Santiago Leon and Dan Madden recap the 2024 #NFL Week 18.
Contributors
:
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Dan Madden – @danimal2478
PIT 17 BAL 10
the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 in a rain-soaked game at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Steelers’ Mason Rudolph threw a 71-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson on the first play of the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
- Tyler Huntley, the Ravens’ quarterback, struggles to find rhythm, especially in the second half when the Ravens punt on four straight possessions.
- Gus Edwards’ fourth-quarter fumble leads to a Pittsburgh field goal, which is enough to give them the win.
- Justin Tucker makes his 29th straight field goal against the Steelers, this time from 36 yards.
HOU 23 IND 19
the Houston Texans beat the Indianapolis Colts 23-19. The win sent the Texans to the 2023 NFL playoffs for the first time in four years.
- Stroud throws for 264 yards and two touchdowns.
- The defense stops the Colts’ final drive to secure the victory.
JAX 20 TEN 28
The Tennessee Titans defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 28–20 on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans’ victory eliminated the Jaguars from the 2023 season.
Derrick Henry had a goodbye speech after the game in the stadium.
MIN 20 DET 30
The Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings 30-20. The Lions tied the franchise record for most wins in a season with a 12-5 overall record.
- Sam LaPorta catches a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter and later limpes off the field with a knee injury
- Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown combine for three touchdowns
- Both teams show off their elite receivers
ATL 17 NO 48
The New Orleans Saints defeated the Atlanta Falcons 48-17 at Caesars Superdome.
The Falcons opened the game with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Desmond Ridder to tight end Jonnu Smith. The Saints responded with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to A.T. Perry. Carr also passed for four touchdowns in the game.
The Saints’ win improved their regular season record against the Falcons to 55-54 and their record at the Caesars Superdome to 26-21.
NYJ 17 NE 3
The New York Jets defeated the New England Patriots 17-3 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The Jets’ Breece Hall rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown in the game, which ended the 2023 NFL season and a 15-game losing streak against the Patriots.
TB 9 CAR 0
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 9-0 at Bank of America Stadium. The Buccaneers’ Chase McLaughlin scored three field goals, clinching their third consecutive NFC South title and a playoff berth. The Buccaneers’ defense also put in a defensive showdown, earning them their first shutout in 13 years.
CLE 14 CIN 31
The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Cleveland Browns 31-14. Jake Browning threw three touchdown passes, and Joe Mixon rushed for 111 yards and a score. The Bengals led 24-0 at halftime.
CHI 9 GB 17
The Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 17-9 in the 2023 season finale on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at Lambeau Field. The Packers’ victory clinched their final NFC playoff spot for the first time since 2021.
The Packers’ Jordan Love threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns to Dontayvion Wicks, while Justin Fields had five sacks. The Bears’ offense failed to score a touchdown, limiting themselves to 192 yards and 13 first downs.
DAL 38 WAS 10
The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Washington Commanders 38-10 in Week 18 of the NFL season. The Cowboys’ win secured the NFC East title and the No. 2 seed in the conference.
Prescott throws two of his four touchdown passes to CeeDee Lamb.
- 279 passing yards: Prescott records 279 passing yards in the game.
DEN 14 LV 27
The Las Vegas Raiders beat the Denver Broncos 27-14. Aidan O’Connell threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns, while Zamir White rushed for 112 yards. Davante Adams also had a strong showing, with 126 receiving yards and two touchdowns
Some say the Raiders’ victory over the Broncos helped Antonio Pierce’s case to remain as the full-time head coach.
PHI 10 NYG 27
The New York Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 in Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season on January 7, 2024. The Giants scored first with a 24-yard field goal by Mason Crosby, and Saquon Barkley scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to take a 10-0 lead. The Giants’ victory ended a five-game losing streak to the Eagles, including their postseason matchup last season.
SEA 21 AZ 20
The Seattle Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals 21-20 on January 7, 2024 in week 18 of the NFL.
Geno Smith threw a touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett with less than two minutes remaining in the game, and then converted a two-point conversion to secure the win. Tyler Lockett also contributed with a touchdown and two-point conversion. Matt Prater’s two missed field goals also contributed to the Seahawks’ victory.
LAR 21 SF 20
The Los Angeles Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers 21-20 on January 7, 2024. This was the first time the Rams have beaten the 49ers in 10 regular-season games.
- Carson Wentz’s 12-yard run and 2-point conversion pass to Tutu Atwell put the Rams ahead 21-20 with 4:56 remaining.
- The Rams win the game with a punt with just over one minute remaining.
- The Rams clinch the NFC’s sixth seed and finish with a 10-7 record.
KC 13 LAC 12
the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Los Angeles Chargers 13–12 in Week 18 of the NFL season. The Chiefs rested most of their starters, while the Chargers had little to play for.
BUF 21 MIA 14
The Buffalo Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins 21-14 on Sunday night, January 7, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The win gave the Bills the AFC East division title and the second seed in the AFC playoffs for the fourth straight season.
- Josh Allen: Allen’s backfoot dart finds Dalton Kincaid for a 26-yard gain in the fourth quarter. Allen also throws a touchdown pass to Dawson Knox midway through the fourth quarter.
- Khalil Shakir: Shakir has six catches for 105 yards.
- Stefon Diggs: Diggs has 7even for 87 yards with only one incompletion.
Falcons fire head coach Arthur Smith
Commanders fire head coach Ron Rivera; hire former architecht of Warriors dynasty Bob Myers as Commanders GM
Predictions
Bill Belichick: “I’m under contract. I’m going to do what I always do, which is you know every day, I come in work as hard as I can to help the team and whatever way I can,” he said. “So, that is what I’m going to continue to do. You know today was kind of wrap up day for us with the players and have a meeting with them and then go from there. As far as any decisions or directions or anything like that for next year is way too early for that. The end of the year processes you know I don’t think will be fundamentally different from the standpoint of how it’s done.”
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.
