weird that the times are not set for the Week 18 games yet?
Nevermind...I found this:
Here is the official NFL Week 18 schedule, as announced by the NFL after getting a clearer picture of the playoff race following all the action in Week 17.
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If you are a fan of the
NFL and are already looking ahead to the final week of the season, you might be questioning why every game is currently listed as TBD on the
NFL Week 18 schedule.
With major playoff implications likely on the line, when will the league be announcing the official start times and dates for the last slate of regular-season action? Who can we expect to see in some of the prime-time slots?
When Will the League Announce the NFL Week 18 Schedule?
Since 2006, the NFL has waited until the last possible moment to announce the times and TV channels for its Week 18 games to try and maximize viewership and take advantage of the juiciest playoff storylines. This practice has been quite fruitful for the NFL, especially last season when the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders went down to the wire on Sunday Night Football in a win-and-get-in scenario.
With no Monday Night Football game scheduled for Week 18, the last game of the year is played on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. By waiting to announce the Week 18 schedule, the NFL has the opportunity to ensure that whichever game gets that coveted prime-time slot has the most playoff implications surrounding it.
MORE: List of NFL Teams Eliminated From Playoffs in 2022
Additionally, the flexibility of being able to announce the Week 18 schedule at the very last minute means the NFL can also ensure they schedule two games with actual playoff implications on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 4:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Both will air on ABC and ESPN.
The way the season has played out this year, there’s a chance the NFL drags out the release of the Week 18 schedule later than usual. The earliest it could potentially be revealed would be during Week 17’s Sunday Night Football matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Both teams still technically have playoff aspirations, with the Ravens still fighting for the AFC North title. In past years, the league has announced the Week 18 schedule during the second half of SNF.
However, the NFL could wait until Monday Night Football to make any official announcements due to the playoff implications surrounding the exciting prime-time matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills. The Bills can secure the AFC’s top seed with a win and a loss by the Kansas City Chiefs, while the Bengals can clinch the AFC North with a win and a Ravens’ loss or tie.