NFL Week 18: Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers meet in decider, Myles Garrett targets historical past and Las Vegas Raiders shut in on No 1 Draft decide

Editor’s word…

Welcome to the ultimate weekend of the NFL common season, the place last-gasp playoff spots are up for grabs, the place seedings are to be cemented, the place the No 1 decide on the Draft will probably be determined and the place gamers throughout the league chase tens of millions of {dollars} price of incentives.

The latter is at all times a enjoyable watch at the moment of 12 months.

As I rejoice a £5 sale on Vinted, Carolina Panthers working again Rico Dowdle enters Week 18 needing seven extra scrimmage yards in Saturday’s NFC South climax towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to snag a $1m bonus for reaching 1,350 complete yards this season.

Elsewhere, Los Angeles Chargers huge receiver Keenan Allen is six catches away from incomes an additional $750,000 in bonus cash for reaching 80 receptions on the 12 months, however might need to abdomen arising shy amid the prospect of Jim Harbaugh resting his playoff-bound starters towards the Denver Broncos. Having simply accepted a £6 supply on a jumper I listed for £7, I too know the sensation of being cheated.

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead wants 1.5 sacks to achieve seven on the season for a $1m bonus, New England Patriots edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson is half a sack from $500,000 and Washington Commanders exterior linebacker Von Miller is one sack away from a $500,000 bonus of his personal.

Kansas City Chiefs huge receiver Hollywood Brown requires yet one more landing for a $750,000 bonus, and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold wants three landing passes, 150 passing yards, a rise of 0.3 in completion proportion and an increase of 0.8 in passer score to safe a £2m bonus. Go get that bread, gentleman.

The not-so-coveted battle for the No 1 decide on the NFL Draft is at the moment led by the Las Vegas Raiders after final weekend’s defeat to the New York Giants left them 2-14 on the 12 months. They end the common season towards a Kansas City Chiefs staff led by third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun, whereas the Giants, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals all sit 3-13. How very Raiders it could be to go and give up prime spot by beating Andy Reid’s backup-filled Chiefs.

At the highest, the place issues really matter, the Denver Broncos will look to carry off the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars to wrap up the AFC’s No 1 seed, whereas the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers face off on Saturday to determine the NFC’s No 1 seed.

Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett has one final probability to get the one sack he wants to interrupt the all-time single-season NFL document, whereas the Buffalo Bills are getting ready for an emotional farewell as they play their last ever regular-season sport in 52-year-old Highmark Stadium forward of transferring into their new stadium.

The curtain will then shut on the 2025 common season when Sunday Night Football sees the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers meet in an AFC North decider.

I’s are to be dotted, t’s are to be crossed. But there’s a feeling that soccer is past prepared for the playoffs at this level.

Rodgers vs Lamar – the decider

Lamar Jackson confirmed this week he will probably be again to begin for the Ravens as they search to grab the AFC North title from Pittsburgh and full an unlikely playoff turnaround.

Jackson was absent with a again contusion for final weekend’s win over the Green Bay Packers, throughout which Derrick Henry ran for over 200 yards and 4 touchdowns to maintain Baltimore’s once-written-off season alive.

“Yeah, 100 per cent,” Jackson stated of his availability. “I’ll be out there.”

The Ravens had entered their Week Seven bye 1-5 behind one of many league’s worst defenses and with two-time MVP Jackson wanting a shadow of his explosive self, marred by accidents which have restricted his menace exterior the pocket for a lot of the marketing campaign.

A five-game profitable streak resurrected their probabilities solely to be adopted by three defeats in 4. The Pittsburgh Steelers might, possibly ought to, have been out of sight; as a substitute, they face the prospect of being haunted by inconsistency.

So right here we’re. Win, and also you’re in.

It lingers as an all-too acquainted story of uncertainty for Pittsburgh, who celebrated a nineteenth consecutive non-losing season below Mike Tomlin whereas nonetheless warranting the identical scrutiny over the franchise’s course – or lack of it.

Quarterback purgatory and offensive sputters have made for ugly viewing within the post-Ben Roethlisberger period. They sought to deal with as a lot by signing Aaron Rodgers for what probably marks his last season within the NFL, whereas buying and selling for D.Okay. Metcalf, giving him a $132m contract after which buying and selling away star receiver George Pickens.

Fail to make the playoffs, and it’ll have all been for nothing.

“Great player, but we would definitely like to have his last memory be a negative one,” stated Ravens nook Marlon Humphrey of Rodgers.

Listen to Inside the Huddle

Sky Sports NFL’s Neil Reynolds and Phoebe Schecter look forward to the final week of the common season within the NFL and (ultimately!) make their predictions. They talk about playoff situations, the Lions and the Colts lacking out and why there’s nonetheless a lot to play for on this unpredictable season!

Playoff/division-clinching situations in Week 18

AFC

Denver Broncos (13-3) – vs Chargers (11-5)

How Broncos can clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed, first-round bye and home-field benefit:

1. Win
2. Tie & Patriots defeat or tie
3. Patriots defeat & Jaguars defeat or tie

New England Patriots (13-3) – vs Dolphins (7-9)

How Patriots can clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed, first-round bye and home-field benefit:

1. Win & Broncos defeat or tie
2. Tie & Broncos defeat

Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) – vs Titans (3-13)

How Jaguars can clinch AFC South division title and the AFC’s No. 1 seed first-round bye and home-field benefit:

1. Win, Broncos defeat & Patriots defeat

Jaguars clinch AFC South division title with:

1. Win or tie
2. Texans defeat or tie

Houston Texans (11-5) – vs Colts (8-8)

How Texans can clinch AFC South division title:

1. Win & Jaguars defeat

Baltimore Ravens (8-8) – @ Steelers (9-7)

How Ravens can clinch AFC North division title:

1. Win

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) – vs Ravens (8-8)

How Steelers can clinch AFC North division title:

1. Win or tie

NFC

San Francisco 49ers (12-4) – vs Seahawks (13-3)

How 49ers can clinch NFC West division title and NFC’s No.1 seed, first-round bye and home-field benefit:

1. Win

Seattle Seahawks (13-3) – @ 49ers (12-4)

How Seahawks can clinch NFC West division title and NFC’s No.1 seed, first-round bye and home-field benefit:

1. Win or tie

Carolina Panthers (8-8) – @ Buccaneers (7-9)

How Panthers can clinch NFC South division title:

1. Win or tie
2. Falcons win

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) – vs Panthers (8-8)

How Buccaneers can clinch NFC South division title:

1. Win & Falcons defeat or tie

Who stated what?

Bengals QB Joe Burrow on Myles Garrett chasing NFL sack document towards him: “I’m certainly not going to overcompensate either way. I’m not going to go out of my way to not let him get the record, and I’m not going to go out of my way to let him get the record either.”

Lions head coach Dan Campbell on QB Jared Goff: “Jared Goff is a stud. He played at a very high level all season long, even better than he played the year before. I’m thankful to have him, he’s an absolute stud, he’s a pro, he’s going nowhere.”

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles on Baker Mayfield: “We’ve got to be better at the quarterback position and we’ve got to be better at the signal-calling position and we’ve got to be better blocking it.”

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson on QB J.J. McCarthy: “Of course I would love for him to be the quarterback. Especially off this year. I feel like he needs to show everybody and prove to everybody that he is that top-tier quarterback. So I would love to have him. I would love to work with him and show everybody that he is that No. 1 guy.”

Packers CB Trevon Diggs on becoming a member of Green Bay: “It feels good, you know?. I want to be comfortable with being uncomfortable being somewhere that I’ve never been before. Just starting over, starting fresh, a clean slate, and just working, and keeping my head down, and just working.”

News across the league

• The Packers claimed Trevon Diggs off waivers after the cornerback was launched by the Cowboys
• Riley Leonard will begin at quarterback for the Colts over Philip Rivers towards the Texans
• Patriots huge receiver Stefon Diggs is going through strangulation and different felony prices
• Rams security Quentin Lake signed a three-year $42m contract extension
• Bills quarterback Josh Allen missed one other observe as he continues to nurse a foot damage
• Trey Lance will begin at quarterback for the Chargers towards the Broncos as Justin Herbert is rested
• Packers quarterback Jordan Love cleared concussion protocol however Clayton Tune will begin in his place towards the Vikings
• Saints WR Chris Olave will miss Sunday’s sport towards the Falcons as a result of a blood clot in considered one of his lungs

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