RADIO
Hello, football fans, and welcome to the final week of the NFL regular season! As we head into Week 18, we got things kicked off with a pair of games on Saturday featuring four AFC North squads.
Moving into Sunday, motivation will be key for several teams in the regular-season finale. Who is fighting to get into the playoffs or to improve their postseason seeding? Who is trying to secure a juicy spot in the 2025 NFL Draft?
We'll answer these questions and more as we go through every Week 18 game in this article, offering picks, predictions, and analysis for each and every one. Thanks for joining us here at RotoBaller; let's dive into the slate!
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Baltimore Ravens 31, Cleveland Browns 13 (Saturday)
We open the final week of the NFL season with a Saturday meeting between the Ravens and Browns. These squads couldn't be in more different places, as Baltimore holds very real Super Bowl aspirations while Cleveland is playing out the string on an abysmal season.
Browns to play Bailey Zappe at QB vs. Ravens in Week 18 https://t.co/FYhDXVnb8n pic.twitter.com/U1OpMfxE8F
— The Ravens Wire (@TheRavensWire) January 3, 2025
A common theme in this week's picks is a team's Week 18 motivations. Though the Ravens have already clinched a playoff spot, they will be highly motivated to win here and lock in the AFC North title.
A Baltimore loss coupled with a Pittsburgh Steelers win would send the Ravens tumbling to a 5 or 6 seed in the playoffs. That's not gonna happen with Bailey Zappe expected to be under center for Cleveland. Baltimore wins in big fashion.
Cincinnati Bengals 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 (Saturday)
Here comes that word motivation again. The Bengals will be chock full of it, as their still-slim playoff hopes ride on them getting a win against Pittsburgh in Week 18 and also getting help on Sunday.
Pittsburgh's motivations largely depend on Saturday's early game. A Ravens loss would give the Steelers a shot at the AFC North title with a win over the Bengals, while a Baltimore win would make this game rather meaningless for Mike Tomlin's squad.
With the Ravens a huge favorite and expected to win earlier in the day—and Cincy desperate for a victory—I look for Joe Burrow and company to take care of business.
New York Giants 17, Philadelphia Eagles 14
Locked into the NFC's No. 2 seed, the Eagles have nothing left to play for in the regular-season finale. Still recovering from a concussion suffered in Week 16, we won't see Jalen Hurts in this one, and despite the chance to make history by breaking the NFL's all-time rushing record in a season it appears as though Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will sit against New York.
The Giants completely blew up their shot at the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft last week. Why not try to get another win? Yes, they are undeniably horrible, but superstar rookie Malik Nabers might just be able to do enough to drag the G-Men to a win for the second week in a row.
Green Bay Packers 21, Chicago Bears 13
Following last week's loss to the Vikings, the regular-season finale holds little in the way of stakes for Green Bay. The Packers will head into the playoffs as either the No. 6 or 7 seed. However, there have been no plans for the team to rest starters announced as of this writing.
It might not matter who suits up for the Packers against the abysmal Chicago Bears. Simply trying to get the season over with at this point, the Bears enter Week 18 as the losers of 10 straight. Chicago has arguably been the worst team in the NFL in the second half of the season.
Atlanta Falcons 27, Carolina Panthers 21
The Falcons coughed up the chance to control their own destiny with an overtime loss to the Commanders in Week 17. They will now need a win and a Tampa Bay Bucs loss to sneak into the playoffs.
Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been rock solid since replacing Kirk Cousins under center two weeks ago, though I firmly believe Atlanta will lean heavily on Bijan Robinson in a matchup against a Carolina run defense that's dead last in rushing yards allowed per game.
While the Panthers have been scrappy down the stretch, they won't be able to overcome a highly motivated Falcons squad inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Tampa Bay Bucs 31, New Orleans Saints 13
The Bucs have been on a roller coaster ride over the last few weeks. Once in control of their postseason destiny only to give it away against the Cowboys in Week 16, the pendulum swung back in Tampa's favor last week thanks to their domination over the Panthers coupled with an Atlanta loss.
Baker Mayfield needs 221 passing yards and 1 passing touchdown on Sunday to join this exclusive group:
Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Joe Burrow, Andrew Luck, Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford pic.twitter.com/dFuS7NFLFt
— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) January 3, 2025
It's simple math for the Bucs in Week 18... win against the Saints, and you're in, while a loss to New Orleans and a Falcons win means you are headed home. Baker Mayfield was playing at an MVP-caliber level last week against Carolina. Look for the explosive Bucs offense to continue to roll against the injury-depleted Saints.
Washington Commanders 27, Dallas Cowboys 20
Like two ships passing in the night, these old rivals meet in Week 18 headed in completely different directions. The upstart Commanders are locked into the playoffs, and the only question remaining is whether they will be a No. 6 or 7 seed. Washington coach Dan Quinn has told the media that his squad will be playing hard for the 6 seed this week.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys come in off an embarrassing Week 17 blowout loss to the Eagles in what's been an embarrassing season. Mike McCarthy's job security for 2025 is very much in doubt, but with no Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, or postseason hopes, it's fair to wonder how much motivation the 'Boys can summon this week.
Jacksonville Jaguars 27, Indianapolis Colts 24
With their playoff aspirations shockingly dashed by the New York Giants in Week 17, the Colts enter the regular-season finale with nothing left to play for. It's a situation the Jaguars are already used to, as Doug Pederson and the boys have only been playing for pride for months.
It's tough to quickly recover from a gut punch, and I have to imagine the whole Colts organization feels as though they are still reeling from last week's surprising loss to an inferior Giants team. With no postseason left to play for, it's possible Indy just stays on the canvas this week and gets torched by another rookie receiving phenom.
Houston Texans 20, Tennessee Titans 17
The Texans are locked in as the AFC's No. 4 seed no matter what happens this week against the Titans. While we might see Houston eventually pull some starters, I wouldn't be surprised if this offense doesn't go out of its way to find some rhythm before the playoffs.
The Will Levis experiment appears to be (mercifully) over in Tennessee, and while Mason Rudolph has been an upgrade, I expect the Texans to come out motivated to redeem themselves from being embarrassed by the Ravens on Christmas Day.
Buffalo Bills 23, New England Patriots 20
This matchup poses a really odd situation for both sides. Buffalo is locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC, and Bills head coach Sean McDermott has already expressed that Josh Allen will only play "for a short time" in this game.
For the Patriots, motivation within the organization has to be mixed, as New England is currently sitting with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, a spot which they would keep with a loss against the Bills. While the players and Pats coach Jerod Mayo will be going all out trying to win, it's just tough to envision a franchise that so desperately needs help through the draft handing away the top overall pick.
Denver Broncos 23, Kansas City Chiefs 14
A classic kill-two-birds-with-one-stone scenario for the Chiefs this week. Andy Reid and company can both rest veteran starters and put a nail in the coffin of the dangerous Cincinnati Bengals' playoff hopes against Denver.
Chiefs to sit Patrick Mahomes, start Carson Wentz in Week 18 finale vs. Broncos https://t.co/JxZC8NnioD
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) January 2, 2025
The motivation is the opposite for the Broncos, as the 9-7 squad can wrap up a playoff spot with a victory this week in what's a straightforward win-and-in scenario. Given this environment, Bo Nix and a stout Denver defense will take care of business against a Carson Wentz-led KC offensive attack.
Arizona Cardinals 21, San Francisco 49ers 17
I'm sure the Cardinals and Niners would both agree to call this one off if asked, but that's not how the NFL works, not even for this pair of failed NFC West contenders. San Fran caught some of the worst injury luck in recent memory this season, and that's extended to the regular-season finale, as Brock Purdy is expected to sit due to an elbow injury.
Arizona doesn't have a convenient injury excuse. The Cardinals puzzlingly fell off a cliff following their Week 11 bye, as Kyler Murray and company have lost five of their last six. Motivations will be low all around, but I expect most regular Cardinals starters to be in action here.
Miami Dolphins 17, New York Jets 13
A disastrous Jets season reached a new low last week with the team's 40-14 blowout loss to the Bills - an outing that was somehow worse than the final score indicates. Aaron Rodgers was pulled in the loss, and who knows how much of him we'll see in Week 18.
Miami clings to the slimmest of playoff hopes, so they will be going all out here. Unfortunately, the Fins won't have Tua Tagovailoa available and will start Tyler Huntley against Gang Green. Huntley put forth a solid showing against the Brown last week to keep Miami's postseason dreams alive. He should be able to guide the Dolphins past this dumpster-fire Jets squad.
Seattle Seahawks 20, Los Angeles Rams 14
Locked into either the No. 3 or 4 seed in the NFC, Rams coach Sean McVay has already confirmed that we'll see Jimmy Garoppolo and Blake Corum in Week 18.
The Rams will sit Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams, Alaric Jackson and Kevin Dotson and Rob Havenstein is out with a shoulder, per Sean McVay.
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) January 3, 2025
While the Seahawks dropped out of playoff contention a couple of weeks ago, it isn't tough to envision first-year head coach Mike Macdonald pushing his troops to finish the season strong. Seattle's starters should be able to take care of L.A.'s backups for this one.
Los Angeles Chargers 23, Las Vegas Raiders 17
If you're interested in this matchup, keep an eye on the result of the Steelers vs. Bengals game on Saturday. If Pittsburgh wins, the Chargers would have nothing to play for in this clash with the Raiders. If Cincy wins, L.A. would likely be highly motivated to win in order to clinch the No. 5 seed in the AFC - a seeding that would likely equal a postseason date with the Texans instead of the Ravens.
Jim Harbaugh isn't known for being chill, so I don't see the Chargers keeping their foot off the gas too much in this one.
Minnesota Vikings 35, Detroit Lions 31 (Sunday Night Football)
This one is for all the NFC marbles, as the Lions and Vikings meet on Sunday Night Football to decide the NFC North title and top seed in the playoffs.
High stakes for Vikings vs Lions this Sunday 🍿 pic.twitter.com/raNUumlxVY
— NFL on FOX Podcast (@NFLonFOXPod) January 3, 2025
We know the Lions can score, and they'll be forced to to cover for all their defensive deficiencies. Perhaps no team has been hit harder by injury than Detroit. They'll be tested by a hot Vikings offense that's scored 27 or more points in each of their last four. I look for Minnesota's creative defense to slow down the Lions enough to steal a close one.
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