will return to his old stomping grounds looking to better a group that surrendered 33 points in an overtime defeat. Both the Bills and Broncos have deep playoff aspirations, and what happens on Christmas should reveal a fair amount — including by dictating seeding. Indeed, this contest might just determine who gains home-field advantage throughout the AFC in January.
New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers (Week 14)
Part of the NFC South’s annual zaniness is that the division often comes down to the final weeks, if not games, of the season. Saints-Panthers doesn’t take place in Week 18, but it’s still a significant one.
The Saints have a great worst-to-first case given their burgeoning finish last season, going 4-1 in their final five games. Second-year quarterback Tyler Shough (74.6 overall PFF grade) looks to build on a promising rookie campaign, and additions like Jordyn Tyson, Travis Etienne Jr. and David Edwards should help him continue to develop. Meanwhile, New Orleans’ defense sneakily ranked fourth in success rate and boasts playmakers like Chase Young and Kaden Elliss.
The Panthers ended their eight-year playoff drought last season by winning the NFC South, and Carolina is an intriguing squad for 2026. The team’s defense looks better after signing Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips, both of whom will be relied upon to correct a group that finished 23rd in EPA per play. Yet questions loom about the team’s offense, including the consistency of Bryce Young and a banged-up offensive line.
Are the Saints ready to take the next step and defeat the reigning champions in the division? A victory here could be conclusive for Kellen Moore’s side, while a Carolina win would keep the Panthers in the hunt.
Buffalo Bills @ Los Angeles Rams (Week 5)
This game isn’t comparably late in the season, nor does it involve two intra-conference rivals. Nevertheless, it’s one of the best on the schedule, and should indicate a fair amount about the NFL’s hierarchy.
There’s a serious chance this Monday night gem serves as a Super Bowl preview, with Los Angeles and Buffalo holding two of the three highest spots in PFF’s Power Ratings. The game is rich with storylines, from MVP quarterbacks doing battle to seeing how well Buffalo’s defense can hold up against Sean McVay’s vaunted attack.
If the Rams win this October tilt, it will only reinforce their status as Super Bowl 61 favorites. But if the Bills can pull off a road upset, it might just galvanize them to finally win the AFC — and potentially square off with Los Angeles yet again a few months later.
San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams (Week 1)
Week 1 contests can be hard to decipher, especially when they involve international play. But this game is a paramount one, even if it’s the second of the whole year.
The NFL’s inaugural Australia game will waste little time in helping decide the NFC West’s pecking order, with the winner of this one getting a leg up for what could be a divisional and/or wild-card tiebreaker. From Garrett’s debut to the 49ers’ reshaped offense, this duel has even more enticing elements to watch.
It can be easy to dismiss this result given that the 49ers and Rams will rematch in Week 14, when both sides will look different in terms of both health and team aptitude. But recent seasons have suggested that early-season games can reveal a lot, such as the Cowboys’ offensive strength and the Chiefs’ offensive worries in the first two matchups of 2025. Perhaps the takeaways from this one may be more important than initially thought over the course of a long 2026 season — especially whether or not the Rams win, let alone handily.
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