When the 2022 regular-season schedule was revealed, the NFL didn’t set dates or times for any of the Week 18 games because the league wanted to ensure every game with playoff implications had the most meaning possible.
The Rams are out of the postseason picture, but their opponent, the Seahawks, is still very much alive. On Monday, the NFL announced the full Week 18 schedule, putting the Rams and Seahawks in the late-afternoon window on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX.
If the Rams beat the Seahawks, Seattle will be eliminated from playoff contention. If the Seahawks win, they’ll make the playoffs if the Lions also win on Sunday night. So they’ll have to wait a few hours after their game concludes to find out their playoff fate.
The Week 18 schedule is here! #NFLSeasonFinale pic.twitter.com/h6lLHeQH5k
— NFL (@NFL) January 2, 2023
The NFL opted to put the Packers and Lions in the Sunday night spot, knowing both teams are still alive in the NFC. However, if the Seahawks win, the Lions will be eliminated from playoff contention before even taking the field on Sunday night.
That game will still have meaning, though. The Packers will make the playoffs if they beat the Lions, so they’ll need to be at their best against a division rival. The Packers can’t get in with a loss to the Lions, regardless of the Rams-Seahawks result.
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