Santiago Leon and Ryan Christa preview the 2024 #NFL Week 18.
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Ryan Christa – @maddawgreport
- Giannis Antetokounmpo had 44 points and 14 rebounds and Milwaukee overcame an electric performance by Wembanyama on his 20th birthday to beat San Antonio 125-121 on Thursday night. Wembanyama had 27 points, and Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 34.
- Golden State forward Draymond Green — on an indefinite league suspension since Dec. 13 — is expected to return to the Warriors’ facility in the coming days to start ramping up to resume play, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
- Ricky Rubio has ended his NBA career, he announced Thursday. The Spanish guard agreed to a contract buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, allowing him to step away from the league after 12 seasons. Rubio cited his mental health as a reason for his decision.
Steelers (9-7) at Ravens (13-3)
4:30 p.m. ET, Saturday | ESPN | Spread: PIT -4 (35.5)
The Steelers have beaten the Ravens three straight times in Baltimore, winning by a total of 10 points. The last time Baltimore won at home against Pittsburgh was the 2019 regular-season finale, when the Ravens had already wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the AFC and rested quarterback Lamar Jackson. With the Ravens clinching the AFC’s top spot in Week 17, Jackson is sitting out this game, too.
RC: PIT
Texans (9-7) at Colts (9-7) – 8:15 p.m. ET, Saturday | ESPN | Spread: HOU -1.5 (47.5)
The stakes in this year’s game between these teams could not be more different from those in last season’s finale. The No. 1 overall pick in the draft was on the line in Week 18 in the 2022 season, with the Colts losing and knocking Houston into the No. 2 choice. This season, the winner of this game goes to the playoffs and wildly accelerates its rebuilding effort ahead of 2024.
RC: HOU
Browns (11-5) at Bengals (8-8) – 1 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: CIN -7 (37)
The Bengals are looking to avoid going winless in divisional play for the fourth time in franchise history. The game will also feature a familiar face in Browns quarterback Jeff Driskel, who will start in place of Joe Flacco and is the fifth quarterback to start a game this season for Cleveland. Driskel was with the Bengals early in his career. He started five games for Cincinnati in 2018 and was in training camp with the Bengals in 2019, coach Zac Taylor’s first season.
RC: CIN
Vikings (7-9) at Lions (11-5) – 1 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: DET -3.5 (45.5)
These rivals will meet for the second time in three weeks, with the Lions clinching the division title for the first time since 1993 in their last meeting at Minnesota on Dec. 24. Detroit has a chance to secure a 12-win season for just the second time in franchise history, while the Vikings are holding on to slim chances of reaching the playoffs with a number of scenarios potentially playing in their favor — but they have to win first. So, both teams are still playing for something in Week 18.
RC: DET
Jaguars (9-7) at Titans (5-11) – 1 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: JAX -3.5 (41.5)
The Jaguars are seeking their first 10-win season since 2017. If quarterback Trevor Lawrence plays, he needs 264 pass yards to become the first Jaguars QB with multiple 4,000-yard seasons. The Titans are 1-10 (.091) in December and January games the past two seasons, the worst winning percentage and most losses in the NFL in that span.
RC: JAX
Falcons (7-9) at Saints (8-8) – 1 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: NO -3 (42)
The Saints need a win and a Buccaneers loss to win the NFC South, but that might have to happen without running back Alvin Kamara. Kamara left Sunday’s win against the Buccaneers with an ankle sprain and missed the first two practices of the week, leaving his status in doubt for a must-win game. Kendre Miller and Jamaal Williams would be the next men up if Kamara can’t play. The Falcons still have playoff hopes but have lost three of their past four games, including a 20-point loss to the Bears last week and a 9-7 loss to the two-win Panthers in Week 15.
RC: NO
Buccaneers (8-8) at Panthers (2-14) – 1 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: TB -4.5 (37.5)
Pretty simple. Tampa Bay can win the NFC South and secure a home game in the first round of the playoffs with a victory. The Buccaneers are facing a Carolina team that gave them fits in Tampa in a 21-18 victory in Week 13. Expect a similar game on Sunday with a slight edge to the Bucs, who rank 19th in scoring and should outproduce a Carolina offense ranked 31st and coming off its first shutout loss since 2002.
RC: TB
Jets (6-10) at Patriots (4-12) – 1 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: NE -2 (30.5)
Could this be Bill Belichick’s final game as Patriots coach? A snow game is a possibility, and with Jets QB Zach Wilson not having cleared concussion protocol, it will be a QB battle of Trevor Siemian vs. Bailey Zappe. Siemian is 78-of-133 for 654 yards with 2 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions on the season, while Zappe is 115-of-182 for 1,184 yards with 6 TDs and 7 INTs.
RC: NE
Bears (7-9) at Packers (8-8) – 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: GB -3 (45.5)
Aaron Jones could do something that no Packers player has ever done: Rush for 120 or more yards in three straight games. After Green Bay had not had a 100-yard rusher all season, Jones went for 127 against Carolina and 120 against the Vikings in his first two games back from a knee injury. However, the Bears have the NFL’s No. 1 rushing defense in terms of fewest yards allowed per game (84.0).
RC: GB
Eagles (11-5) at Giants (5-11) – 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: PHI -5 (42.5)
The Eagles, who set a franchise record last season with 70 sacks, have just 11 in their past seven games. They had just one two weeks ago against the Giants, who have allowed an NFL-high 83 sacks, 20 more than any other team. So something has to give.
RC: PHI
Cowboys (11-5) at Commanders (4-12) – 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: DAL -13 (46.5)
Washington quarterback Sam Howell built momentum for this season with a strong season finale showing in a win vs. Dallas in 2022. But doing it for a second consecutive year will be difficult. He has thrown 10 interceptions and three touchdown passes in the past six games. Washington’s pass protection has been good lately: Howell has been sacked only three times in the past three games. However, Dallas sacked him four times in their previous meeting; Micah Parsons had 1.5 sacks in that game and has 13 for the season. He has five sacks in five career games vs. Washington.
RC: DAL
Seahawks (8-8) at Cardinals (4-12) – 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: SEA -2.5 (47.5)
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has been playing his best football of the season as of late, including a nearly perfect second half last week in Philadelphia. He will take his best performance of the season into this weekend when he faces a Seahawks team that has lost five of its past seven. Seattle has allowed just one 300-yard passer since Week 10, so while Murray might not be able to hit the mark this week, he can still affect the game in other ways.
RC: AZ
Rams (9-7) at 49ers (12-4) – 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: SF -4 (40.5)
Both teams have wrapped up playoff spots, with the Niners cemented as the NFC’s top seed and the Rams able to do no better than No. 6. In other words, neither team has much to play for here, which means neither starting quarterback will play and it’s unlikely the main starters for both teams will play all four quarters. San Francisco has won 12 straight games against NFC West opponents, tied for the franchise’s longest streak since the 1970 merger. But the Niners will gladly trade that streak for better health come playoff time. The Rams are in a similar state of mind, even without a streak to extend.
RC: LAR
Chiefs (10-6) at Chargers (5-11) – 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS | Spread: LAC -3.5 (35.5)
The Chargers have lost seven of their past nine games to Kansas City, including their Week 7 game this season, when Patrick Mahomes completed 20 of 23 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. But the Chiefs are resting Mahomes and other starters Sunday, so Chargers interim coach Giff Smith will have a better shot at securing his first win and the Chargers’ first over the Chiefs since 2021.
RC: LAC
Broncos (8-8) at Raiders (7-9) – 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox | Spread: LV -3 (37.5)
For two years straight now, Jarrett Stidham has unseated a franchise quarterback with two games to go in the regular season. Last season, it was the Raiders and Derek Carr. This year, it’s the Broncos and Russell Wilson, who stayed with Denver and, as a captain, swallowed his pride and went to midfield for last week’s opening coin toss. “We’re excited to see Stidham,” said Raiders interim coach Antonio Pierce. “We want to see him up close and personal. [Especially edge rusher] Maxx Crosby.”
RC: DEN
Bills (10-6) at Dolphins (11-5) – 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC | Spread: BUF -3 (48.5)
The Dolphins don’t expect cornerback Xavien Howard to play Sunday against the Bills, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio wouldn’t reveal whether he would have Pro Bowl CB Jalen Ramsey shadow Bills WR Stefon Diggs — who torched Miami for 120 yards and three touchdowns in Week 4 — or have him match up with multiple receivers. Considering Eli Apple’s struggles against Baltimore in Week 17 (three catches, 104 yards and a touchdown allowed in coverage), where Ramsey lines up will be something to watch.
RC: BUF
Predictions
Washington vs Michigan?
RC: WAS
Poll Question
What goes best with whip cream?
Hot Chocolate – 37%, Waffles – 12.5%, Pie – 25%, Ice Cream – 25%
RC: WAFFLE
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.
