In addition to our game previews below, be sure to keep an eye on our NFL injury report and the latest fantasy football news. For player usage updates and roster context, check out RotoWire's NFL depth charts, and don't miss the Weekly Projections to see how this week's matchups shape up.
EARLY SUNDAY
New Orleans (+3) at Atlanta, o/u 44.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
The Saints extended their win streak to four games last week, as Kellen Moore's first season in charge ends with a flourish. Tyler Shough has a 71.1 percent completion rate, 8.3 YPA and 4:1 TD:INT during the win streak while chipping in two rushing TDs, and at the very least he looks like a good fit for Moore's offense, even if he maybe doesn't have elite upside and will turn 30 just after his second NFL contract kicks in. With nothing on the line here for New Orleans but draft positioning though, it's unlikely veterans like Alvin Kamara or Chris Olave will suit up, which won't leave Shough with much to work with.
The Falcons, on the other hand, might be as motivated as they feel like being, as they could get a chance to play kingmaker in the NFC South. Should Tampa Bay beat Carolina on Saturday, then what Atlanta does Sunday matters a great deal – a win creates a three-way tie atop the division at 8-9 that would tip the Panthers' way on tiebreakers, but a loss would allow the Bucs to take the crown. The Falcons also roll into this one having won three straight, a spark of life that might be good enough to save Raheem Morris' job even though he has yet to finish above .500 in his three seasons as head coach. Kirk Cousins has been competent during the win streak, posting a 64.6 percent completion rate, 7.0 YPA and 6:1 TD:INT, but he too could be missing key targets as Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Darnell Mooney are all nursing some health issue or other. Bijan Robinson isn't on the injury report though, and he's been in a mood to wrap up the campaign. Last week he basically beat the Rams single-handedly, setting a new career high with 195 rushing yards and setting a new franchise record with a 93-yard TD dash. If he gets unleashed again, the Falcons might not need other weapons.
Key Info
NO injury report: RB Alvin Kamara (out, knee), RB Devin Neal (IR, hamstring), WR Chris Olave (out, illness), WR Devaughn Vele (IR, shoulder), C Erik McCoy (IR, bicep), DE Bryan Bresee (out, knee), LB Demario Davis (questionable, calf)
ATL injury report: QB Michael Penix (IR, knee), WR Drake London (questionable, knee), WR Darnell Mooney (questionable, knee), TE Kyle Pitts (questionable, knee), RT Kaleb McGary (IR, leg), EDGE Zach Harrison (IR, knee), CB Mike Hughes (IR, ankle), CB Billy Bowman (IR, Achilles)
Slight lean: WR Kevin Austin (ATL 22nd in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight lean: WR Darnell Mooney (NO 27th in DVOA vs. WR2)
Slight fade: TE Juwan Johnson (ATL sixth in DVOA vs. TE)
Slight fade: WR Drake London (NO t-second in receptions per game allowed to WR1s)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: indoors
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 7-4 NO, average score 24-20 NO, average margin of victory nine points. The home team had won five straight meetings in this rivalry prior to the Falcons' 24-10 victory at the Superdome in Week 12, Kirk Cousins' first win as a starter this season
The Scoop: Audric Estime picks up 80 yards and a TD. Shough throws for under 200 yards and a touchdown to Austin. Robinson racks up 100 scrimmage yards and two scores, one rushing and one receiving. Cousins throws for under 200 yards with a second TD to Teagan Quitoriano. Falcons 24-20
Cleveland (+7.5) at Cincinnati, o/u 44.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
All eyes will be on Myles Garrett in this one, as the superstar pass rusher still sits at 22.0 sacks after failing to bring down Aaron Rodgers last week – just 0.5 behind the NFL record shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. Garrett's dealing with a hip issue, so he might only be out there long enough to get the record, and he probably won't get the benefit of Joe Burrow taking a dive for him. Beyond that, the only drama for Cleveland is whether Shedeur Sanders can do enough to convince the franchise it doesn't need to immediately go out and get another QB, and whether Kevin Stefanski's prior success will be enough to save his job after back-to-back seasons with at least 12 losses. This is his sixth campaign in Cleveland, and his combined record coming into Sunday is 44-56, with just one playoff win (back in 2020) on his resume. The Deshaun Watson debacle isn't his fault, but Stefanski holds some responsibility for chasing away Baker Mayfield in the first place and creating the current mess at quarterback.
The Bengals are doing their best to make their fans agonize over what-ifs this offseason. They've won three of five since Burrow came off IR, and in an AFC North that could see a 9-8 record win the division, it's fair to wonder if having him fully healthy all season could have resulted in Cincy making the playoffs, despite being saddled with one of the league's worst defenses. In those five games, Burrow's completed 66.8 percent of his passes with a 7.5 YPA and 12:4 TD:INT. Coach Zac Taylor, who could also be on the hot seat, is certainly acting like his job is on the line, indicating he'll use his starters in Week 18. That may not include Chase Brown though, as the RB's been battling an illness in practice this week, but the third-year RB sits just 53 yards away from his first career 1,000-yard season on the ground, so if he's able to suit up, he'll probably be out there.
Key Info
CLE injury report: RB Quinshon Judkins (IR, ankle), RB Jerome Ford (IR, shoulder), TE Harold Fannin (out, groin), TE David Njoku (out, knee), LT Dawand Jones (IR, knee), C Ethan Pocic (IR, Achilles), RG Wyatt Teller (IR, calf), RT Jack Conklin (IR, concussion), LB Carson Schwesinger (out, ankle), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (PUP, neck), CB Martin Emerson (IR, Achilles), CB Myles Harden (questionable, shoulder)
CIN injury report: EDGE Trey Hendrickson (IR, hip), EDGE Joseph Ossai (out, ankle), DE Joseph Ossai (out, ankle), DT B.J. Hill (questionable, ankle), CB Cam Taylor-Britt (IR, foot)
Slight lean: QB Shedeur Sanders (CIN 30th in passing DVOA, 26th in passing yards allowed, 28th in passing TDs allowed)
Slight lean: WR Andrei Iosivas (CLE 26th in DVOA vs. WR3)
Slight fade: WR Jerry Jeudy (CIN fourth in DVOA vs. WR1)|
Slight fade: TE Mike Gesicki (CLE fourth in DVOA vs. TE)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: temperature in the mid-30s, 1-10 percent chance of snow
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 6-5 CLE, average score 23-21 CLE, average margin of victory 12 points. The Bengals have won four straight meetings, and three straight meetings at Paycor Stadium by an average score of 26-10
The Scoop: Dylan Sampson leads the CLE backfield with 70 yards. Sanders throws for under 200 yards and a touchdown, finding Blake Whiteheart. Brown plays and gets to 1,000 yards, but Samaje Perine is the CIN back who gets into the end zone. Burrow throws for 220 yards and two scores, hitting Ja'Marr Chase and Iosivas. Garrett's record-setting sack also results in a fumble that Alex Wright returns to the house. Bengals 27-14
Indianapolis (+10.5) at Houston, o/u 39.0 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
I do feel for the Colts. They looked like they were headed for their first playoff appearance since 2020, and maybe even a deep run in a wide-open AFC... then Daniel Jones fractured his fibula. He tried playing through it before tearing his Achilles in what could end up being an object lesson in sports cascade injuries, and the season fell apart. Rather than giving Philip Rivers a swan song, Shane Steichen will have sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard under center for his first career NFL start in this one. There's been no indication other Indy starters like Jonathan Taylor will get rested, and the game does mean something to Houston, so Leonard should at least have all the help the roster can provide as he gets sent into the meat grinder against DeMeco Ryan's defense.
The Texans still have a path to an AFC South title and a home game in the wild-card round, but it depends on the Titans shocking the Jaguars. Otherwise, Houston's just jockeying for wild-card seeding, with the No. 5 seed and a road game against the AFC North winner being the consolation prize. Houston's reeled off eight straight wins, including victories over the Jags, Bills and Chargers, and the defense has been an absolute terror over that stretch. Will Anderson, Derek Stingley and company haven't allowed more than 21 points in seven straight, giving up 16.4 points and 286.7 yards a game over that stretch with 11 takeaways and 24 sacks, and they have to be licking their chops at the prospect of facing Leonard. C.J. Stroud also has a 7:2 TD:INT over the last four weeks, giving the offense just enough lift to clear the low bar the defense is setting for them. I'd feel better about the team's postseason chances if this were the 2023 version of the Texans' offense, with Stroud slinging it to multiple dangerous targets instead of just Nico Collins, but the defense makes them a threat to take down anyone.
Key Info
IND injury report: QB Daniel Jones (IR, Achilles), QB Anthony Richardson (IR, eye), RT Braden Smith (IR, concussion), K Spencer Shrader (IR, knee), DT DeForest Buckner (IR, neck), CB Sauce Gardner (out, calf), CB Charvarius Ward (IR, concussion)
HOU injury report: RB Joe Mixon (NFI, foot), WR Tank Dell (PUP, knee), RT Trent Brown (questionable, knee), CB Kamari Lassiter (out, foot), S Jaylen Reed (IR, forearm)
No IND leans against an elite HOU defense
Slight lean: TE Dalton Schultz (IND 26th in DVOA vs. TE)
Strong fade: QB Riley Leonard (HOU first in passing DVOA, sixth in passing yards allowed, t-fourth in passing TDs allowed, first in rushing TDs allowed to QBs)
Slight fade: RB Woody Marks (IND sixth in passing DVOA vs. RB)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: indoors
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 5-5-1, average score 25-19 IND, average margin of victory nine points. The Texans have won four straight meetings by an average score of 24-21, with none of those contests decided by more than four points. However, the Colts are 3-1-1 in their last five trips to NRG Stadium, with Houston's lone home win during that stretch coming in Week 8 of the 2024 season
The Scoop: Taylor gains 90 scrimmage yards and a TD. Leonard throws for under 200 yards, gets sacked five times and picked off twice. Marks leads the HOU backfield with 80 combined yards and a score. Stroud throws for 220 yards and two touchdowns, finding Collins and Schultz. Texans 27-10
Tennessee (+12.5) at Jacksonville, o/u 47.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Two wins in their last four games have taken the Titans out of the running for the top pick in 2026, but they're still headed for a top-five selection and didn't need a QB anyway. Cam Ward's coming along nicely, posting an 8:1 TD:INT over that four-game stretch, albeit with a 59.2 percent completion rate and 6.1 YPA. He's still the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL this season, which should probably put someone like Spencer Fano at the top of Tennessee's draft board despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball. Tony Pollard's been the real key to the offense over the last month though, piling up 452 rushing yards and three TDs over the last four games with a 5.8 YPC, and he needs 66 more rushing yards to kick in a quarter-million dollar bonus in his contract, which isn't nothing. Too bad he's facing the wrong defense to try and do it against.
Winners of seven straight, the Jaguars would lock up the AFC South title with a win, and they still have a narrow path to the No. 1 seed in the conference if the Broncos and Pats both stumble at the finish line. Trevor Lawrence has the offense absolutely singing right now, and his INT last week against the Colts was his first turnover since Week 12. It's no coincidence that the turnaround started when Jakobi Meyers joined the team, either. The trade proved to be a perfect fit of skills and scheme, and with Brian Thomas still looking lost, the veteran slot man is Lawrence's de facto top target. The offense hasn't scored fewer than 23 points in any of those seven wins, while the defense hasn't allowed more than 24, and has held the opposition to 20 or less six times. DC Anthony Campanile's unit has generated multiple takeaways in five straight games, and the pass rush has shown some life as well with Josh Hines-Allen racking up 6.0 sacks during the seven-game win streak. In a year with no clear dominant favorite, just being one of the hottest teams in the league heading into the playoffs might be enough to take Jacksonville a long way.
Key Info
TEN injury report: WR Calvin Ridley (IR, lower leg), WR Van Jefferson (out, forearm), TE Gunnar Helm (out, toe), EDGE Arden Key (out, hip), CB L'Jarius Sneed (IR, quadricep), CB Marcus Harris (IR, knee), CB Kevin Winston (IR, hamstring), S Amani Hooker (doubtful, ankle)
JAC injury report: WR/CB Travis Hunter (IR, knee), RG Patrick Mekari (out, back), CB Jourdan Lewis (IR, foot)
Slight lean: TE Chig Okonkwo (JAC t-27th in receptions per game allowed to TEs)
Strong lean: WR Jakobi Meyers (TEN 31st in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight fade: RB Tony Pollard (JAC fourth in rushing DVOA, first in rushing yards allowed to RBs, t-fourth in rushing TDs allowed to RBs)
No JAC fades against a shaky TEN defense
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: 8-10 mph wind, 5-15 percent chance of rain
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 6-5 JAC, average score 20-20 (20.4-20.3 JAC), average margin of victory 13 points. The Jaguars have won three straight home games in this rivalry by an average score of 25-14, and six of the last seven meetings overall
The Scoop: Pollard gets his bonus with 70 yards and a touchdown. Ward throws for under 200 yards and coughs up the ball twice. Travis Etienne pops for 110 combined yards and two scores. Lawrence throws for 300 yards and three TDs, two to Meyers (who tops 100 yards) and one to Brenton Strange. Jaguars 35-16
Green Bay (+7.5) at Minnesota, o/u 35.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
With the Packers locked into the final wild-card spot, the priority is getting everyone healthy for the playoffs, so they could be sending the JV squad out for this one. Jordan Love is out of the concussion protocol but won't start, with third-stringer Clayton Tune getting to face a Brian Flores defense instead. Lucky him. Josh Jacobs seems unlikely to suit up as well, especially with Emanuel Wilson having proven to be a capable replacement. Green Bay won't be taking much momentum into the playoffs, having already lost three straight games including last week's steamrolling by Derrick Henry and the Ravens, but the important thing is to still be playing after Week 18. Also, it's not like the Bears or Eagles, their possible wild-card round opponents, are all that scary. Making sure Love, Jacobs etc. are 100 percent is absolutely the right call.
The Vikings are just playing out the string, but J.J. McCarthy needs all the reps he can get, so if the hairline fracture in his throwing hand cooperates, he should be under center. Despite Minnesota's QB woes, the team's still won four straight games and could finish above .500 with a win here, which is the kind of thing a locker room latches on to late in the year when there's no other motivation to be found. It could also be the last game Flores coaches for the Vikings, as he could be in high demand this offseason as a head coaching candidate after he didn't really get a fair shake in Miami and has three seasons of excellent work as a DC on his resume since. A franchise looking for a complete reset could also bring Ryan Grigson along with him as a GM candidate as a package deal, which probably makes more sense than some of the wish-casting lateral moves for Flores that would see him stay as a DC, just with another team. Because who doesn't want to leave a good thing to go clean up someone else's mess? Much as the Jets are getting the buzz right now, I have no idea why Flores would even want to deal with all of that. The best fit for a Flores-Grigson duo might be in Atlanta, paired with a promising young OC candidate like Davis Webb to try and kickstart Michael Penix's development.
Key Info
GB injury report: QB Malik Willis (questionable, shoulder), RB Josh Jacobs (questionable, knee/ankle), WR Dontayvion Wicks (doubtful, concussion), TE Tucker Kraft (IR, knee), C Elgton Jenkins (IR, lower leg), RT Zach Tom (questionable, back), EDGE Micah Parsons (IR, knee), DT Devonte Wyatt (IR, ankle)
MIN injury report: RB Aaron Jones (out, hip), TE T.J. Hockenson (out, shoulder), LT Christian Darrisaw (IR, knee), C Ryan Kelly (IR, concussion), EDGE Jonathan Greenard (IR, shoulder), S Josh Metellus (IR, shoulder)
No GB leans against Flores' scheme
Slight lean: WR Jordan Addison (GB 28th in DVOA vs. WR2)
Slight fade: QB Clayton Tune (MIN third in passing DVOA, third in passing yards allowed, second in passing TDs allowed)
Slight fade: TE Josh Oliver (GB eighth in DVOA vs. TE)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: indoors
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 6-5 MIN, average score 27-22 GB, average margin of victory 13 points. Last season's series sweep by the Vikings was the first sweep by either team since 2019, and the two wins were by a combined four points. The Packers won the first meeting this season 23-6 in Week 12
The Scoop: Wilson leads the GB backfield with 80 combined yards and a score. Tune throws for under 200 yards and gets picked off three times. Jordan Mason leads the MIN backfield with 90 yards and a touchdown. McCarthy plays and throws for under 200 yards, but he does connect with Addison for a TD. Vikings 17-13
Dallas at N.Y. Giants (+3.5), o/u 51.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
A win over the Eagles in Week 12 is really the only thing the Cowboys have to hang their hats on in 2025. Dallas could finish with a .500 record with a win here, but a loss would hurt the Giants' draft standing, but as weak motivations go the locker room might be kind of conflicted. The players won't get much from the coaching staff. Brian Schottenheimer's rah-rah shtick is already wearing thin – the vibe around him this season has been that of a caretaker interim coach, only he's actually got the real job – and DC Matt Eberflus is essentially dead man walking. Dak Prescott and the other healthy starters will begin the game for the Cowboys, but they may not finish it, with backup QB Joe Milton especially needing more reps.
The Giants' inability to out-tank the Raiders last week cost them the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, but if it ends up being a two-QB draft class with Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore, they'll still have a very valuable trade chip. (Of course, they could always draft a QB instead and try to trade Jaxson Dart, which would be about the most hilarious wheel-spinning possible, and maybe what the franchise deserves if they stick with Joe Schoen.) Dart ran for two TDs last week but didn't throw for one, the reverse of his Week 15 output against the Commanders, and his 22 total touchdowns (13 passing, nine rushing) in only 13 games is just a smidge behind the 26 that Daniel Jones delivered as a rookie in 2019. A healthy trio of Dart, Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers next season will at least make for an exciting offense, and a big draft investment on the defensive side to add to Abdul Carter could make things very interesting for the Giants in 2026. That assumes Schoen doesn't botch the coaching search again, of course, but with the list of names being considered supposedly including Mike McCarthy, Antonio Pierce and Lou Anarumo, maybe that's not an assumption anyone should be making.
Key Info
DAL injury report: RB Javonte Williams (out, shoulder), RB Malik Davis (out, eye), LT Tyler Guyton (IR, ankle), LG T.J. Bass (out, knee), LB DeMarvion Overshown (out, concussion), CB DaRon Bland (IR, foot), CB Shavon Revel (out, concussion), S Juanyeh Thomas (NFI, migraines)
NYG injury report: RB Cam Skattebo (IR, ankle), WR Malik Nabers (IR, knee), WR Wan'Dale Robinson (out, ribs), LT Andrew Thomas (IR, hamstring), C John Michael Schmitz (IR, hand), K Graham Gano (IR, neck), EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux (IR, shoulder), DE Rakeem Nunez-Roches (out, ankle), LB Micah McFadden (IR, foot), CB Cor'Dale Flott (out, knee), S Jevon Holland (out, knee)
Strong lean: RB Jaydon Blue / Phil Mafah (NYG 32nd in rushing DVOA, 31st in rushing yards allowed to RBs, 30th in receptions allowed to RBs, 29th in receiving yards allowed to RBs, t-28th in receiving TDs allowed to RBs)
Strong lean: QB Jaxson Dart (DAL 31st in passing DVOA, 32nd in passing yards allowed, 32nd in passing TDs allowed, 32nd in rushing TDs allowed to QBs)
Slight fade: TE Brevyn Spann-Ford (NYG t-eighth in receptions per game allowed to TEs)
No NYG fades against this atrocious DAL defense and its lame-duck DC
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: temperature in the mid-30s, 10-20 percent chance of snow
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 10-1 DAL, average score 32-19 DAL, average margin of victory 13 points. The Cowboys have won nine straight meetings, and four straight at MetLife Stadium by an average score of 26-9
The Scoop: Mafah leads the DAL backfield with 80 yards and a TD in his NFL debut, while Blue adds 50 yards. Prescott throws a score to CeeDee Lamb in a cameo appearance, and Milton throws another touchdown to Ryan Flournoy. Tyrone Tracy romps for 140 scrimmage yards and two TDs, one rushing and one receiving. Dart throws for under 200 yards but finds Darius Slayton for a second score while also running in a touchdown of his own. Giants 31-24
LATE SUNDAY
N.Y. Jets (+7) at Buffalo, o/u 38.0 – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
The Jets could screw up their draft position with a win here, but the best they can do is the second overall pick in 2026 if they lose and the Giants win. The No. 2 pick should be good enough to land a new QB if they want one, but even No. 3 might give them the option of going that route if the Giants don't trade down. It seems like Aaron Glenn will be sticking around though, even though I'm not sure exactly what it is he's shown this season to suggest he's a capable head coach who just needs more experience, and adding a young QB to a team with a lame-duck coach is just poor resource management. In the meantime, Brady Cook will get another start, and Breece Hall will probably have his snaps limited if he plays at all, so another limp offensive effort – the Jets have scored 10 points or fewer in four of their last six games – seems on the way.
Coach Sean McDermott has been reluctant to say for sure whether he'll use his starters Sunday, but other than protecting Josh Allen's consecutive starts streak and maybe getting Khalil Shakir (needs one more TD to lock in a higher base salary in 2026) and Dawson Knox (seven yards shy of a $100k bonus) some extra cash, the Bills really don't have much on the line here. They're locked into a wild-card spot win or lose, and would need some unlikely help to move up to the No. 5 seed and a trip to the AFC North winner. With Allen's foot bothering him, it would be a shock if he sees extensive action, especially with a perfectly cromulent backup like Mitchell Trubisky on the roster. James Cook's also got a rushing title in his sights – he's 47 yards ahead of Jonathan Taylor and 137 ahead of Derrick Henry – but giving him a breather before the playoffs and letting Ray Davis show what he can do would be the more prudent course.
Key Info
NYJ injury report: QB Justin Fields (IR, knee), RB Breece Hall (questionable, knee), RB Isaiah Davis (out, concussion), RB Braelon Allen (IR, knee), WR Garrett Wilson (IR, knee), WR Josh Reynolds (IR, hip), TE Mason Taylor (out, neck), RG Alijah Vera-Tucker (IR, tricep), RG Joe Tippmann (questionable, hip), EDGE Will McDonald (IR, knee), CB Qwan'tez Stiggers (out, knee), CB Brandon Stephens (questionable, neck), CB Jarvis Brownlee (IR, hip), CB Azareye'h Thomas (IR, shoulder), S Andre Cisco (IR, pectoral), S Tony Adams (IR, groin)
BUF injury report: TE Dalton Kincaid (questionable, knee), K Tyler Bass (IR, hip), EDGE Joey Bosa (questionable, hamstring), DE Michael Hoecht (IR, Achilles), DT Ed Oliver (IR, bicep), LB Terrel Bernard (out, calf), S Taylor Rapp (IR, knee), S Jordan Poyer (out, hamstring)
Strong lean: RB Breece Hall / Kene Nwangwu (BUF 31st in rushing DVOA, 28th in rushing yards allowed to RBs, 32nd in rushing TDs allowed to RBs)
Strong lean: QB Mitchell Trubisky (NYJ 32nd in passing DVOA, t-29th in passing TDs allowed)
Slight fade: WR Isaiah Williams (BUF fourth in DVOA vs. WR3)
Slight fade: WR Tyrell Shavers (NYJ t-fourth in receptions per game allowed to WR3s)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: temperature in the high teens, 20-30 percent chance of snow
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 9-2 BUF, average score 27-14 BUF, average margin of victory 14 points. The Bills have won five straight home meetings by an average score of 29-12. The last Jets quarterback to win a game at Highmark Stadium was Sam Darnold, back when it was called New Era Field
The Scoop: Nwangwu leads the NYJ backfield with 60 yards and a score. Cook throws for under 200 yards and commits three turnovers. Cook gains 70 yards, but Davis leads the BUF backfield with 90 yards and a touchdown. Trubisky throws for 220 yards and two TDs, one each to Shakir and Keleki Latu. Bills 27-10
Detroit (+3) at Chicago, o/u 50.5 – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
Dan Campbell being Dan Campbell, the Lions' starters won't get this game off and will be expected to bite some kneecaps while they're out there, even though all they can really accomplish is spoiling the Bears' chances of getting the No. 2 seed in the NFC. It may be giving serious Black Knight energy from a team out of the playoffs and just struggling to stay above .500, but I wouldn't expect anything less from Detroit, especially against a former coach. Amon-Ra St. Brown's nagging injuries could also open the door for Isaac TeSlaa to end his rookie campaign on an even higher note. He's got six TDs on only 15 catches on the year, and he's made four trips to the end zone in the last five games while delivering an 11-156-4 line on 17 targets. Both St. Brown and Jameson Williams are signed through at least 2028, but given how TeSlaa's looked, it wouldn't a surprise if Williams and his relatively affordable contract get moved this offseason.
The Bears were ohhhhh so close to stealing a win in San Francisco last week. Caleb Williams missed a couple potential game-winning TD passes late while scrambling out of the pocket, including on the final play, but slightly better timing on a hook-and-ladder play just before that also might have allowed D'Andre Swift to get out of bounds, and bought the QB another crack or two at the end zone. Regardless, Chicago's claimed its first NFC North title since 2018, and a win or an Eagles loss gets them the No. 2 seed, and a date with Green Bay in the wild-card round. Williams' numbers remain baffling – he's thrown multiple TDs in five of the last six games, but he's completed more than 60 percent of his passes just once in that time, and that only barely. He's 270 yards away from 4,000 though and isn't committing turnovers (six picks and a lost fumble over 16 games), so Ben Johnson's probably content with his progress. Rome Odunze's late-season fade has given Luther Burden (18-289-1 on 22 targets over his last three games) and Colston Loveland (17-216-2 on 25 targets over the last four) opportunities to raise their games, and regardless of what happens in the postseason, this offense should be pretty stacked in 2026.
Key Info
DET injury report: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (questionable, knee), TE Sam LaPorta (IR, back), TE Brock Wright (IR, neck), LT Taylor Decker (questionable, shoulder), LG Christian Mahogany (questionable, leg), RT Penei Sewell (out, ankle), DT Alim McNeill (out, abdomen), LB Alex Anzalone (out, concussion), CB Terrion Arnold (IR, shoulder), S Kerby Joseph (IR, knee), S Brian Branch (IR, toe), S Thomas Harper (out, concussion)
CHI injury report: WR Rome Odunze (questionable, foot), LT Ozzy Trapilo (questionable, knee), CB Kyler Gordon (IR, groin), S Jaquan Brisker (questionable, illness)
Slight lean: WR Isaac TeSlaa (CHI 23rd in DVOA vs. WR3)
Slight lean: WR DJ Moore (DET 24th in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight fade: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (CHI eighth in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight fade: TE Colston Loveland (DET ninth in DVOA vs. TE)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: temperature in the high 20s, 1-10 percent chance of snow
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 7-4 DET, average score 28-23 DET, average margin of victory 11 points. The Lions have won three straight meetings and six of the last seven, with the lone Bears victory coming at home in Week 14 of the 2023 season
The Scoop: Jahmyr Gibbs produces 80 yards and a touchdown. Jared Goff throws for 280 yards and two TDs, one each to TeSlaa and Tom Kennedy. Swift churns out 100 scrimmage yards and a score, while Kyle Monangai also gets into the end zone. Williams throws for 210 yards and two touchdowns, finding Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus. Bears 28-27
L.A. Chargers (+12.5) at Denver, o/u 37.5 – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
With little to play for other than slightly better seeding as a wild-card team and an offensive line that's more moth-eaten than patchwork, if we're staying true to the metaphor, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh is holding Justin Herbert and other starters out of this one. Which other starters isn't entirely clear, but Keenan Allen isn't likely to be one of them. The veteran wideout has a whole bunch of contract incentives he's close to earning, and even with Trey Lance under center instead of Herbert, expect the focal point of the game plan to be getting Allen his bag and getting out of Denver as unscathed as possible.
The Broncos, on the other hand, can claim the top seed in the AFC with a win -- and a nice rest next week – so they've got no reason to shut anyone down. Denver shook off having its win streak snapped by Jacksonville to take care of business against a depleted KC squad last week, but the defense once again wasn't as dominant as they'd been earlier in the year. Sure, they only allowed 13 points and 139 yards, but it was to a third-string QB. The Commanders, Packers and Jags have all been able to move the ball against the Broncos in recent weeks, so a statement game here would go a long way toward re-establishing some swagger ahead of the postseason. It would be nice to see Bo Nix get going as a passer, too. The second-year QB has thrown multiple TDs only once in the last seven games, posting an 8:5 TD:INT, 66.3 percent completion rate and 6.8 YPA over that stretch. That's been just enough when the defense is in peak form – 11 of Denver's 13 wins this season have been by a single score – but if DC Vance Joseph's crew continues its slide into the playoffs, Nix will need to step up when it counts.
Key Info
LAC injury report: RB Omarion Hampton (out, ankle), RB Kimani Vidal (questionable, neck), RB Hassan Haskins (questionable, concussion), RB Najee Harris (IR, Achilles), LT Rashawn Slater (IR, knee), LT Jamaree Salyer (doubtful, hamstring), C Bradley Bozeman (questionable, concussion), RT Joe Alt (IR, ankle), LB Denzel Perryman (out, suspension)
DEN injury report: RB J.K. Dobbins (IR, foot), C Luke Wattenberg (questionable, shoulder), LB Dre Greenlaw (out, hamstring), S Brandon Jones (IR, pectoral)
Slight lean: WR Tre' Harris (DEN 27th in DVOA vs. WR3)
Slight lean: TE Evan Engram (LAC 27th in DVOA vs. TE)
Strong fade: RB Jaret Patterson (DEN third in rushing DVOA, second in rushing yards allowed to RBs, t-fourth in rushing TDs allowed to RBs, fourth in passing DVOA vs. RB)
Slight fade: WR Troy Franklin (LAC second in DVOA vs. WR2)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: 1-10 percent chance of rain
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 6-5 LAC, average score 22-22 (21.7-21.6 LAC), average margin of victory eight points. The Chargers have won three straight meetings by an average score of 27-21, but they had lost five straight visits to Mile High prior to a 23-16 victory in Week 6 of the 2024 season
The Scoop: Patterson manages 40 yards. Lance throws for under 200 yards with a TD to Allen as well as a rushing touchdown, but he also throws two INTs. RJ Harvey piles up 90 scrimmage yards and a score. Nix throws for 210 yards and two TDs, one each to Engram and Courtland Sutton. Broncos 24-14
Arizona (+7.5) at L.A. Rams, o/u 46.5 – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
The decision on whether the Cardinals will play their starters in Week 18 has been mostly taken out of Jonathan Gannon's hands, since most of them are already on IR. Barring an upset here, they're headed for a top-five pick, and ownership inexplicably seems to be leaning toward keeping Gannon around despite his career 15-35 record over three seasons as a head coach. When you have a different excuse every year for why things didn't go your way, maybe it's time for the team to think about going in another direction. As it is, the Cards have lost eight straight games – second-longest active streak in the league after the imploding Raiders – and will head into the offseason giving serious thought to having Jacoby Brissett as their Week 1 QB next year. Even if it's just as a bridge to a draftee, that doesn't seem like something a franchise headed in the right direction would be considering. Trey McBride's a stud, at least, and the secondary should be healthier in 2026, but Marvin Harrison is getting dangerously close to bust territory and the ability to patch holes in free agency could be severely compromised if they're forced to swallow a huge cap hit by getting rid of Kyler Murray.
What's wrong with the Rams? Losing a heartbreaker to the Seahawks two weeks ago was one thing; coming out flat and getting steamrolled by Bijan Robinson and the Falcons last week was something else entirely. On paper, this is a Super Bowl contender, but Sean McVay's crew has dropped three of its last five games as the defense takes a massive step backward, allowing an average of 29.4 points and 365.6 yards a game during that span with just four takeaways and 10 sacks. It's no wonder McVay's leaving his starters out there this week, even though they're locked into a wild-card spot. They need all the reps they can get to figure out what's wrong. Matthew Stafford will also get one last chance to burnish his MVP credentials, after last week's three INT performance may have dealt his case a blow. Dak Prescott is just 34 passing yards ahead of Stafford for the league lead, and the 37-year-old is nine passing TDs clear of second-place Jared Goff. (I suspect the narrative of "this is Stafford's last chance to win an MVP, while Drake Maye's got plenty of time" will prevail on that one, but you never know.)
Key Info
ARI injury report: QB Kyler Murray (IR, foot), RB Trey Benson (IR, knee), RB James Conner (IR, foot), RB Bam Knight (IR, ankle), WR Marvin Harrison (IR, heel), WR Zay Jones (IR, Achilles), WR Greg Dortch (IR, chest), LT Paris Johnson (IR, knee), LG Evan Brown (out, personal), RG Will Hernandez (IR, hip), RT Jonah Williams (IR, shoulder), EDGE Josh Sweat (questionable, ankle), DT Walter Nolen (IR, knee), LB Mack Wilson (IR, ribs), CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (NFI, knee), CB Starling Thomas (IR. knee), CB Kei'Trel Clark (IR, back)
LAR injury report: RB Kyren Williams (questionable, ankle), RB Blake Corum (questionable, ankle), WR Davante Adams (questionable, hamstring), TE Tyler Higbee (IR, ankle), LT Alaric Jackson (questionable, knee), RG Kevin Dotson (out, ankle), RT Rob Havenstein (IR, ankle), CB Quentin Lake (IR, elbow)
Slight lean: WR Michael Wilson (LAR 29th in receiving yards per game allowed to WR1s)
Strong lean: TE Colby Parkinson / Terrance Ferguson (ARI 31st in DVOA vs. TE)
Slight fade: TE Trey McBride (LAR second in DVOA vs. TE)
Slight fade: WR Puka Nacua (ARI seventh in DVOA vs. WR1)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: indoors
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years including playoffs: 9-3 LAR, average score 26-20 LAR, average margin of victory 16 points. Four of the last five meetings have been decided by at least 17 points
The Scoop: Michael Carter picks up 70 scrimmage yards. Brissett throws for under 200 yards and a touchdown to Wilson. Williams leads the LAR backfield with 80 yards and a TD, while Ronnie Rivers adds 60 yards and a score. Stafford throws for 330 yards and three touchdowns, one each to Nacua, Ferguson and Parkinson. Rams 38-13
Kansas City at Las Vegas (+5.5), o/u 36.5 – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
It's wild to think Kansas might wind up with a top-10 pick in next year's draft (although it's even wilder to consider that so could the Rams, since they hold the Falcons' pick...), but the second-half collapse of the nine-time AFC West champs has been pretty thorough. KC's lost five straight games and seven of its last eight, as well as its superstar QB, top wideout and cornerback, and a good chunk of its starting o-line. Andy Reid hasn't suggested he'll be sitting what starters he has left, but he's also sounded excited about seeing some of his younger players in action, so that could mean more Brashard Smith and Jalen Royals than expected. If Travis Kelce still cares about such things, he needs seven more catches to post his 10th straight campaign with 80-plus, and it's not like Chris Oladokun has better options to throw to.
The Raiders are all but on the clock in the 2026 draft, needing only to avoid stumbling into a win here to lock it up. So... Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore? And who will be on the sidelines showing the kid the ropes? It almost certainly won't be Pete Carroll, or at least, it shouldn't be. Whoever the new man in charge is will have some decent pieces in Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers to add to the first overall pick, but the offensive line still needs a lot of work, and the one building block on defense, Maxx Crosby, might want out. Vegas will hold Geno Smith out for this one, and could end up treating Week 18 like a preseason game, with Kenny Pickett playing one half and Aidan O'Connell the other, because Reasons. I mean, sure. Nothing else has worked this season, so why not.
Key Info
KC injury report: QB Patrick Mahomes (IR, knee), QB Gardner Minshew (IR, knee), RB Isiah Pacheco (questionable, rest), WR Rashee Rice (IR, concussion), WR Xavier Worthy (doubtful, illness), WR Tyquan Thornton (IR, concussion), LT Josh Simmons (IR, wrist), RG Trey Smith (doubtful, ankle), RT Jawaan Taylor (IR, tricep), RT Jaylon Moore (questionable, knee), CB Trent McDuffie (IR, knee), CB Jaylen Watson (IR, groin)
LV injury report: QB Geno Smith (out, ankle), TE Brock Bowers (IR, knee), LT Kolton Miller (IR, ankle), LG Dylan Parham (out, illness), RG Jackson Powers-Johnson (IR, ankle), RG Jordan Meredith (IR, ankle), EDGE Maxx Crosby (questionable, knee), DT Adam Butler (out, bicep), CB Kyu Blu Kelly (IR, knee), S Jeremy Chinn (IR, back)
Slight lean: WR Hollywood Brown (LV 26th in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight lean: RB Ashton Jeanty (KC 27th in passing DVOA vs. RB)
Slight fade: TE Travis Kelce (LV third in receiving yards per game allowed to TEs)
Slight fade: WR Jack Bech (KC ninth in DVOA vs. WR2)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: indoors
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 9-2 KC, average score 31-19 KC, average margin of victory 14 points. Kansas City has never lost a game at Allegiant Stadium, going 5-0 since the Raiders moved to Vegas
The Scoop: Smith leads the KC backfield with 60 yards. Oladokun throws for under 200 yards but does hit Brown for a score. Jeanty manages 50 yards. O'Connell has a little more success under center than Pickett does, finding Michael Mayer for a touchdown. Kansas City 16-13
Miami (+10.5) at New England, o/u 45.5 – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
In what could, and probably should, be Mike McDaniel's last game on the sidelined for the Dolphins, the team might be better off losing to sneak into the top 10 in next year's draft rather than picking up a meaningless win. The Quinn Ewers experiment hasn't been a complete failure, as Miami did beat Tampa Bay last week, and his 65.4 percent completion rate, 8.3 YPA and 2:2 TD:INT in two starts is better than expected for a rookie seventh-round pick. Brock Purdy he isn't, but Ewers might have a future as a reliable NFL backup. This week he could be working without much of a supporting cast, though. The Dolphins have already shut down Darren Waller, and De'Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle might not suit up either.
The Patriots have their eyes on the No. 1 seed in the AFC, so it will be all hands on deck to start the game, but given the lineup the Dolphins will be trotting out Drake Maye and company could be able to call it a day at halftime. The second-year QB also has a potential MVP trophy on the line – he leads the NFL in completion rate (71.7 percent), YPA (8.9) and naturally QB rating (112.9) as well. How much of a distraction the Stefon Diggs charges will be isn't clear at all, but given how slowly the league's investigations into these things tend to go, he would seem to be in little danger of getting handed a suspension during the playoffs. The Pats' offense doesn't rely on him anyway – sure, Diggs is 30 yards away from his seventh career 1,000-yard campaign, but pretty much everyone in the wide receiver room has had a chance to shine at some point, and Hunter Henry's having a career year as well. Mike Vrabel's defense has been just as much of a difference-maker though, and the Bills remain the only team this season to top 27 points against the Pats. Miami seems highly unlikely to join that exclusive club.
Key Info
MIA injury report: RB De'Von Achane (doubtful, shoulder), WR Tyreek Hill (IR, knee), WR Jaylen Waddle (questionable, ribs), TE Darren Waller (IR, groin), LG Liam Eichenberg (PUP, undisclosed), C Aaron Brewer (questionable, neck), RG James Daniels (IR, pectoral), RT Austin Jackson (questionable, back), K Jason Sanders (IR, hip), EDGE Chop Robinson (questionable, concussion), LB Jordyn Brooks (questionable, hamstring), CB Storm Duck (IR, knee), CB Kader Kohou (IR, knee), S Minkah Fitzpatrick (out, calf)
NE injury report: WR Mack Hollins (IR, abdomen), LT Will Campbell (IR, knee), LG Jared Wilson (out, concussion), EDGE Harold Landry (out, knee), DT Milton Williams (IR, ankle), LB Robert Spillane (out, ankle)
Strong lean: WR Malik Washington (NE 32nd in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight lean: WR DeMario Douglas (MIA 29th in DVOA vs. WR3)
Slight fade: WR Cedrick Wilson (NE third in receiving yards per game allowed to WR2s)
Slight fade: WR Kayshon Boutte (MIA fourth in receiving yards per game allowed to WR2s)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: temperature in the high 20s, 7-10 mph wind, 10-20 percent chance of snow
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 8-3 MIA, average score 23-18 MIA, average margin of victory nine points. The last four games at Gillette Stadium have all been decided by a single score, with the Dolphins winning three of them – but none of those Miami wins happened any later in the season than early October (Week 5)
The Scoop: Jaylen Wright leads the MIA backfield with 60 yards, while Ollie Gordon punches in a TD. Ewers throws for under 200 yards and a score to Washington (Malik, not Tahj) but also gets picked off twice, one of which Jaylinn Hawkins returns to the house in a clear Stranger Things tie-in with Netflix. TreVeyon Henderson leads the NE backfield with 90 yards and a touchdown. Maye throws for 310 yards and three TDs, two to Henry and one to Douglas while Kyle Williams tops 100 yards. Patriots 35-14
Washington (+4) at Philadelphia, o/u 39.0
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
The Commanders are crawling to the finish line on a disappointing campaign, losers of 10 of their last 11 and down to their third-string QB. Josh Johnson failed to take advantage of a matchup with the Cowboys' atrocious defense last week, so it's hard to see him producing much in this one. Maybe it's time he hung up his cleats and tried a new profession, like comedy. The core of this roster still looks like a playoff team to me when it's mostly healthy, but a lot will be riding on Jayden Daniels' ability to stay on the field – including, probably, Dan Quinn's job – in 2026.
The Eagles could claim the No. 2 seed in the NFC if everything falls right, but Nick Sirianni says he's resting his starters, which is the smart move. They might end up winning anyway with Tanner McKee under center and Tank Bigsby or whoever in the backfield. This Washington defense really can't stop anyone – J.J. McCarthy chucked three TDs against it a few weeks ago. Philly's still the first repeat NFC East winner since the early 2000s, when the Andy Reid/Donovan McNabb Eagles pulled it off. They've also won three straight and are building a nice little bit of momentum heading into their Super Bowl defense, even if they got lucky against the Bills in Week 17. Just what the reigning champs need, good fortune on their side.
Key Info
WAS injury report: QB Jayden Daniels (out, elbow), QB Marcus Mariota (out, hand/quadricep), RB Austin Ekeler (IR, Achilles), WR Noah Brown (IR, ribs), TE Zach Ertz (IR, knee), LT Laremy Tunsil (out, oblique), C Tyler Biadasz (IR, knee), EDGE Dorance Armstrong (IR, knee), EDGE Deatrich Wise (IR, quadricep), CB Trey Amos (IR, lower leg), CB Marshon Lattimore (IR, knee)
PHI injury report: TE Dallas Goedert (out, knee), RT Lane Johnson (out, foot), EDGE Jaelan Phillips (out, ankle), DE Jalen Carter (out, hip), LB Nakobe Dean (out, hamstring), S Andrew Mukuba (IR, ankle), S Marcus Epps (out, concussion)
Slight lean: WR Deebo Samuel (PHI 25th in DVOA vs. WR2)
Strong lean: QB Tanner McKee (WAS 29th in passing DVOA, 29th in passing yards allowed, 31st in passing TDs allowed)
Strong lean: TE Grant Calcaterra (WAS 32nd in DVOA vs. TE)
Strong fade: QB Josh Johnson (PHI fourth in passing DVOA, first in passing TDs allowed)
Strong fade: TE Ben Sinnott (PHI first in DVOA vs. TE)
No PHI fades against this hobbled WAS defense
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: temperature in the low 30s, 10-20 percent chance of snow
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years including playoffs: 8-4 PHI, average score 28-23 PHI, average margin of victory 10 points. The Eagles have won five of the last six meetings and three straight at Lincoln Financial Field, including last season's 55-23 rout in the NFC Championship Game
The Scoop: Jacory Croskey-Merritt leads the WAS backfield with 80 yards and a score. Johnson throws for under 200 yards and gets picked off twice. Bigsby leads the PHI backfield with 90 yards and a TD. McKee throws for 200 yards and two touchdowns, one each to Calcaterra and Darius Cooper. Eagles 27-13
SUNDAY NIGHT
Baltimore at Pittsburgh (+3.5), o/u 41.0 – Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST
Last week's win over the Packers kept the Ravens' season alive, and it was Derrick Henry who put the team on his back. The future Hall of Famer carried the ball a whopping 36 times and turned the volume into an incredible 216 yards and four TDs. As seems to happen just about every year, weary and bruised second-half defenses are no match for a mobile mountain, and Henry's averaged 5.5 yards per carry over the last seven games while racking up 765 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. The Steelers were one of only two teams to keep him out of the end zone during that stretch, but he still collected over 100 scrimmage yards. Baltimore's probably going to have to lean on Henry again if they want to win this one and seize the AFC North crown – Lamar Jackson will play, but he's clearly not himself due to a litany of injuries, most recently a back bruise. He sat out last week's win, but over the prior six games he has just a 3:5 TD:INT and ran for 26 yards only once. The Ravens' defense might be finding a rhythm again though, producing multiple takeaways in three straight games and shutting out Joe Burrow and the Bengals in Week 15. With buzz building that John Harbaugh might actually be on the hot seat, a playoff win or two might be needed to cool things down, not just a division title.
The Steelers won't finish below .500, but last week's embarrassing loss to the Browns when they had a chance to lock up the division title wasn't exactly the mark of a thriving program either. Mike Tomlin, too, could be facing an exit if Pittsburgh falls short here, so the game might be as much of a litmus test of which coach still has the confidence of his locker room as it is anything else. Aaron Rodgers seemed at a loss without DK Metcalf last week, and then having Darnell Washington go down too didn't help. DC Teryl Austin's unit has been pretty good of late, allowing 18.5 points and 332.0 yards a game since the beginning of December, but unless Rodgers finds a way to turn the clock way back, it's hard to see where the offense is going to get many points. Fortunately for the Steelers, this rivalry has a long history of low-scoring slugfests won in the trenches or on timely turnovers, and Pittsburgh's 26 takeaways on the year is still tied for third.
Key Info
BAL injury report: RB Justice Hill (IR, neck), WR Rashod Bateman (questionable, illness), EDGE Nnamdi Madubuike (IR, neck), LB Teddye Buchanan (IR, knee), CB Marlon Humphrey (questionable, illness)
PIT injury report: WR DK Metcalf (out, suspension), TE Darnell Washington (IR, forearm), LT Broderick Jones (IR, neck), S DeShon Elliott (IR, knee)
Slight lean: TE Mark Andrews (PIT 30th in receiving yards per game allowed to TEs)
Slight lean: WR Calvin Austin (BAL 28th in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight fade: WR Rashod Bateman (PIT fourth in DVOA vs. WR2)
Slight fade: WR Adam Thielen (BAL t-first in receptions per game allowed to WR2s)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: temperature in the low 20s, 5-15 percent chance of snow
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years including playoffs: 9-3 PIT, average score 18-16 BAL, average margin of victory six points. The Steelers have won four of the last five meetings at Acrisure Stadium, with all five decided by a single score and neither team scoring more than 20 points in any of them
The Scoop: Henry bludgeons his way to 140 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson throws for under 200 yards but does hit Andrews for a TD. Jaylen Warren manages 60 yards and a score. Rodgers throws for under 200 yards and a touchdown to Austin, and a T.J. Watt fumble recovery TD keeps things close, but Henry's able to grind down the clock late and not give the ball back to the home squad. Ravens 24-21
SATURDAY
Carolina (+2.5) at Tampa Bay, o/u 44.0 – Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EST
This isn't quite a win-and-they're in game for the Bucs — they'd still be eliminated from the playoffs if the Falcons win Sunday to create a three-way tie atop the NFC South at 8-9 — but it is for the Panthers, who are the only team in the division with a shot at finishing above. 500. Carolina's been alternating wins and losses since mid-October, so they're in rhythm for a win after falling to Seattle last week, but Raymond James Stadium hasn't exactly been a welcoming environment for the Panthers in recent years. Bryce Young was held to a season-low 54 passing yards by the Seahawks, snapping a streak of five solid or better performances in which he'd completed 66.7 percent of his passes with a 7.8 YPA and 10:2 TD:INT, and the third-year QB has overall taken a noticeable, and maybe overdue, step forward in 2025. Rico Dowdle needs 14 more rushing yards to set a career high, but he'd probably settle for half that — with seven more scrimmage yards he cashes in a $1 million bonus in his contract. The former Cowboys' slowed considerably down the stretch, though, and over the last six games he's managed just 3.5 yards per carry and one rushing TD. Overall the Panthers haven't done anything particularly well this season, and if they make the playoffs they'll be the only team in the field with a negative point differential, at minus-67 coming into the weekend. In arguably the NFL's weakest division, though, not being terrible at anything either might be enough.
The Buccaneers are in a tailspin, losing four consecutive games and seven of their last eight, and they'll lost control of their own destiny as a result. Even if they win this game, if the Falcons beat the Saints on Sunday, the Panthers will still win the division. Tampa Bay's decline has come in large part because Baker Mayfield is barely standing. Injuries along the offensive line have led to him being sacked multiple times in five of the last six games, and while there's no chance he won't play Saturday, he's dealing with issues to both shoulders as well as his right knee. The veteran QB has been picked off eight times in the last seven games while also losing a couple fumbles, but Mayfield sucked it up to throw for 346 yards and two touchdowns last week in Miami, with the defense instead failing to stop rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers when it counted. On paper, the Bucs have the more talented roster, but without Mayfield 100 percent healthy, it may not matter.
Key Info
CAR injury report: TE Ja'Tavion Sanders (IR, lower leg), RG Robert Hunt (IR, biceps), DE Tershawn Wharton (questionable, hamstring), LB Trevin Wallace (IR, shoulder), LB Claudin Cherelus (out, calf)
TB injury report: LG Ben Bredeson (IR, knee), RG Cody Mauch (IR, knee), EDGE Calijah Kancey (IR, pectoral), CB Jamel Dean (out, shoulder)
Slight lean: WR Jalen Coker (TB 30th in DVOA vs. WR3)
Slight lean: TE Cade Otton (CAR 29th in DVOA vs. TE)
Slight fade: WR Tetairoa McMillan (TB third in DVOA vs. WR1)
Strong fade: WR Chris Godwin (CAR first in DVOA vs. WR2)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: 10-15 mph wind, 10-30 percent chance of rain
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 9-2 TB, average score 28-17 TB, average margin of victory 15 points. The Buccaneers have won five straight home meetings in this rivalry by an average score of 34-18
The Scoop: Dowdle gets his bonus and more, putting together 90 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. Young throws for less than 200 yards and a TD to Coker. Bucky Irving responds with 100 combined yards and a score. Mayfield guts it out, throwing for less than 200 yards but hitting Otton and Mike Evans for touchdowns. Buccaneers 24-17
Seattle at San Francisco (+1.5), o/u 48.0 – Saturday, 8 p.m. EST
The Seahawks' 17-13 home loss to the Niners way back in Week 1 suddenly looms very large. As a result, this game not only decides the NFC West winner, it also determines who gets the No. 1 seed in the conference, with home-field advantage and a first-round bye along with it. Seattle's done just about everything they could to this point to lock up that top seed, winning six consecutive games, including the last two over the Rams and Panthers. Mike Macdonald's been leaning more heavily on his run game lately, which might be smart given Sam Darnold's reputation for folding like a cheap umbrella in the clutch. Darnold's committed four turnovers the last two weeks against just three TDs passes, while Kenneth Walker has piled up 221 scrimmage yards and a TD, and Zach Charbonnet has 176 scrimmage yards and three rushing touchdowns. The Hawks defense, meanwhile, has been outstanding, holding four of its last opponents to 16 points or less, with only the Rams making a dent. During the six-game winning streak, Seattle's allowed an average of 16.0 points and 278.7 yards while racking up 11 takeaways and 12 sacks. If Darnold can work through his jitters, this looks like one of the most dangerous teams in a wide-open playoff field this year. If not, well, somebody's got to be one and done in the wild-card round, and his contract isn't too onerous to cut bait on after 2026.
How the 49ers are even in position to make the playoffs, much less claim the top seed, will be one of the great football mysteries of 2025. They should have been done months ago given all their injuries, but here they are in the final week of the regular season with a real chance to have home-field advantage straight through to Super Bowl LX, which will be held at Levi's Stadium. San Francisco has also won six straight, shellacking five straight opponents until last week's narrow escape against the Bears. Since a Week 14 bye, Brock Purdy and the Niners offense has been the most dangerous unit in the league, averaging a stunning 42.3 points and 455.3 yards over the last three games. Christian McCaffrey needs four more receptions to reach 100 for the third time in his career, and the first time since his Carolina days. He'd also reach 1,000 receiving yards for the second time with 110 yards, though the last time he hit for triple digits was in Week 16 of the 2019 campaign. (For 2026 shoppers, he's also one touch shy of 400, and things haven't tended to go well for CMac the next season any time he's gotten 300-plus.) A minor ankle sprain kept George Kittle out last week, but in the six games before that he's erupted for 40-499-5 on 47 targets, while Jauan Jennings has gotten into the end zone in five consecutive games and scored eight TDs in the last eight games. DC Robert Saleh's unit has been inconsistent but mostly respectable, which is itself a minor miracle given the talent missing from the roster. Hey, you know who could use a strong defensive mind on the sidelines with a proven track record of scheming around a lack of talent? The Je ... ehh, right. Never mind.
Key Info
SEA injury report: WR Rashid Shaheed (questionable, concussion), WR Tory Horton (IR, shin), LT Charles Cross (questionable, hamstring), S Coby Bryant (questionable, knee)
SF injury report: RB Christian McCaffrey (questionable, back), WR Ricky Pearsall (questionable, knee), TE George Kittle (questionable, ankle), LT Trent Williams (questionable, hamstring), LG Ben Bartch (IR, foot), EDGE Nick Bosa (IR, knee), LB Fred Warner (IR, ankle), CB Upton Stout (questionable, concussion)
Strong lean: WR Cooper Kupp (SF 32nd in DVOA vs. WR2)
Slight lean: TE George Kittle (SEA 27th in receiving yards per game allowed to TEs)
Slight fade: TE AJ Barner (SF fifth in DVOA vs. TE)
Strong fade: RB Christian McCaffrey (SEA first in rushing DVOA, fourth in rushing yards allowed to RBs, t-first in rushing TDs allowed to RBs)
Strong fade: WR Jauan Jennings (SEA first in DVOA vs. WR1)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: 50-60 percent chance of rain
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years including playoffs: 7-5 SF, average score 26-21 SF, average margin of victory 10 points. The Seahawks had lost three straight meetings at Levi's Stadium before a 20-17 victory in Week 11 of last season
The Scoop: Walker leads the SEA backfield with 90 yards and a score, while Charbonnet adds a touchdown. Darnold throws for 240 yards and a TD to Jaxon Smith-Njigba but gets picked off twice. McCaffrey churns out 130 combined yards and two scores, one rushing and one receiving. Purdy throws for 270 yards and two more touchdowns, one each to Kittle and Skyy Moore. 49ers 34-30
Last week's record: 9-7, 9-7 ATS, 8-8 o/u
2025 record: 163-92-1 (.639), 135-113-8 ATS (.544), 131-124-1 o/u (.514)
