Tom Henigan
Week 17 in the NFL saw games played on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. With the penultimate week in the 2024 NFL regular season now over, there is still a lot to be decided in week 18, the regular season’s finale.
Some games this week were being played mainly to decide draft position. The Las Vegas Raiders are now 4-12 after they defeated the New Orleans Saints 25-10 on the road. The Saints are 5-11 after that loss. The Tennessee Titans dropped to 3-13 after they were defeated 20-13 at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who got their fourth win of the season.
Christmas Day gave us two NFL games. To start, the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Kansas City Chiefs. The Steelers entered this game at 10-5, knowing that a win in each of their final two games would give them their first AFC North title since the 2020 season. But Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs had other ideas. It was a disastrous start for the Steelers as they ran a total of eight plays on offense on their first two drives, punting twice. Following each of those punts, Mahomes led his offense to a touchdown, making the score 13-0 to the Chiefs with four minutes left in the first quarter. Russell Wilson was intercepted in the endzone on Pittsburgh’s next drive and, although the Steelers did bring the score back to 13-7 in the first half, and 16-10 in the second half, their opponents were always in control of the game.
Kansas City’s win clinched them the number one seed in the AFC
Pittsburgh’s defence did not make a good account of themselves in this game, allowing a 77-yard touchdown drive after the score was brought back to 16-10, and then allowing a routine 34-yard touchdown drive, after Pat Freiermuth fumbled for the Steeler’s offense. The Chiefs won 29-10 with Patrick Mahomes throwing for 320 yards and three touchdowns. Kanas City’s win clinched them the number one seed in the AFC with their 15-1 record, giving them a first-round bye and homefield advantage in the playoffs. That bye means that if the Chiefs rest their starters in week 18, those players, including Patrick Mahomes of course, will get around 24 days of rest, depending on when their divisional round game is scheduled. The age-old rest versus rust debate will inevitably come up when the divisional round arrives but, for now, Patrick Mahomes knows he has three and a half weeks of recovery before the playoffs.
The later game on Christmas Day was between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans. The Texans came into this matchup with a 9-6 record, still fighting for the number three seed, especially after Pittsburgh’s loss. But the Ravens were even more motivated by Kansas City’s win against the Steelers. After that result, Lamar Jackson and company knew that a win would move them to the top of the AFC North.
This game was never close. Jackson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another one from 48-yards out as the Ravens cruised to a 31-2 win. Despite winning their division, the Texans have been disappointing this season. The defense for Houston has not been bad, but unless quarterback C.J. Stroud can bring back some of his electric form from his rookie season, the AFC South champions will struggle in the playoffs. As for the Ravens, they showed how electric they can be when on form. If they beat the Cleveland Browns in week 18, they will win the AFC North for the second straight season. If they lose, the Steelers can clinch the division with a win against the Cincinnati Bengals.
A win for the Broncos would have secured them a playoff spot
The AFC playoff race took some dramatic turns in week 17. The Los Angeles Chargers made sure they weren’t involved, though. Justin Herbert threw three touchdowns in a 40-7 win to move his team to 10-6, clinching them a playoff spot. The Chargers beat a 3-13 Patriots team that may end up with the number one pick of the 2025 NFL draft. The game that followed Los Angeles’ win was the Denver Broncos against the Cincinnati Bengals. A win for the Broncos would have secured them a playoff spot and eliminated the Bengals. A Cincinnati win would keep their playoff hopes alive.
In the biggest game of his team’s season, Joe Burrow was sensational. He threw for over 400 yards and had four total touchdowns in a matchup that he seemingly won for the Bengals three times. The first time was when Burrow scored a touchdown with one minute and twenty-nine seconds left to put the Bengals up 24-17, albeit with some questionable clock management from Cincinnati that had left a lot of time for the Broncos. That time left on the clock ended up being crucial as on 4th and 1, with eight seconds remaining, Bo Nix found Marvin Mims for a 25-yard touchdown to send the game to overtime. Both teams punted with their first overtime possession, but Burrow put his team in field-goal range on his second possession. Cade York stepped up from 33-yards out but hit the upright, keeping the game level at 24-24.
A tie would have sent the Broncos to the playoffs so at this point, with under three minutes remaining, a first down would give Denver a playoff berth. But the Bengals defence stepped up when it mattered most, forcing a punt. This time Cincinnati didn’t take the ball out of their best player’s hands, and after a great drive, Burrow found Tee Higgins in the endzone from three yards out to secure the win and keep the Bengals’ season alive.
On Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts had their season ended by a New York Giants team that moved to 3-13 with their win. Losing 45-33, Indianapolis’ loss was big for the Bengals and Miami Dolphins, who are both still alive and both needed one Colts loss in the final two weeks to have a chance at the postseason. The Dolphins remain in contention thanks to their 20-3 win against the 3-13 Browns. For the Bengals to make the playoffs, they have to win and also need the Broncos and Dolphins to lose. For the Dolphins, if they win in week 18, a Denver loss is all they need to make the postseason. The Broncos just need to win to make the postseason and therefore eliminate Miami and Cincinnati. The good news for Denver is that they will likely be playing against the Chiefs’ backups in week 18.
Moving conferences and, on the final edition of Thursday Night Football for the 2024 season, the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Chicago Bears, 6-3. With their tenth straight loss, the Bears dropped to 4-12 on the season. In a scrappy win, the Seahawks won a game which meant their NFC West title hopes could be extended to week 18. But, unfortunately for Seattle, everything went against them in week 17. First of all, the Los Angeles Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals 13-9, moving them to a 10-6 record, while the Cardinals lost their fifth game in their last six to fall to 7-9. That win for the Rams was crushing for Seahawks fans. With the score at 13-9, and the ball at the five-yard line of the Rams, Kyler Murray’s throw to the endzone bounced off of Trey McBride’s helmet, leading to a game-sealing interception from Ahkello Witherspoon with under 40 seconds remaining. What the Seahawks then needed to have a chance at the division when they play the Rams in week 18, was for at least three of these teams to lose: Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers. The results did not go Seattle’s way, and the Rams clinched the NFC West title for the first time since the 2021 season.
Barkley broke the 2,000 rushing yards mark against the Cowboys
The Philadelphia Eagles also clinched their division this week. Despite missing Jalen Hurts, the Eagles beat the Dallas Cowboys 41-7 to win the NFC East. The Cowboys will have a losing record this season, as they now sit at 7-9. After their win, the Eagles are locked into the second seed heading into week 18 so will rest starters against the Giants, including Saquon Barkley, despite the fact that the Eagles running back could break the record for most rushing yards in a season. Barkley broke the 2,000 rushing yards mark against the Cowboys and is just 101 yards off of Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105.
Elsewhere in the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 48-14. For the Panthers, they are now 4-12 but this second half of the season has seen some improvements. The story of this game was Baker Mayfield throwing five touchdowns, including two to Mike Evans. Tampa Bay moved to 9-7 with this win and had to wait until Sunday Night Football to see their position in the NFC South heading into week 18. The Sunday Night Football matchup the Buccaneers were waiting for was the Washington Commanders hosting the Atlanta Falcons.
In that game, Atlanta’s rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. found Kyle Pitts for a late touchdown on 4th down and, after a successful extra point, the game was tied at 24-24. Fellow rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, had a great game as he threw two touchdowns and ran for over 127 yards, but after Atlanta’s late score, Daniels’ offense only managed three plays and punted back to the Falcons offense. A pass interference call put the Falcons in field-goal range in the dying seconds and, with a chance to send his team back to the top of the NFC South, Riley Patterson’s kick from 56-yards out fell short of the posts, sending the game to overtime.
The Commanders won the toss, received the ball, and Daniels led his team down the field, finding Zach Ertz for a game-winning touchdown. Washington clinched a playoff berth with the win and their victory also means the 8-8 Falcons are trailing the 9-7 Buccaneers in the NFC South heading into week 18. If the Buccaneers win their final game, they will win the division and host a home playoff game.
The most anticipated game in week 17 was the Minnesota Vikings hosting the Green Bay Packers. It looked as if the Vikings were going to cruise to a win against a strong, now 11-5, Green Bay team. Cam Akers caught Sam Darnold’s third touchdown pass of the game to give the hosts a 27-10 lead late in the 3rd quarter. But Minnesota’s next two possessions ended with a missed field goal, and a punt, with the Packers scoring a touchdown on each of the following drives. That brought the game back to 27-25 as, similarly to the matchup between these teams earlier this season, the Packers had a late comeback to make the game close. But the Vikings had a chance to end the game with one first down on their next possession and a floated pass to Cam Akers on 3rd and 2 did exactly that. The game ended 27-25 as Green Bay dropped to 11-5, meaning they will be either the sixth or seventh seed. A win for the Packers would have given them a shot at the fifth seed. Meanwhile, the Vikings are now 14-2, a record which is tied for the second best in the whole NFL. However, they still could end up as the fifth seed as the Detroit Lions, who are also in the NFC North, hold a 14-2 record as well.
Detroit’s defence is still a concern for some
The Lions got their fourteenth win of the season on Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers. Strangely, Detroit could have rested their starters in this game because no matter what the result was against San Francisco, a win in week 18 against the Vikings would give the Lions the first seed, and a loss would leave them as the fifth seed. But Dan Campbell played his best team, and the Lions won 40-34 against the team that beat them in the NFC Championship last season. The 49ers dropped to 6-10 after this loss as they look to get this disappointing season over and done with. Detroit’s defence is still a concern for some, with the playoffs right around the corner. They gave up 34 points to an offense that has struggled at times this year. Kerby Joseph did have two interceptions, taking his total up to nine for the season, but the injuries to this unit over the season have clearly taken a toll. Detroit’s offense, however, still looks as explosive as ever.
The Minnesota Vikings will travel to Detroit for one of the biggest regular season games in NFL history
In week 18 the Minnesota Vikings will travel to Detroit for one of the biggest regular season games in NFL history. There has never been a regular season game between two teams with 13 or more wins. This game is between two 14-win teams. In what will be the final game of the 2024 NFL regular season, the winner will be 15-2 and the NFC’s number one seed, while the loser will finish 14-3 and end up as the fifth seed. The winner gets a first-round bye and homefield advantage, while the loser will likely have to win three games on the road if they want to make the Super Bowl.
That game headlines the final week of the NFL regular season. There are still three divisions to be decided, and one spot in the AFC playoff picture remains open. No one knows exactly what will happen in week 18 but there is guaranteed to be drama.
Tom Henigan
Featured image courtesy of Paolo Aldrighetti via Unsplash. Image use license found here (Unsplash). No changes were made to this image.
In article image 1 courtesy of @bengals via Instagram. No changes were made to this image.?
In article image 2 courtesy of @nfl via Instagram. No changes were made to this image.?
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