As the NFL’s regular season nears its end, playoff teams are beginning their annual scramble to keep their players safe from all football harm while balancing that against the very real need to stay acclimated to contact and the playbook. The Ravens suffered one of the worst defeats in franchise history when, in 2019, they garnered a first-round bye week and home field advantage, only to lose dramatically to the Titans after a middling, ineffective performance by the entire offense.
So there’s that to consider.
Regardless, Week 18 may not hold much drama considering Week 17’s results. Alas for/kudos to the Bengals, who managed to stay in the playoff chase until this week despite losing QB Joe Burrow and multiple other players to injury. The Ravens will retain the top seed regardless of what happens against the Steelers Saturday. The Browns are locked firmly into the #5 seed. The Steelers have multiple playoff possibilities, but most begin with them winning Saturday.
Let the games begin.
Jets 20, Browns 37
QB Joe Flacco continued his streak of timely play against the mailing-it-in Jets despite the absence of WR Amari Cooper, who’s become a favorite target.
Key numbers:
- 19-29, 309 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT – QB Joe Flacco
- 12 carries, 64 yards, 2 catches, 57 yards, 2 rec. TDs – RB Jerome Ford
- 6 catches, 134 yards – TE David Njoku
- 16 tackles – LB Sione Takitaki
- 1 INT, 1 TD – S Ronnie Hickman
- 13 carries, 84 yards, 9 catches, 42 yards, 1 rec. TD – Jets RB Breece Hall
- 3 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD – Jets LB Jermaine Johnson
Key moment:
Flacco’s 50-yard TD pass with 1:25 remaining in the first half decisively put the game out of reach.
Dolphins 19, Ravens 56
QB Lamar Jackson may have sealed his second MVP award in five years with a perfect passer rating and five TD passes against the suddenly-struggling Dolphins.
Key numbers:
- 18-21, 321 yards, 5 TDs, 6 carries, 35 yards – QB Lamar Jackson
- 3 catches, 106 yards, 1 TD – WR Zay Flowers
- 3 carries, 48 yards, 5 catches, 64 yards, 1 rec. TD – RB Justice Hill
- 7 tackles, 2 PD, 1 INT – LB Roquan Smith
- 8 tackles, 1 PD 1 INT – S Geno Stone
- 6 catches, 76 yards – Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill
- 22-38, 237 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs – Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
Key moment:
Jackson’s second TD pass within 94 seconds and with 1:25 remaining in the first half expanded an already-daunting Ravens lead.
Steelers 30, Seahawks 23
Despite using only four receiving targets, QB Mason Rudolph continued his solid play and rehabilitation campaign against the vulnerable Seahawks, who may have played their way out of playoff contention.
Key numbers:
- 18-24, 274 yards – QB Mason Rudolph
- 27 carries, 122 yards, 2 TDs – RB Najee Harris
- 7 catches, 131 yards – WR George Pickens
- 10 tackles – S Eric Rowe
- 8 tackles – LB Myles Jack
- 23-33, 290 yards, 1 TD, 3 carries, 33 yards – Seahawks QB Geno Smith
- 5 catches, 106 yards – Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf
Key moment:
After regaining possession of the ball with 2:01 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Steelers were able to run out the clock and deny Seattle a potential game-tying (or winning) possession.
Bengals 17, Chiefs 25
The Bengals lost by a single score in one of the NFL’s toughest environments, against a suspect Chiefs team. QB Jake Browning still acquitted himself admirably and likely earned himself some money in 2024.
Key numbers:
- 19-33, 197, 1 TD, 7 carries, 32 yards, 1 rushing TD – QB Jake Browning
- 21 carries, 65 yards, 4 catches, 22 yards, 1 rec. TD – RB Joe Mixon
- 3 catches, 41 yards – WR Ja’ Marr Chase
- 3 catches, 38 yards – TE Tanner Hudson
- 21-29, 245, 1 TD, 4 carries, 2 yards – Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
- 18 carries, 130 yards – Chiefs RB Isaiah Pacheco
- 5 catches, 127 yards – Chiefs WR Rashee Rice
Key moment:
Browning missed WR Tee Higgins on 4th down with 1:07 remaining in the game. To that point, the Bengals looked poised for a comeback.
See y’all next week.
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