A Look Ahead to Week 18
As we close the door on the 2023 regular season, another door opens, leading us to the best version of the NFL. The playoffs are a single-elimination tournament where the best team does not always win, and the marginal teams cannot win three games in a row.
The strong advantage lies with the teams who play one less game, the 49ers and the Ravens. Both teams will gain much-needed rest and only have to win two games to get to Las Vegas. Plus, they get to play the lower seed of teams, either the fourth seed or lower. However, in 2023, that might not be a good thing.
In 2023, the fourth seed in both divisions will come from the South, which houses the lesser of all the playoff teams. In both conferences, the Rams and the Browns are both teams playing better than any fourth-seeded teams, which might make the 49ers and Ravens first game the hardest.
This is what makes Week 18 the most fascinating week of the season. How will seeding affect the playoffs? The Eagles are currently a 5-point favorite to beat the Giants and have little hope of being the second seed once Dallas beats Washington. Philadelphia is smart enough to understand being healthy, and the fifth seed is a far better option than being the second seed and perhaps facing the Packers or Rams, both teams with offenses.