NFL coverage map 2022: TV schedule Week 18
Playoff spots are on the line in Week 18 of the NFL season, but what key contests will be available to watch in your area?
The end of the NFL regular season has taken on a bit of a different tone in light of the Damar Hamlin situation but the league has to be positively thrilled that the Bills’ safety is trending in the right direction healthwise. The NFL opted not to resume that Bills-Bengals contest, which could lead to a whole new can of worms for the AFC playoffs, but first Week 18 will determine if any tinkering to the format is necessary.
The playoff schedule will be impacted by the action, which includes an ESPN doubleheader on Saturday afternoon and a pair of doubleheaders on Sunday leading into a potentially winner-take-all Game 272 between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. Find out what games will be available in your area, as well as who will be calling the action, below thanks to this week’s TV coverage maps from the fine folks over at 506 Sports.
NFL Week 18 TV Coverage Maps
Saturday, Jan. 7
ESPN/ABC Doubleheader
Kansas City Chiefs (13-3) at Las Vegas Raiders (6-10) (4:30 p.m. ET): Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, Dan Orlovsky
Tennessee Titans (7-9) at Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8) (8:15 p.m. ET): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
ESPN’s Saturday doubleheader is loaded with playoff implications. The Chiefs can lock up the top seed in the AFC playoffs with a win over the Raiders while the night game will determine the winner of the AFC South.
Sunday, Jan. 8
CBS (Early Window)
New England Patriots (8-8) at Buffalo Bills (12-3) (Red): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
Baltimore Ravens (10-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) (Blue): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green
Cleveland Browns (7-9) at Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) (Green): Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta
Houston Texans (2-13-1) at Indianapolis Colts (4-11-1) (Yellow): Spero Dedes, Jay Feely
The AFC Wild Card race will dominate the early window with most of the country getting the Bills-Patriots game, which takes on an enormous interest level to see how Buffalo will play in their first game after Hamlin’s hospitalization. The other three games will only go to areas of regional interest.
FOX (Early Window)
New York Jets (7-9) at Miami Dolphins (8-8) (Red): Joe Davis, Daryl Johnston
Minnesota Vikings (12-4) at Chicago Bears (3-13) (Blue): Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) at Atlanta Falcons (6-10) (Green): Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth
Carolina Panthers (6-10) at New Orleans Saints (7-9) (Yellow): Jason Benetti, Matt Millen
The NFL cross-flexed Jets-Dolphins over to FOX and that will be their early lead game as Miami can earn a Wild Card spot with a win and a loss from the Patriots. The other game getting decent distribution is the Vikings-Bears matchup since Minnesota can remain alive for the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a victory.
CBS (Late Window)
New York Giants (9-6-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) (Red): Ian Eagle, Charles Davis
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) at Denver Broncos (4-12) (Blue): Andrew Catalon, James Lofton
CBS’ lead game in the late window will feature the Philadelphia Eagles looking to wrap up home-field advantage in the NFC with a win over the Giants, who have nothing to play for in this game. The other contest in this slot is Chargers-Broncos, which could be rendered meaningless before kickoff since a Baltimore loss would lock the Chargers into the No. 5 seed in the AFC.
FOX (Late Window)
Dallas Cowboys (12-4) at Washington Commanders (7-8-1) (Red): Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen
Los Angeles Rams (5-11) at Seattle Seahawks (8-8) (Blue): Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez
Arizona Cardinals (4-12) at San Francisco 49ers (12-4) (Green): Chris Myers, Robert Smith
FOX’s main late game is Cowboys-Commanders, which will go to most of the country, but the network did a good job distributing games that have a direct impact to markets of teams with playoff implications. Wisconsin and Michigan will receive the Seahawks-Rams game, which impacts the Wild Card picture, while Minnesota gets the San Francisco-Arizona game, which affects seeding in the NFC playoff picture.
Sunday Night Football (NBC)
Detroit Lions (8-8) at Green Bay Packers (8-8): Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth
This game is a win-and-in spot for the Packers but can only become a win-or-go-home game if Seattle loses at 4:25. The NFL is clearly banking on a ratings win with Aaron Rodgers in a must-win game since there’s a chance this game turns into a blowout if Detroit is eliminated before they take the field.
