NFL Week 18 Games to Watch

Sportz Nation Staff
3 minutes ago
6 min read

by Zak Drapeau and Joseph McLaughlin

1/2/2025

Sportz Nation

Steelers at Ravens

(Sunday @ 8:20)

The final regular-season game of the 2025 season on Sunday Night Football will be a win-or-go-home match for the AFC North title between Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Two teams that couldn't be more different besides their historical greatness, the Ravens and Steelers, will battle in Baltimore after Pittsburgh won their other matchup of the year in Week 14.

The Steelers had a chance to wear the AFC North Champion hat and t-shirt on Sunday, but squandered the opportunity in Cleveland after a 13-6 loss to the Browns. Both teams locked horns for a four-quarter defensive stalemate. The Steelers only mustered two Chris Boswell field goals offensively despite gaining 291 total yards. Pittsburgh struggled to move the ball into the red zone, especially at the end of the game, when Aaron Rodgers failed to connect with Marques Valdes-Scantling in the corner of the end zone. The shocking loss opened the door for Baltimore to have a chance at the postseason.

The Ravens' playoff dreams seemed to be done after they blew a 24-13 lead over the New England Patriots in Week 16. On top of the loss, Lamar Jackson exited that game with a back injury, making way for the backup Tyler Huntley to take the reins of the offense. Baltimore then faced a tough task against Green Bay on the road in Week 17, but surprised everyone, defeating the Packers in a 41-24 blowout win. Huntley started the game in place of Jackson and performed well. Still, the star of the show was Derrick Henry, who had a monster performance (36 carries, 216 yards, and 4 TDs). Henry finding his stride is not the only thing Ravens fans are looking forward to, as Jackson said on Thursday that he will, "one hundred percent," start against the Steelers. The game will be a Rodgers and Jackson matchup for the division title and the last playoff spot remaining in the AFC.

As of posting, the Ravens are 3.5-point favorites. I expect this to be a close game, likely decided on the final drive, as the spread suggests. However, I give the Ravens the edge due to their big win over the Packers on Saturday and the Steelers' loss to the Browns, which has likely lost them momentum.

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Seahawks at 49ers

(Saturday @ 8:00)

The battle for the #1 seed in the NFC and the NFC West title will happen in San Francisco this weekend. In their second matchup of the season, the 49ers will hold a psychological edge after defeating the Seahawks in Week 1 of the season by a 17-13 score.

Winners of 10 for their last 11, the Seahawks have easily been one of the best teams of the season from the very start, led by their soul-crushing defense. On offense, while this team has been run heavy, it all starts with their Free Agent signing Sam Darnold. With 3,800 yards and 25 TDs on the season, Darnold hasn't lit the league on fire by any means but has been more than good enough for the Hawks to win games clearly. As far as run heavy is concerned, the Seahawks have the 3rd highest run play % in the league at 49.4% with Zach Charbonnet (656 yards, 11 TDs) and Kenneth Walker (930 yards, 5 TDs) sharing the load. Unfortunately for them, the 49ers are one of the best against the run as well, ranking 6th in the league.

Speaking of the 49ers, they have also been on fire as of late, winning 6 in a row on their way to the final game of the year in their home stadium. Despite some MASSIVE injury problems in the first month of the season including Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa, Trent Williams, Fred Warner and George Kittle all missing extensive time, this team has been rock solid all year. Now with a chance to control their destiny, the 49ers will host division rival Seahawks at home where they are 5-2 on the season.

As of posting this article, the Seahawks are 1.5-point favorites to win this game and rule over the NFC Conference. After losing in Seattle earlier this year and seeing the 49ers go on an incredible run over the last two months, resulting in the final game being in San Francisco... these lines surprise me. I'm gonna have to go with the 49ers here.

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Panthers at Buccaneers

(Saturday at 4:30)

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/ Associated Press

I truly believe this game will be the closest and most competitive of the weekend as the Panthers look for their first division title since 2015 and the Buccaneers look for their 5th in a row.

As of right now, and thanks to their Week 15 win over the Buccs, the Panthers have a slight lead with an 8-8 record to the Bucs' 7-9. Bryce Young was supposed to really emerge as a Franchise QB this year, and while he's looked better than good in a few games this year, his season has been disappointing in total. Nonetheless, this team has ridden their defense and run game to a point where they are in a position to host a playoff game. Behind playmakers Rico Dowdle and rookie Tet McMillan, this offense will go far if Bryce can take them there, and with a plain, average Buccaneers' defense... Young has a real shot to prove us wrong.

The Buccaneers have been one of, if not the most disappointing teams, in the second half of the season with a 1-7 record in their last 8 games. Losing to teams such as the Saints, Dolphins, Falcons, and the Panthers, some of their losses haven't even been good ones. Baker has fallen off from his MVP-caliber play in the first half of the season, and this offense has ranked 27th since Week 8. With the Panthers' defense being in the top half of the league in terms of limiting scoring, this game should be a slugfest that comes down to an end-of-game drive or defensive stop.

As of posting this, the Buccaneers are 3-point favorites in this highly important NFC South matchup. Being that this one is in Tampa, and I just can't see Baker going down without a fight, I have to predict him to win the game right at the end and send the Bucs to the playoffs.

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Chargers at Broncos

(Sunday @4:25)

Photo by Brenton Tse/ Imago/ Zuma Press Wire

What was once a potential AFC West championship game has lost some stakes going into Week 18. The Broncos' win over the Chiefs on Christmas Day and the Chargers' loss to the Texans on Saturday secured Denver's first AFC West Championship since 2015.

The Chargers, now with only seeding to play for, decided to prioritize team health going into the postseason. As a result, head coach Jim Harbaugh is sitting key players, including Justin Herbert, saying, "the players with the most bruises need the most healing." This will lead backup quarterback Trey Lance, a former first-round draft selection, to take the start for the Chargers on Sunday.

The Broncos, on the other hand, have a lot to play for. Even though they have secured the division title, they are in the driver's seat for the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC Playoffs and a first-round bye. All Denver needs to do to clinch the top seed is win on Sunday against Los Angeles, and the AFC will have to go through Empower Field, a place where the Broncos hold the advantage with the mile-high elevation and a 7-1 home record this season.

The Broncos must win to secure the top spot as two teams, the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars, are still chasing them for it. New England can clinch the top seed with a win over Miami and a Denver loss, while the Jaguars can clinch it with a win over the Titans and losses by the Broncos and Patriots. Denver is in control of their destiny, however, as it looks to even the season series against their division rival.

The Broncos are 12.5-point favorites to win. I expect the Broncos to cover the spread against the backups of their division rival. Denver will claim the No. 1 seed in the AFC with the win. The Chargers likely drop to No. 7 and will likely face the New England Patriots in the first round, depending on this week's results.

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