The season’s final week is especially tricky to pick because some teams have locked down their playoff spots and seeds while others are either fighting to get it. But one thing I know for sure is that I went 11-5 last week to raise my year-to-date record to 157-98-1 (.615). Here’s what I think will happen in NFL Week 18.
NOTE: All games on Sunday afternoon unless otherwise noted. This column was posted originally on Tuesday, January 4.
The regular season’s final week starts with a pair of Saturday games.
Kansas City 34, Denver 17 (Saturday afternoon) – The Chiefs recently fell out of the AFC’s top seed, but it’s a given that they would want it back–along with the bye week that goes with it.
Dallas 20, Philadelphia 10 (Saturday night) – The Eagles have been one of the league’s best teams heading down the home stretch. With both of these teams having already locked up playoff spots, it’s Dallas that seems hungrier to regain its season-long edge.
Baltimore 23, Pittsburgh 17 – There’s some history here. The 2007 Ravens broke a club-record nine-game losing streak by winning the season finale at home against Pittsburgh. Three years earlier, a rookie named Roethlisberger saw his first NFL action in Baltimore, and the Ravens won that one, too. But Baltimore must protect Tyler Huntley and tackle well to have history repeat itself.
Cincinnati 27, Cleveland 15 – The Browns are completing their third hype-filled season with another underachieving campaign. The visiting Bengals will try and climb one more rung up the seed ladder. Cincinnati is younger and playing hungrier, not to mention better.
Tennessee 37, Houston 16 – The Titans have turned in puzzling performances in spots like this all season long. But they don’t have the top seed locked up yet. They will by about 4:15 Sunday afternoon.
Indianapolis 35, Jacksonville 6– For Ravens fans, this is one of the many unlikely dominoes that have to fall for Baltimore to come through on its two-percent chance to make the playoffs. The league’s history is filled with unlikely scenarios that came true, but this won’t be one of them.
Washington 19, New York Giants 13 – The NFC East bottom-feeders will square off in New Jersey as they play out the string. If the Giants had shown any life at all against the Bears last week, I’d pick them here. They didn’t, so I won’t.
Detroit 23, Green Bay 20 – As if the Packers haven’t accomplished enough, they have become that rare team that has won 13 or more in three straight seasons. They finish up against a determined group of Lions that have, at times, impressed this season. Hunch play of the week: the top-seeded Pack rest their guys and give Lion fans a good memory.
Chicago 27, Minnesota 23 – I can think of no other way for this confusing Vikings season to end–losing at home to the Bears. Minnesota had potential this year, but it came nowhere near to realizing it.
Atlanta 24, New Orleans 13 – The Falcons should be able to put just enough points on the board to put the visiting Saints out of their misery finally.
Tampa Bay 29, Carolina 11 – The “Pink Panther” movies would be a more entertaining watch than Carolina’s football team, which has to venture into the home of the defending champs.
Buffalo 16, New York Jets 7 – Buffalo was my preseason pick to win the AFC East, and it can fulfill that prophecy with a season-closing home win over a surprisingly-pesky Jets squad that very nearly knocked off Tampa Bay last week.
New England 33, Miami 9 – Just as the Dolphins rose like a shark from the water by winning seven straight games, that’s how meekly they sunk with a playoff spot on the line. The visiting Patriots don’t know the meaning of surrender.
Los Angeles Rams 30, San Francisco 20 – The Rams came through in a big way last week in Baltimore after getting outplayed for nearly the entire game. Trey Lance has some promise for the ‘Niners, but this game will display his growing pains.
Arizona 30, Seattle 26 – Arizona wraps up its regular season at home after what had to be a satisfying road win at Dallas last week. The Cardinals are in the playoffs, the Seahawks are not, yet I have a gut feeling this could be one of the week’s most entertaining games.
Las Vegas 24, Los Angeles Chargers 23 (Sunday night) – There’s a reason why this game got the final-week Sunday-night flex treatment. There is a lot of playoff-spot drama afoot. A good team is going home disappointed because it’s the Chargers that (in recent history) are more practiced in underachievement. The host Raiders will ride John Madden’s spirit to a playoff berth.
