It was as messy Week 18 – one of the worst in terms of players resting or playing only partially.
Steelers 17, Baltimore 10
The Ravens sat most of their star players including Lamar Jackson and yet remained in the game thanks to their defense that could still keep the game score down. The game was defined by Najee Harris rushing and little else. It was 7-7 until the fourth quarter.
Mason Rudolph threw for 12 yards and a touchdown for Diontae Johnson (4-89, TD) and no other Steeler receiver ended with more than 21 yards and no scores. Najee Harris ran for 112 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries and added a team-high five catches for 21 yards. Jaylen Warren turned in 33 yards on nine rushes and added five receptions for 17 yards.
Tyler Huntley threw for 146 yards and one score to Isaiah Likely (2-31, TD) while Nelson Agholor led the team with only 39 yards on five catches. Gus Edwards (10-48) and Melvin Gordon (7-18) handled the rushing duties but the offense sat Jackson and the best receivers. This is why you don’t use Week 18 in fantasy leagues.
Houston 23, Indianapolis 19
It was a clear agenda for both teams in this matchup. Win – playoffs. Lose – nothing. This game was close throughout, tied 17-17 in the fourth quarter and then Devin Singletary punched in a 3-yard touchdown with 6:20 left but they missed the extra point. The Colts had first and ten at the HOU 29-yard line with 2:27 left to play. They ran Jonathan Taylor three straight plays to gain nine yards with 1:48 left to play and went for it on fourth-and-one. The pass to Tyler Goodson was thrown slightly behind him and was incomplete to end their drive and season.
C.J. Stroud passes for 265 yards and two scores with Nico Collins (9-195, TD) doing almost all the damage by himself. He opened the game with a 75-yard touchdown on their first offensive play. Dalton Schultz (5-42) was the only other receiver with more than nine yards. Devin Singletary ran for 63 yards and a score on 24 rushes. The Texans were little more than Collins and Singletary and pulled off the win.
Gardner Minshew only threw for 141 yards for a very disappointing end to an otherwise good season. Josh Downs (3-48) and Michael Pittman (5-44) were the top receivers. Jonathan Taylor was the central focus of the offense with 30 rushes for 188 yards and a touchdown. The passing game suffered all game long and in the end, Taylor wasn’t enough to get the win by himself.
Tampa Bay 9, Carolina 0
Well, this could have been higher scoring. It was only fitting that the Panthers end with a shutout. The Buccaneers kicked two field goals in the second quarter and then finished with a third in the final quarter. But offense was sparse for both teams and scoring just nine points against the Panthers is not exactly considered “powering your way into the playoffs.”
Baker Mayfield was banged up entering the game and limped constantly. He only passed for 137 yards and no scores with Chris Godwin (6-51) and Cade Otton (2-30) as the lead receivers and Mike Evans was held to only 22 yards on three catches. Rachaad White ran for 75 yards on 19 carries and caught four passes for 18 yards.
Bryce Young may have been the first pick of the 2023 NFL draft but he ends his rookie season with only 94 passing yards. DJ Chark (2-46) was the only receiver with more than 12 yards and he fumbled the ball inches from scoring a touchdown just to make the loss hurt a little more. Chuba Hubbard (23-86) handled the backfield workload but the Panthers end their season in no better shape than they did last year.
Cleveland 14, Cincinnati 31
Here’s another game that missed the normal starters. The Browns rested most of their star players and it allowed the Bengals to get a 31-0 lead in the third quarter and the Browns finally showed up with points in the fourth quarter. This was never a game.
Jeff Driskel passed for 166 yards and two scores that both happened in trash time, David Bell (4-68, 2 TD) posted both touchdowns and Cedric Tillman (3-43) was the only other receiver with more than 26 yards. Pierre Strong (14-65) was busy and yet not a difference-maker.
Jake Browning threw for 156 yards and three touchdowns between Andrei Iosivas (5-36, 2 TD) and Joe Mixon (1-6, TD) who also rushed for 111 yards and a second score on 14 rushes. Chase Brown also ran for 43 yards on 11 rushes. Ja’Marr Chase (4-19) was ineffective and Tee Higgins was inactive.
Minnesota 20, Detroit 30
The Lions played this game in earnest even though there wasn’t much to win and got T.J. LaPorta injured in the process. The Lions led by a touchdown or more for the entire game and the second half was a battle of long touchdowns with a total of three scores of at least 38 yards each. The Vikings drew to withing 20-27 with 13 minutes left to lay but the Vikes held them out of the end zone and kicked a field goal to end the scoring.
Nick Mullens passed for 396 yards and two scores between Justin Jefferson (12-192, TD) and Jordan Addison (4-57). Johnny Mundt (5-58) did a good job covering for T.J. Hockenson. Ty Chandler (12-69) and Alexander Mattison (7-24) ran the ball and Chandler added two catches for 20 yards.
Jared Goff threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns. Amon-Ra St. Brown (7-144, TD) and Kalif Raymond (2-50) were the best receivers while Sam LaPorta (5-29, TD) left with a knee injury. David Montgomery (10-40, TD) and Jahmyr Gibbs (13-30, TD) both scored and neither had a catch.
New York Jets 17, New England 3
And the Bill Belichick era ends with a whimper on a cold, windy, snowy football field without a touchdown. The field conditions were dismal and the Pats only score came on a second-quarter field goal. The score was 6-3 entering the fourth quarter and would have been 9-3 as a final but Breece Hall broke free for a 50-yard touchdown with under two minutes left to play.
Hall rushed for 178 yards on 37 carries with the one touchdown and added two catches for 12 yards. Trevor Siemian passed for 70 yards and only completed 8-of-20 passes. Garrett Wilson led the team with only two catches for 34 yards and one of them went for 30 yards.
Bailey Zappe only managed 12-of-30 passing for 88 yards and two touchdowns. The only fantasy-relevant player was Ezekiel Elliott who ran for 54 yards on 13 rushes and caught a team-high five passes for 27 yards. It was brutal weather and kind of a sad sort of ending to the tenure of the greatest coach in the history of the NFL.
Atlanta 17, New Orleans 48
The main highlight clip from this matchup is the Falcons HC Arthur Smith apparently berating the Saints HC Dennis Allen for pumping up the score. Which he did, but you know, “football.”
This matchup was 17-17 at halftime from which the Falcons never returned. The Saints scored four touchdowns in the second half, including the 1-yard score with only 1:10 left that did not sit well with Smith. Considering everything else in the game, the final touchdown was pretty minor to the otherwise dud the Falcons laid down after halftime.
Desmond Ridder passed for 291 yards and two scores between Bijan Robinson (7-103, TD) and Jonnu Smith (3-29, TD). Drake London (4-41) and Kyle Pitts (2-27) end their disappointing seasons with a disappointing game. Robinson also ran for 28 yards on 11 carries against a solid run defense. Tyler Allgeier gained 24 yards on his six rushes.
Jacksonville 20, Tennessee 28
All the Jaguars needed to do was beat the Titans to reach the division title. They won it last year and made noise in the playoffs. It did not happen. The Titans played maybe their best game of the year and led 21-13 at halftime. Both teams would score one more touchdown. Trevor Lawrence just missed Calvin Ridley on what would have been a 67-yard touchdown on second and two from his own 33-yard line. They tossed two more incompletions to kill their chance to comeback.
Lawrence passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns between Calvin Ridley (6-106, TD) and Evan Engram (10-79, TD). Ridley scored on a 59-yard completion in the second quarter when the Jags took their only lead in the game. Travis Etienne gained 57 yards on 16 carries and added five receptions on 30 yards. The Jaguars did not run that well and the Titans run game helped them win.
Ryan Tannehill passed for 168 yards and two touchdowns between DeAndre Hopkins (7-46, TD) and Tyjae Spears (3-41, TD). Chig Okonkwo used his two catches to net 36 yards. The final game of Derrick Henry in Tennessee (maybe) was an appropriate way to finish up with 19 carries for 153 yards that included a 69-yard run and an 18-yard touchdown jaunt. Even Spears scored on his three rushes for 25 yards.
Seattle 21, Arizona 20
The Seahawks squeaked out a win here but end up as the No. 8 seed which counts as much as the No. 32 seed. The Cardinals went up 20-13 in the fourth quarter with nine minutes left and the Seahawks matched the touchdown with a 34-yard pass to Tyler Lockett. Instead of tying with an extra point, Pete Carroll called for a two-point play that was successful when Lockett caught that as well.
Geno Smith passed for 189 yards and two touchdowns between Tyler Lockett (2-71, TD) and Will Dissly (3-46, TD). DK Metcalf (1-10) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (3-14) were bottled up. Kenneth Walker ran for 78 yards on 17 carries while Zach Charbonnet gained 32 yards on five rushes.
Kyle Murray threw for 262 yards and a touchdown to Trey McBride (3-34, TD). Michael Wilson (6-95) was the top receiver. James Conner finishes out his impressive season with 27 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown, plus four receptions for 54 yards. The Cardinals put up a surprising fight and the Seahawks succeeded on their risky two-point play. In the end, it doesn’t really matter.
Chicago 9, Green Bay 17
The Packers snuck in as the No. 7 seed but winning a home game 17-9 against a 7-10 team doesn’t promise great things in the postseason. The Packers always led but never by more than one score. The final score was a Green Bay field goal and the Bears never produced a touchdown. This was anyone’s game throughout but the Bears just couldn’t generate even one score with their running and passing game falling flat in the road matchup.
Justin Fields threw for 148 yards and DJ Moore (4-64) was the lead receiver. Cole Kmet (3-41) was the only other receiver with more than 20 yards. Khalil Herbert (12-28) and Roschon Johnson (5-20) shared the meager rushing production. The Bears offense went flat in Green Bay, just when Fields would have benefitted by turning in an impressive performance and keeping the Bears from thinking what to do with that No. 1 overall pick in April. He did not.
Jordan Love threw for 316 yards and two scores that ended up with Dontayvion Wicks (6-61, 2 TD). Jayden Reed (4-112) and Bo Melton (5-62) also pitched in. Aaron Jones (22-111) added five receptions for 30 yards as he finishes the season far better than he started it. The Packers produced about twice the yardage as the Bears but could get more than 17 points on the board. This time it was enough.
Kansas City 13, Los Angeles Chargers 12
Not exactly a fantasy football bonanza. The Chiefs played without any of the skill players but fortunately the Chargers already had all of theirs lost to injury long before this matchup. The Chiefs led 10-0 in the second quarter and then never scored again until the final winning field goal with 49 seconds left to play. This was everything we expected from a Gabbert vs. Stick extravaganza.
Blaine Gabbert threw for 154 yards and just one interception. Mecole Hardman (6-77) and La’Mical Perine (3-33) were the only receivers with more than 20 yards and Perine ran for 76 yards on 21 carries as he replaced Isiah Pacheco. This was a “grab your program” sort of game.
Easton Stick passed for 258 yards and no scores. Donald Parham (5-83) and Joshua Palmer (6-44) were among the more recognizable receivers, Austin Ekeler winds down his disappointing season with 11 yards on ten carries, and seven receptions for 38 yards. Ekeler is the only remaining healthy starter, though he didn’t much perform like a starter this year.
Denver 14, Las Vegas 27
The Broncos wind down Phase 1 of the tear down losing to the Raiders. While they tied 7-7 in the second quarter, they trailed 24-7 in the fourth quarter before logging their second score in the game. The Raiders may be pulling into port without their old captain, but interim head coach Antonio Pierce has made a solid case to be considered to just keep his job next year.
Jared Stidham threw for 272 yards and one score to Jerry Jeudy (3-79) while Courtland Sutton returned from injury to catch just one pass for two yards. Brandon Johnson led the team with four catches for 88 yards. Javonte Williams only rushed nine times for 32 yards but scored once and caught a team-high seven passes for 43 yards.
Aiden O’Connell passed for 244 yards and two touchdowns between Jakobi Meyers (3-61, TD) and Davante Adams (5-46, TD), Tre Tucker (5-79) led the receivers thanks to catching a 47-yard pass. Zamir White (25-112) was effective replacing Josh Jacobs and might end up staying there next year. The Raiders have come together much better since Josh McDaniels left and this game is just more fuel to the fire to keep Pierce as head coach.
Philadelphia 10, New York Giants 27
There is peaking too early, and then there is reaching the top of the mountain and then base jumping. The Eagles tried the latter. They lost four of their last five games and have run out of cliches (get knocked down, stand back up!). Like so many young couples come to realize, “you’re not who I thought you were.”
The 5-11 Giants using Tyrod Taylor led 24-0 at halftime. Jalen Hurts completed 7-of-16 passes for 55 yards and an interception before getting yanked from the game. Devonta Smith and D’Andre Swift were inactive. The best receiver was Quez Watkins (8-93, TD) but no one else totaled more than 35 receiving yards. Kenneth Gainwell ran for 62 yards on seven carries. The Eagles even made it all worse, and it was already bad, by losing A.J. Brown to injury.
The Giants exploited the Philly secondary with Tyro Taylor passing for 297 yards and one touchdown to Darius Slayton (5-62, TD). Wan’Dale Robinson (5-85) was the top receiver and even Darren Waller (5-42) was involved. Saquon Barkley only gained 46 yards on 18 rushes but score twice and added 51 more yard on just two catches. The passing offense looked sharp and is something to try to imitate when they revert back to Daniel Jones next year and everything falls apart yet again.
Dallas 38, Washington 10
The Cowboys won the East with a crushing loss to the Commanders. It proved they can still beat up a bad team – even on the road. There was speculation that a loss here would get HC Mike McCarthy fired, but his fate lies in the playoffs.
The Commanders led 10-7 in the second quarter and then disappeared while the Cowboys reeled off four touchdowns and a field goal. Dak Prescott passed for 279 yards and four touchdowns, with CeeDee Lamb (13-98, 2 TD) finishing the season with yet another monster performance. Jason Ferguson (6-69) and Brandin Cooks (6-39, TD) also contributed. Tony Pollard (17-70, TD) also scored and it was like they were playing the worst defense in the NFL… Well… it was a road game.
The final throw of the Ron Rivera era wasn’t all that sharp. Sam Howell passed for 153 yards and one score with two interceptions. Terry McLaurin (6-56) led the Commanders and no one else gained more than 28 yards as a receiver. Brian Robinson scored the only touchdown while catching three passes for ten yards, and he ran for 25 yards on nine carries. Fortunately, Washington wore white jerseys that they could remove and wave as a flag.
Buffalo 21, Miami 14
The AFC East belongs to the Bills. Again. The scoring was lower but the game was good entertainment and wasn’t certain until the final play. The Dolphins took a 14-7 lead into halftime, and after a scoreless third quarter, the Bills took the lead on a 96-yard punt return and a touchdown pass with seven minutes left to play.
Josh Allen passed for 359 yards and two scores, and was the leading rusher with 67 yards on 15 carries. Khalil Shakir (6-105) was the leading receiver with Stefon Diggs (7-87) and Dalton Kincaid (7-84) also big contributors. The scores went to Dawson Knox (2-22, TD) and Trent Sherfield (3-24, TD). James Cook was held to only 36 yards on 13 carries and added three catches for 16 yards.
Tua Tagovailoa was less effective though playing without Raheem Mostert or Jaylen Waddle. He threw for 173 yards and a score with two interceptions. The final pick ended the game. Tyreek Hill was thrown 13 targets – ten more than any other Miami receiver. He gained 82 yards and a touchdown on his seven receptions. De’Von Achane ran for 56 yards and a touchdown on is ten carries but only caught a five-yard pass. Jeff Wilson rushed nine times for 45 yards.
Game-o-the-week: Los Angeles Rams 21, San Francisco 20
What a representative game for Week 18.
This game was like watching a movie about football. The uniforms and stadium all were familiar but none of the names on the jersey were. The kinda-49ers led 20-7 at the half but the sorta-Rams did all of the scoring in the second half, including the 12-yard Carson Wentz run for a touchdown with 4:56 left to play. The Rams opted for the two-point conversion instead of tying 20-20 and was successful.
Carson Wentz passed for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Puka Nacua (4-41, TD) hung around just long enough to hold the all-time rookie record for catches and yards. There were other receivers but only immediate family members knew them. With Kyren Williams held out, Ron Rivers (13-52) handled the rushing needs.
Sam Darnold ended with 189 passing yards and a touchdown. Brandon Aiyuk caught three passes for 25 yards and Deebo Samuels ended with just two receptions for 21 yards in their cameos. Elijah Mitchell (14-52, TD) led the rushers while Jordan Mason (6-36) helped out. The game didn’t matter and no one got hurt, so it was a success.
