Author: rb809rb

AFC East: Buffalo Bills | Miami Dolphins | New England Patriots | New York Jets
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens | Cincinnati Bengals | Cleveland Browns | Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South: Houston Texans | Indianapolis Colts | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tennessee Titans
AFC West: Denver Broncos | Kansas City Chiefs | Las Vegas Raiders | Los Angeles Chargers

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys | New York Giants | Philadelphia Eagles | Washington Commanders
NFC North: Chicago Bears | Detroit Lions | Green Bay Packers | Minnesota Vikings
NFC South: Atlanta Falcons | Carolina Panthers | New Orleans Saints | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals | Los Angeles Rams | San Francisco 49ers | Seattle Seahawks

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Kyle Shanahan has been the best head coach in the NFL. Strangely, that doesn’t often translate to NFL Coach of the Year.

Shanahan is having a remarkable season. He has navigated injuries to Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Trent Williams, Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to put his team one win away from the No. 1 seed in the NFC. When you hear people gush about the 49ers’ offense, which averaged 42.3 points and 455.3 yards while punting only twice in December, remember that Shanahan is the driver of that success. He’s the best play caller in the game right now.

Other teams have gone in the tank after injuries that were nowhere near what the 49ers have dealt with, while San Francisco is 12-4. It isn’t just the best coaching job this season, it’s the best coaching job in many seasons.

That’s not usually how Coach of the Year is decided, strangely enough. The award typically goes to a coach who exceeds preseason expectations the most — like preseason predictions are never wrong — and it often goes to a first-year coach. Shanahan might be the best coach, but based on previous history it will go to someone who was a huge improvement over what Matt Eberflus or Jerod Mayo did last season. That’s just how the award is decided most seasons, and it’s unlikely to change. That’s why Vince Lombardi and Bill Walsh each won just one NFL Coach of the Year award. That’s as many as Jason Garrett, Brian Daboll and Matt Nagy and fewer than Ron Rivera or Kevin Stefanski, who have two each.

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That shouldn’t bother Shanahan that much. He might not win NFL Coach of the Year, but he’ll just have to settle for being the NFL’s best coach — by a significant margin — this season.

The Raiders have embarrassed themselves as a franchise over the past week, with the injured reserve shenanigans surrounding Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby, then getting blown out by the Giants at home. Perhaps the ends justify the means, because they’re on their way to the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. But we learned a lot about the Raiders over the last week, and it wasn’t pretty.

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The Jets have lost six of seven, and the losses have been by 13, 13, 24, 28, 23 and 32 points. Their -107 point differential in December is the worst in NFL history. Aaron Glenn wasn’t dealt a great hand in his first year as a head coach. The trades before the deadline obviously made the Jets weaker. Quarterback injuries really set the Jets back. But seeing them get blown out every week as the season nears its end has to bring up questions over whether Glenn was the right hire. He backtracked Monday on criticism he made of his team’s effort in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Patriots. Teams like the Dolphins, Saints, Giants and Titans had rough seasons but have all competed late in the year, at least in spurts. The Jets are showing absolutely nothing.

Cam Ward’s passer rating before the Titans’ Week 10 bye was 72.1. Since the bye it is 89.2. He had five touchdowns and six interceptions before the bye, and 10 touchdowns and one interception since. There is real progress happening for the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Titans are still a bad team with a poor supporting cast around Ward, but seeing Ward making strides is huge, especially with a crucial coaching search upcoming.

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The Michael Wilson phenomenon is strange. When Marvin Harrison Jr. missed games due to injury, Wilson took off. Despite having just 52 yards through five weeks, Wilson needs only 93 yards in the finale to reach 1,000 for the season. It’s a nice third-year breakout for Wilson. It also leads to questions about Harrison. He has two 100-yard games in his career, with none this season, while Wilson in the same offense has three in the past seven weeks and is averaging 96.6 yards per game. That might reflect well on Wilson, but it’s hard to not compare it to Harrison’s quiet first two seasons and wonder why Harrison hasn’t reached those marks.

For all the Giants fans who are upset the team might have blown its shot at the first overall pick by beating the Raiders on Sunday, there is value in winning, especially for a young team. The Giants should feel better about themselves than the Raiders and whatever they’re trying to accomplish. If the Giants were desperate for a quarterback maybe Sunday’s win would be worse, but they’re not. Just enjoy the win. The draft will work itself out later; the Giants will still get a very good player.

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Against the Cowboys, 2025 seventh-round draft pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns, and 2024 second-round pick Johnny Newton had three sacks. It came in yet another loss, but those are the breakout games the Commanders need to get late in the season. They have a surprisingly old roster and remaking it in the offseason won’t be easy. Having any young players to rely on for 2026 helps that process.

Cleveland hasn’t had a great season, but a win over the Steelers to keep their rival from clinching the AFC North title is a great highlight. Its defense came up big, keeping Pittsburgh out of the end zone. There are some pieces to start building around, including a strong 2025 rookie class. The only remaining business for the finale is getting Myles Garrett one more sack. He is a half-sack short of the NFL single-season record after getting just a half of a sack over Cleveland’s past two games.

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The Chiefs played hard and nearly beat the Broncos. It’s tough when your third-string quarterback gets just 66 yards in his first career start. The funniest thing in Week 18 might be the Chiefs playing so poorly again that the Raiders somehow beat them, screwing up Las Vegas’ plan to get the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and some hope at quarterback. It’s possible. The Chiefs won’t generate a lot of offense and they just need the season to finish. And they probably don’t want the Raiders getting their preferred quarterback. The only motivation to win might be to send Travis Kelce out the right way, if Sunday is in fact his final NFL game before he retires.

The Saints seem to have gotten it right with the second-round pick of Tyler Shough. He deserves the late Offensive Rookie of the Year buzz he has been getting. New Orleans’ 5-3 record in his starts will carry the Saints into the offseason and provide hope that they can compete for a division title in the terrible NFC South in 2026. It has been a positive second half of the season in New Orleans, which is why the Saints could be even higher in these rankings.

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The Colts have injury excuses for their 1-7 slide after a 7-1 start. But Jonathan Taylor had an honest assessment after another hard-fought loss. “Obviously, when you lose five, six in a row, you start looking like, ‘Hey, OK, we have to be better.’ Good teams don’t lose five, six in a row,” Taylor said. “And then you look, you’re fighting, you’re fighting, and like I said, it’s hard to win in this league. It’s a small margin of error.”

Performances by the Falcons like Monday night, or back when they blew out the Bills, have to frustrate Atlanta fans. Why does a team with that upside from game to game have a record under .500? One thing is certain: Bijan Robinson is one of the NFL’s most electrifying players. He had 229 total yards Monday night, likely leading more than a few fantasy football teams to championships.

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The Buccaneers might decide to keep head coach Todd Bowles. To suggest it’s unwarranted to put him on the hot seat is weird. The Bucs have lost seven of eight. If they blow the NFC South by losing again Saturday against the Panthers, it’s a 1-8 finish and would put Bowles’ record with the Bucs at 35-36, including playoffs. That putrid finish happened when the team got healthier, too. If the Bucs lose and Bowles returns, it should be controversial rather than expected.

The tide could have turned on Mike McDaniel after two uncompetitive double-digit losses in Week 15 and 16. The Buccaneers aren’t good right now, but a win over them Sunday helps keep the positive vibes going for the second half of the Dolphins’ season. They’re 6-3 after a 1-6 start. It will be a rough offseason dealing with the Tua Tagovailoa situation, and it’s possible 2026 looks like a total rebuild, but McDaniel has probably done enough to make it another season.

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Lost in the Bengals’ disappointing season is that Chase Brown rebounded very well from a rough start. Cincinnati’s running back didn’t have more than 71 yards from scrimmage in any of the Bengals’ first six games. Since then he has had 100 or more eight times in 10 games, including a season-best 141 on Sunday. The Bengals’ core of skill-position players will be as strong as ever going into 2026. It’s everything else that needs work.

Dallas finishing 8-8-1 with a win over the Giants in the finale would be fitting. They’re not good, they’re not bad, they have few good wins (Philly being an exception) and not a lot of bad losses (the Cardinals loss was the only awful one). They’re the epitome of mediocrity, and being the only team to finish .500 this season — no other team can unless there’s a Week 18 tie — might be the most appropriate way for the season to end.

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Can the Lions bounce back in 2026? Their advanced metrics don’t reflect the actual disappointment of Detroit’s season. The Lions are third in DVOA behind the Seahawks and Rams. They’re 10th in offensive EPA and 13th in defensive EPA, which is respectable. Their point differential of +65 doesn’t fit a .500 team. It will be easy for everyone to talk themselves into Detroit being a team that rebounds and makes the playoffs next season.

Last season, the Colts won eight games despite a team passer rating of 75.8, which was 31st in the NFL. They got better quarterback play in 2025 and were 7-1 before a losing streak and injuries derailed them. The Vikings are 8-8 despite a team passer rating of 74.3, which ranks 31st in the NFL. The Vikings are clearly good enough to be a playoff team in 2026 with decent quarterback play. The question will be how to get that upgrade at QB, whether it’s from J.J. McCarthy or elsewhere.

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The Ravens probably don’t deserve to jump up this much after one impressive win, which was by far their best game of an otherwise disappointing season. But they are somehow .500 with a chance to capture the AFC North, thanks to the Browns upsetting the Steelers on Sunday. And you can at least tell yourself a story that the Ravens could get hot in a wide-open AFC playoffs. Or they could end a poor season with a depressing loss to a beatable Steelers team. It’s amazing to think of how the offseason might change based on the results of Sunday night’s game.

It’s not like the Panthers could have been expected to beat the Seahawks, even at home, but losing as the Buccaneers were being upset by the Dolphins was disappointing. Still, the Panthers get one game against a Bucs team that is struggling badly to win the NFC South. Before the season started, they would have been ecstatic with that scenario. They’ll need much better play from Bryce Young, who had just 54 yards Sunday, but the Buccaneers’ defense is nowhere near as good as Seattle.

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DK Metcalf getting himself suspended should get plenty of blame for the Steelers losing Sunday. They needed him, especially in a goal-to-go situation in the final minute. But the Steelers should score more than 6 points without Metcalf. Now they have to beat a rejuvenated Ravens team in the finale, or the season (and probably Aaron Rodgers’ career) is over. And if that happens, expect another round of speculation over Mike Tomlin’s future.

It’s not like the teams behind the Packers in these power rankings deserve to be above Green Bay, but the Packers don’t feel like a top-12 team anymore. Their defense without Micah Parsons got exposed against the Ravens, allowing Derrick Henry to rush for 216 yards and four touchdowns. Had the Packers still had Parsons and maybe another injured player or two like Tucker Kraft, they’d be a popular pick to make a run in a wide-open NFC. As is, it might be a decent outcome if the Packers aren’t one-and-done in the playoffs.

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This is nothing new, but the Chargers are going to have a tough time beating teams in the playoffs that rush the passer well. The Texans, Broncos and Steelers are all in the NFL’s top six in sacks, so those would be treacherous matchups. The Texans sacked Justin Herbert five times in their win over the Chargers on Saturday. It’s tough because the Chargers have a great head coach, great quarterback, top-10 defense and great talent around Herbert. But the injured offensive line is likely the fatal flaw.

Sean McDermott had a common reason for going for the 2-point conversion and the win in the final few seconds against the Eagles: “Wanted to be aggressive, going for the win.” McDermott wouldn’t say this part, but perhaps the Bills’ playoff situation factored in. The Bills had little chance of winning the AFC East at that point. Did he want to put his team through an overtime in the cold and rain Sunday without much potential payoff, or try to end the game on one play? Even if that didn’t go through his mind, it’s a perfectly reasonable decision and a fine outcome.

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In the second half at Buffalo, the Eagles did not complete a pass and had just 16 yards. Maybe Philly shouldn’t move down three spots after a win at Buffalo, but the problems with its offense aren’t going away. The Eagles might be getting worse. Their defense was fantastic, keeping Buffalo off the scoreboard for the Bills’ first eight drives (not counting kneeldowns) but it’s hard to go on a playoff run when you can’t crack 20 yards of offense in a half of football.

The Texans can’t win the AFC South unless the Titans beat the Jaguars on Sunday, but a Week 18 win is still valuable. The Texans get the No. 5 seed with a win and get to face the Ravens or Steelers on wild-card weekend, and either of those teams will easily be the weakest of the four division winners. Houston understands this dynamic, and you’ll see it treat Sunday against Indianapolis like a must-win game.

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The Bears’ offense was great Sunday night, and even though Chicago lost and was eliminated from contention for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, it was a positive outing. The defense had its issues, but Caleb Williams continues to come into his own. He has already proven he can produce in pressure-filled moments. The Bears lost to the 49ers but can feel even better about their chances of putting up points in the playoffs.

The Jaguars weren’t just going to walk to an AFC South title, and they were in trouble when the Colts took a 17-14 lead in the third quarter. But this Jaguars team is ascending for a reason. The defense pitched a fourth-quarter shutout and the Jags came back to win. Now all they need is a home win over the Titans in Week 18 to go 13-4 and clinch a division title. What a first season for head coach Liam Coen. And there’s no reason the Jaguars can’t make a deep playoff run. They’re playing as well as anyone.

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For many weeks, it has been hard to reconcile a team with a defense as bad as the 49ers (26th in DVOA) being a top-five team. San Francisco gave 440 yards and 38 points at home Sunday night. But the Niners scored enough to win, as they’ve done many times this season. Their offense is the hottest in the NFL right now. If they beat Seattle on Saturday night and get the No. 1 seed, that offense will be two home wins from a Super Bowl, which would also be in Santa Clara. Maybe, in an NFL season with so many flawed contenders, the 49ers can pull this off.

Apparently, chasing the NFC’s No. 5 seed didn’t provide a lot of motivation for the Rams as they lost to the Falcons. Matthew Stafford likely lost his shot at his first NFL MVP award with three costly interceptions, which is a bummer for such a great player. The Rams are still good. But everything since the Seahawks started their comeback in Week 16 is alarming.

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Drake Maye was already having an MVP-level season. Then in the last two weeks he has gotten better, at least statistically. He threw for a career-best 380 yards in a comeback win over the Ravens and a career-best five touchdowns Sunday against a moribund Jets team. He had never thrown for more than 294 yards or three touchdowns in a game before two weeks ago. The great coach/quarterback combination can go a long way in the playoffs, and the Patriots have that.

It’s hard to keep the Broncos at No. 3 after the past two weeks. They lost decisively to the Jaguars in Week 16 and barely won as a big favorite over an injured Chiefs team on Christmas. But the body of work is good. If they beat a Chargers team that is resting Justin Herbert in Week 18, they’ll be 14-3 and the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They’re not unbeatable, but nobody in the AFC or behind them in these rankings is this season. It’s still a very good and often disrespected Super Bowl contender.

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Last season, Sam Darnold’s Vikings went 14-2, but lost in Week 15 and had to settle for the No. 5 seed and a road playoff game, which they lost. It’s wild that in an NFL that could see an 8-9 NFC South champ host a playoff game and that Darnold’s 13-3 Seahawks have to win at the 49ers to avoid a road game in the wild-card round. On the bright side, Seattle isn’t waiting on help from anyone else. With a win the Seahawks are the No. 1 seed, and that’s all they could have asked for at the beginning of the season. The Seahawks’ defense against a red-hot 49ers offense is a phenomenal matchup for Saturday night.

Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast

With the end of the 2025 fantasy season, Matt Harmon and Justin Boone host a special BONUS pod and give out awards for the 2025 fantasy season. Harmon and Boone also recap the MNF game between the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams.

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(4:00) – Monday Night Football Recap: Falcons 27, Rams 24

(37:00) – Fantasy Rookie of the Year

(1:05:40) – Worst Pick of the Year

(1:10:10) – Best Pick of the Year

(1:18:30) – Fantasy Playoff Hero

(1:20:00)- Biggest Fantasy Regret of the Year

(1:26:10) – Victory Lap of the Year

(1:29:30) – 2025 Fantasy MVP

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

Tiger Woods turns 50 today, which means we’ve spent nearly half a century observing him grow from a chubby-cheeked club-toting tot into arguably the greatest golfer the planet has ever seen. We’ve seen Tiger as a wide-eyed young star, a steel-spined assassin, a family man, a single father brought low by his own indiscretions, a resurgent champion, and a legend easing into the elder-statesman phase of his career.

Woods has completed the career Grand Slam three times, and he’s completed at least that many hero’s journeys, facing down adversity, plunging into darkness, resurfacing into the light. He’s been role model and villain, inspiration and fraud, icon and cautionary tale. He’s cycled through the full spectrum of the American celebrity-industrial complex, the star of both soft-focus puff pieces and ugly candid tabloid scandals.

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Given all that he’s endured — and inflicted upon himself — it’s no small feat that he’s survived to 50 with both his dignity and his professional standing intact. He inspired every single one of today’s players, and he now stands as one of the key forces guiding golf forward into its coming decades.

What’s most fascinating about Woods, though, is not the fact that he means so many things to so many people — it’s that he means so many different things to so many people.

Woods was that rarest of creatures, a child prodigy who carried through on every bit of his early talent. You’ve surely seen the video of him on the old Mike Douglas show in 1978, but it’s nonetheless remarkable watching Woods — still a massively relevant public figure in 2026 — sharing a stage with Jimmy Stewart, whose signature role in “It’s a Wonderful Life” was 80 years ago:

When Woods won the Masters in 1997, he vaulted from obscurity to worldwide celebrity in the space of a single Sunday. And he instantly became a symbol for everything from a new coarseness in golf — before Woods, pointing and fist-pumping in exultation wasn’t a thing — to an insurgent breaker of racial boundaries.

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Woods himself endorsed these roles with various levels of enthusiasm. He was happy to embrace a stance of combative dominance, for example, but showed little interest in being a spokesman for race-related interests. He preferred to let his clubs do the talking for him, and for a decade, they sang, winning 14 majors from 1997 to 2008.

Arnold Palmer brought golf to the masses. Woods brought it to the youth. A few of those kids who had Tiger Woods posters up in their bedrooms would grow up to win Masters tournaments and U.S. Opens. As the McIlroys and Koepkas and Spieths of the world began claiming tournaments, and as a range of personal and health-related troubles kept Woods buried in the field, we always wondered how golf’s new generation would stand up to prime Woods.

In 2019, at long last, we found out. Woods claimed his 15th major, and first in 11 years, at Augusta in a performance that still seems unbelievable nearly seven years later. He won by outplaying and outsmarting and outlasting players two decades younger than him, charging from behind on a memorable Sunday in the very best kind of flashback. That was another Woods to admire, the gunslinger coming back for one last duel to remind the youngsters how the greats once did it.

Woods has let his demons and appetites take a few rounds off him, too. The revelation of his infidelity in 2009 forever stained his pristine image, and more than a few fans have never forgiven him for his transgressions. His later run-ins with law enforcement would barely draw interest if they’d happened within an SEC program or an NFL team, but in the genteel world of golf, they made top-of-the-scroll news. His catastrophic 2021 single-car wreck remains a public mystery, even though it cost Woods many more majors’ worth of rehab.

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But within those wounds, surgeries, ailments and recoveries is perhaps the most impressive Woods — the never-give-up, never-give-in, never-surrender Tiger. Most elite athletes — and all normal humans — would’ve probably retired from competition after one back surgery. Tiger has had six (and counting…), along with a full range of neck, ankle, shoulder and tendon rehabs. And every single time, at every single post-injury press conference, he vows to return to the golf course eventually, one way or another. Maybe it’s delusion, maybe it’s superhuman determination, but either way, he just keeps coming back.

One of his motivators in recent years: the opportunity to play golf alongside son Charlie. Their father-son partnership has unlocked a new version of Woods: the doting father. Maybe Charlie Woods will reach the PGA Tour one day; maybe he’ll top out at the high school level. Either way, Tiger will be there beside him, watching and teaching.

Woods’ loving, prideful comments about his relationship with Charlie are about as close as he ever gets to being introspective about himself and his role in the game. He tends to handle such probing questions the way he used to handle challengers at Augusta or Pebble Beach or St. Andrews: by putting massive distance between themselves and him.

The funny thing is, Woods’ personal reticence is as out of step with the current golf world as pleated pants and persimmon woods. Scottie Scheffler has opened up about the hollowness at the heart of chasing trophies. Keegan Bradley has been forthright about how, like some hero of Greek myth, the object of his adoration — the Ryder Cup trophy — has broken him. Rory McIlroy has laid his whole heart out on the press conference podiums around the world.

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But Tiger? Nah. Leave that touchy-feely stuff for the kids. Woods remains steadfast in his pursuit to be the best, and you can’t win races if you’re spending too much time looking under the hood.

These days, Woods’ clubs can’t talk for him any more, so his reputation does. He’s now one of the prime movers behind the scenes on the PGA Tour, shaping the game’s future against challenges ranging from LIV Golf to declining attention spans. His shadow looms large over the last 30 years of golf, and love him or hate him, he’s clearly determined to make sure he shapes the next 30, too.

Happy birthday, Tiger. Following you has been a hell of a ride, and it’s nowhere near over.

In the past, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay has prioritized rest as his team prepared for the playoffs. With the Rams in excellent position heading into Week 18 last season, Matthew Stafford and various other Rams starters were held out of action to prepare for the postseason.

But McVay is changing things up this year. Despite the Rams being out of contention for the NFC West title, McVay said the Rams’ starters will play against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18, per ESPN.

“Oh, we’re playing,” McVay said Monday night after the Rams’ 27-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. “Yeah, they’re playing.”

McVay did not elaborate on why he was treating the final week of the regular season differently this time around. When asked whether it’s because the Rams have lost in back-to-back weeks, McVay said the plan was always to play his starters in Week 18, adding, “We need to play better football.”

“No, they were going to play anyways,” McVay said. “We need to play. We need to play better football. So I don’t know what the consequences are in those different types of things, but we got to play better.”

Following a tight overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16, the Rams lost a sloppy game to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday. Stafford — who came into the contest as the MVP favorite — struggled mightily in the outing, tossing three interceptions in the 27-24 loss.

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The only thing on the line for the Rams in Week 18 is playoff seeding. Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Rams are currently the No. 6 seed in the NFC. With the division no longer in play, the highest the team can move up is to the No. 5 seed. While that’s better, it doesn’t drastically improve their chances of hosting a playoff game ahead of the Super Bowl. If the Rams are going to win another championship, they’ll have to win multiple games on the road either way.

Last year wasn’t the only time McVay opted to rest his starters ahead of the playoffs. The coach also used the method during the 2017 season, when Sean Mannion started over Jared Goff in Week 17. The move backfired, as the Rams lost to the Atlanta Falcons in the wild-card round the following week.

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Though the Rams are in a similar spot this time around, McVay will let his starters play in Week 18. It’s unclear how much, if at all, Stafford’s race for the MVP played a role in the coach’s decision. Following his poor performance in Week 17, Stafford needs a big game in Week 18 to reassert himself as the MVP favorite.

While McVay possibly took that into consideration, it’s more likely he truly believes his team needs more work ahead of the playoffs. The Rams have, at times this season, looked like the best the NFL has to offer. After two down weeks, McVay likely wants to give the team one more opportunity to return to form before the postseason begins.

The Los Angeles Rams had just 21 seconds to work with to pull off an improbable comeback Monday night, or even to kick a field goal and force overtime at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

But after two near deep completions, and a third that probably should have drawn a pass interference penalty, the Atlanta Falcons escaped with a 27-24 win over the Rams on Monday.

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The Falcons, who held a 21-0 lead earlier in the night, took the lead with just 21 seconds left in the game after Zane Gonzales drilled a 51-yard field goal. That gave Matthew Stafford 21 seconds to try and either extend or win the game.

Remarkably, he almost pulled that off three times.

On first down, Stafford missed a completely wide open Xavier Smith. Nobody was around Smith on first down, and he had a clear path to the end zone. At worst, Smith could have ducked out of bounds to set up an easy field goal.

Stafford’s throw on second down was easily the most controversial. He launched one deep for Tutu Atwell up the left side of the field, but the pass was broken up by defensive back Dee Alford.

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A closer look at the play showed that Alford was clearly holding Atwell’s arm as he tried to make the grab. Both ESPN announcer Joe Buck and rules analyst Russell Yurk thought that should have been a pass interference penalty.

Had that been called, the Rams would have gotten the ball inside the Falcons’ 15-yard line.

Then came third down, where Puka Nacua nearly pulled off what easily would have been the catch of the year across the league.

Stafford threw one up to Nacua deep up the right side, but Nacua had to jump and try to haul it in before going out of bounds. Somehow, Nacua appeared to make a one-handed grab and get both of his feet down in time to pull that off. But after a closer look, it was clear Nacua bobbled the ball on his way down to the ground.

By then, the Rams were just about out of time. They failed to find the end zone on fourth down, too, which sealed the Falcons’ three-point win.

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Stafford went 22-of-38 passing for 269 yards with two touchdowns in the loss for the Rams. He threw three interceptions, too, including one that was run back for a touchdown in the second quarter. Kyren Williams had 92 yards on 13 carries, and Smith had 67 yards on four catches.

The Rams have clinched a playoff spot, but are likely looking at the No. 6 seed in the NFC after the loss. They need to defeat the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18 and have the Seattle Seahawks defeat the San Francisco 49ers to get up to the No. 5 seed.

Kirk Cousins went 13-of-20 passing for 126 yards and a touchdown in the win for the Falcons, who have already been eliminated from playoff contention. Bijan Robinson picked up 195 yards and a score on 22 carries. The Falcons have won three straight and have a chance to hand the NFC South title to the Carolina Panthers via a three-way tiebreaker if they can beat the New Orleans Saints next weekend.

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While it’s not fair to blame the loss for the Rams on that final drive — they entered the locker room at halftime down by three touchdowns, after all — being that close to pulling off a win like that doesn’t make it any easier.

Chip Kelly is heading back to the Big Ten.

The former Oregon head coach was named Northwestern’s new offensive coordinator on Tuesday morning. Kelly was Ohio State’s offensive coordinator in 2024 as the Buckeyes won the national championship but left OSU after one season to become the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders.

“His innovative approach to offense using systems that focus on varying tempo, efficiency and smart decision-making, his track record of developing quarterbacks, and his ability to maximize talent are exactly what our program needs at this moment,” Northwestern coach David Braun said in a statement. “I am extremely grateful for the ongoing partnership of our university, [athletic director] Mark Jackson and passionate supporters to make this addition happen. Make no mistake: this is a program-defining change and is reflective of our long-term commitment to the pursuit of championships.”

Kelly’s second stint in the NFL did not go well. Kelly lasted just 12 games as the Raiders’ play-caller before he was fired. Las Vegas has one of the worst offenses in the league in 2025 — things haven’t gotten much better since Kelly left — and the 2-14 Raiders are in prime position for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after losing to the New York Giants in Week 17.

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In 2024, Ohio State averaged 6.9 yards per play and scored nearly 36 points per game as the Buckeyes ran roughshod through the College Football Playoff. Ohio State scored 34 or more points in three of its four playoff games; its lowest-scoring game of the postseason was a 28-14 win over Texas.

Kelly came to Columbus to call plays for Ryan Day’s team from Los Angeles. After six seasons as UCLA’s head coach, Kelly left to become an assistant coach for the first time since 2008 when he was Oregon’s offensive coordinator. He rose to become Oregon’s head coach in 2009, spending four seasons in that role before becoming the Philadelphia Eagles head coach for three seasons and then the San Francisco 49ers for a season.

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Northwestern’s offense is in need of a boost. The Wildcats finished the season 7-6 with a 34-7 win over Central Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl on Dec. 6. That was just the third time all season the team had scored more than 22 points against an FBS opponent.

The Wildcats finished the season 98th in the country with 23.4 points per game and averaged 5.4 yards per play. QB Preston Stone threw for just 2,400 yards over 13 games and completed 60% of his passes.

Pro Football Hall of Fame voters won’t have it easy this year. The NFL unveiled the 2026 Hall of Fame finalists Tuesday, and some major names are among the 15 players still up for induction.

Those names include first-timers like Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald, and long-time candidates such as Torry Holt and Eli Manning.

Two other first-time candidates, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten and San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore, also remained on the ballot as it was whittled down from 26 players.

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Others include: Willie Anderson, Jahri Evans, Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs, Adam Vinatieri, Reggie Wayne, Kevin Williams, Darren Woodson and Marshal Yanda.

Notably, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers was removed from the list of semifinalists after the 44-year-old came out of retirement to join the Colts in December. Rivers was no longer eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame once he joined the Colts’ active roster. He’ll need to wait five more years before he’s eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame again.

While the 15 players revealed by the league Tuesday are called “finalists,” the list will get pared down even more as the Super Bowl approaches. Next, voters will shorten the list to just 10 players. Eventually, it will drop to seven, and those are the players who could actually make it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.

Once the final seven players are determined, those players need 80 percent of the vote to get into the Hall of Fame, though there are some weird quirks to the league’s voting rules, per the Hall of Fame’s website.

“Those who receive at least 80% favorable votes will be elected, with a maximum of five and no fewer than three. (Should fewer than three Finalists receive 80% favorable voting, the Finalist(s) closest to that figure would be elected.)”

Given the amount of talent still in consideration, some legendary players are sure to be left waiting at least one more season before they are inducted into the Hall of Fame. There’s a case to be made that all 15 of the finalists should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Whittling down the list to just seven of them will be a difficult task for the voters.

The NFL got a bit lucky in Week 17. There was a scenario in which the league wasn’t going to have enough good matchups in Week 18 to fill the key broadcast slots for the final week. It was possible there was very little intrigue at all with the playoff picture.

Instead, there are three huge divisional games on tap.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Carolina Panthers game isn’t a winner-take-all showdown (the Bucs need a win on Saturday and a Saints victory over the Falcons on Sunday), but the Seahawks-49ers and Ravens-Steelers games will determine the division champs. Not bad.

Here are the top betting storylines going into Week 18 of the NFL season, with all odds from BetMGM:

Bucs favored despite slump

How weird is the NFC South? The Buccaneers have lost seven of eight games and are still favored to beat the team in first place of the division. Tampa Bay is a 2.5-point favorite over the Panthers.

The Panthers come to Tampa Bay on Saturday knowing that if they win, they take the NFC South title. The Buccaneers aren’t as lucky. Due to the Falcons’ upset win over the Rams Monday night as a 7.5-point underdog, the Buccaneers need a win on Saturday against the Panthers and also a Falcons loss to the Saints on Sunday to win the division. The Falcons are an early 3-point favorite in that game.

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Seahawks start as road favorites

The San Francisco 49ers are an offensive juggernaut with a questionable defense. The defense is a reason they’re not favored in a massive NFC West game on Saturday night.

The Seahawks and 49ers meet with the NFC West title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line, and Seattle is favored. The Seahawks are -1.5. It’s a fantastic matchup that will shape the entire playoff picture.

Ravens getting plenty of respect

The Ravens have been mediocre over the season but oddsmakers have still treated Baltimore like one of the NFL’s best teams. Even though the Steelers beat the Ravens in Week 14 and the rematch on Sunday night is in Pittsburgh, the Ravens are favored by more than a field goal. Baltimore is a 3.5-point road favorite over the Steelers with the AFC North title on the line.

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There has been no word if Lamar Jackson will play after missing Week 17 with a back injury, or how healthy he will be. His status could change the line, though it seems from the line like oddsmakers anticipate him playing.

Other lines that matter

There are other games that have some playoff implications in Week 18. Many aren’t that interesting though.

The Jaguars can clinch the AFC South title with a win over the Titans, and they’re 13-point favorites. The Texans have a shot at the AFC South title if the Jaguars lose, or the No. 5 seed (and a matchup against the AFC North champ in wild-card weekend) with a win, and they’re 10.5-point favorites against the Colts.

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The Broncos will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win, and when the Chargers said that Justin Herbert would be resting, the line went from Broncos -7..5 to -12.5. The Patriots have to play to win, with a chance at the No. 1 seed if the Broncos win, and they’re 12-point favorites against the Dolphins.

There is some intrigue left, but not a lot of great matchups in Week 18. At least there are three intriguing games.

Matthew Stafford falls back in MVP race

BetMGM keeps the NFL MVP odds up during games, and they were moving during Monday night’s Rams loss.

Matthew Stafford went from a small favorite to win MVP to start Week 17 to a big underdog by the time the Rams had lost to the Falcons. The line kept moving toward Maye as the Rams fell behind and Stafford threw three interceptions. When the game was done, Maye moved to a -750 favorite to win the award with Stafford at +450. That moved back to Maye at -500 on Tuesday morning, with Stafford coming back to +325. It’s a two-man race according to the odds, as everyone else is 250-to-1 or longer.

For many of us, the fantasy football season ended in Week 17 with being the championship round. But there are small percentage of leagues that trickle into Week 18 despite the potential for players to rest before the NFL playoffs. If you’re among the managers in one of those leagues, you may be in need of some waiver wire advice. Let’s help you sort through the options with some top adds at each position.

As a general reminder, it’s not clear which teams will be resting players or rolling with starters in Week 18 as of this writing. That is the most important factor of the week — be sure to monitor the news and injury reports to see who is active and inactive, adjusting your lineup and waiver strategy accordingly.

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Quarterbacks

Tyler Shough, Saints (21% rostered)

Shough has been one of the better stories of the second half of the season and should give Saints fans and prospective fantasy managers plenty of hope for the future. Over the past four weeks, Shough has been a top-10 QB in fantasy scoring and is coming off 333 passing yards and two TDs (21.92 fantasy points) in Week 17 versus the Titans.

The Saints play the Falcons in Week 18, giving Shough the chance to finish the season on a high note and continue to prove to the franchise he should start at QB in 2026. If you’re in need of a streaming option at QB for whatever reason in Week 18, Shough is likely the best option available.

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Note: As stated, keep in mind teams resting starters. We could see a quality backup in a good offense emerge.

Other Options: Aaron Rodgers, PIT (29%), Shedeur Sanders, CLE (12%)

Running Backs

Malik Davis, Cowboys (2% rostered)

The Cowboys lost starting RB Javonte Williams to a shoulder injury in the second quarter in Week 17 versus the Commanders. His status for the season finale versus the Giants will likely be up in the air. Replacing Williams was Davis, who finished with 103 yards on 20 carries against Washington. If Williams ends up sitting, Davis should get the majority of the touches out of the backfield and would be a decent RB3/flex option. The Giants are one of the best matchups for RBs in fantasy this season.

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Devin Singletary, Giants (24% rostered)

If you want to attack the Giants-Cowboys game from the New York side, you can snag Singletary, who should be available in most shallow leagues. He’s been splitting work with Tyrone Tracy Jr. but has been the goal-line back. Jaxson Dart is a threat to steal TDs but the Giants also want to protect their young QB. Singletary has double-digit touches in back-to-back games and the Cowboys were just gashed for 138 yards and two scores on just 16 carries by the Commanders in Week 17.

Other Options: Blake Corum (47%), Audric Estimé, NO (11%), Dylan Sampson, CLE (29%)

Wide Receivers

Parker Washington, Jaguars (37% rostered)

You may have been worried about adding/playing Washington given how many receivers the Jaguars like to use. But he’s had 10 targets in back-to-back weeks and is the clear No. 2 receiving option behind Jakobi Meyers. Washington finished Week 17 versus the Colts with eight catches for 115 yards. Jacksonville’s passing game can clearly sustain multiple receivers at this point and the Jaguars will be looking to lock up the AFC South division title in Week 18 versus the Titans, which is a fantastic matchup.

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Luther Burden III, Bears (23% rostered)

The Bears and Niners gave us a classic on MNF in Week 17 with a combined 80 points. Burden took advantage of injuries to Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus by hauling in eight of nine targets for 138 yards and a touchdown. The Bears can no longer get the No. 1 seed in the NFC, so there’s a chance they rest some players in Week 18 against the Lions. But if Burden is active and Odunze and Zaccheaus sit again, he’ll be in another great game environment. Keep an eye on the injury report, specifically Burden, who sustained a quad injury in the loss to San Francisco. He’s expected to be OK though.

Isaac TeSlaa, Lions (6% rostered)

The Lions are eliminated from playoff contention, so there’s no reason to rest starters versus the Bears in Week 18. Detroit still should be somewhat motivated to finish the season strong and maybe knock Chicago down a seed in the playoffs. Anyway, let’s talk about TeSlaa.

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The rookie wideout has scored a touchdown in four of the past five games. He finished with three catches for 49 yards and a score on Christmas Day versus Minnesota. He’s played at least 52% of the snaps in each of the past five games and there’s a chance he gets a longer look in the season finale. The only thing to monitor is the weather in Chicago, but TeSlaa could be a sneaky add, especially if Amon-Ra St. Brown ends up sitting after being attended to by trainers in the final minute of Week 17’s loss.

Other Options: Jalen McMillan, TB (2%)

Tight Ends

Jake Tonges, 49ers (9% rostered)

This pickup is tied to the status of George Kittle, who missed Week 17 due to a mid-to-low ankle sprain. With Kittle sidelined against the Bears, Tonges was heavily involved again, catching seven of nine targets for 60 yards and a score. Tonges has a knack for getting in the end zone with five TDs in limited action this season. The Niners can steal the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win over Seattle in Week 18, so there’s still plenty to play for. If Kittle sits again, Tonges is a great TE streaming option.

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Chig Okonkwo, Titans (17% rostered)

Okonkwo entered 2025 as a trendy late-round sleeper at tight end after the Titans drafted Cam Ward. That sentiment didn’t end up panning out but Okonkwo has a chance to finish the campaign on a good note. He’s posted back-to-back double-digit fantasy point outings with a 6-44-1 line in Week 16 and a 3-55-1 mark on Sunday versus the Saints. The Titans have a tough draw against a Jaguars team looking to shore up an AFC South division title. But Okonkwo should be a safety valve for Ward and has been getting a lot of looks in the red zone the past few games.

Other Options: AJ Barner, SEA (18%), Michael Mayer, LVR (12%)

Aaron Rodgers has played in 285 NFL games, including playoffs. He might have just one left.

That is yet to be determined, including Rodgers’ decision on whether he’ll play again next season. The immediate issue at hand is that the Pittsburgh Steelers need to win or their season — and perhaps Rodgers’ incredible career — is done.

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The Steelers did this to themselves. All they had to do to clinch the AFC North was beat the Cleveland Browns, who were 3-12 before Sunday. But the Browns got their fourth win as Rodgers didn’t lead a single touchdown drive in a 13-6 loss.

None of the Steelers want their season to end Sunday night after they play the Baltimore Ravens. But most will return next season. Rodgers suggested months ago this will be his last season. He has played well enough that coming back for another season shouldn’t be out of the question. Given how many teams need quarterbacks, he’d likely find a job if he wants one.

[Get more Steelers news: Pittsburgh team feed]

But at age 42, retirement is a constant storyline. All that’s certain is Rodgers’ season ends with a loss in prime time Sunday. His final moments, including walking off the field for perhaps the final time, would overshadow a Ravens win. It would be great theater.

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While Rodgers has plenty of detractors, he’s unquestionably one of the greatest players in NFL history. He has four NFL MVPs, more than everyone except Peyton Manning. He has the highest passer rating in league history at 102.3. He has more than 65,000 yards and 500 touchdowns, a club that has just five members: Rodgers, Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Brett Favre.

Losing two straight win-and-in games is not the way Rodgers wants his career to end. He might have one shot to keep a 21-year career going.

Panic meter: It would be a long offseason for the Steelers with a loss, and perhaps an endless offseason for Rodgers

Here’s the rest of the panic meter for Week 18, and who has the most on the line:

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What happens if the Ravens lose?

The stakes for Ravens-Steelers go far beyond a division title.

The losing team could be in for some major changes. The Steelers have the Aaron Rodgers retirement question, and there will also be more speculation over Mike Tomlin’s future as head coach if the Steelers blow a lead in the AFC North and miss the playoffs.

The Ravens have a complicated situation too. With a reported rift between head coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Lamar Jackson, would the Ravens run it back if they miss the playoffs after being considered a top Super Bowl contender in the preseason? General manager Eric DeCosta would have the most challenging offseason of his career with a loss. Maybe even with a win and a division title. At very least, he would need to find a way to improve the roster to get the Ravens back to a Super Bowl. Or he might be looking at a much bigger change.

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Panic meter: The shape of the Ravens going forward might depend on Sunday night’s result

Bryce Young’s close-up

Saturday will be the biggest game of Young’s pro career. With a win, the Carolina Panthers are in the playoffs as NFC South champs.

A loss might create a different conversation, especially if the Saints win Sunday and the Buccaneers steal the division.

Young has been up and down all season. On Sunday, when a Panthers win could have clinched the NFC South, Young had 54 yards passing. A division title would lead to some good vibes and not an angry David Tepper, the Panthers’ team owner who has been calm this season but has a reputation for being impulsive. A loss might get the Panthers wondering if they have the right quarterback.

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Panic meter: It’s a huge game for Young, in more ways than one

Are the Bucs and Todd Bowles going to blow this?

As the Buccaneers headed into their Week 9 bye, they were 6-2, two games ahead of the Panthers in the NFC South and about to get some key players back from injury. What has happened since the bye is startling.

The Buccaneers have lost seven of eight, despite getting many stars back in the lineup, and need a win over the Panthers on Saturday to stay alive for the NFC South title. A win doesn’t clinch the division title though. If the Falcons beat the Saints on Sunday, the Panthers win the division.

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And if the Buccaneers lose to Carolina — even if they win to finish 8-9 and lose the division to the Panthers because the Falcons win — it seems irresponsible to suggest Bowles wouldn’t be on the hot seat. With a loss he would have a 35-36 record as the Buccaneers’ coach, including playoffs. He would also be responsible for a startling collapse with a mostly healthy team in the second half. That sounds like a coach who is safe?

Panic meter: It really doesn’t seem like Bowles should be considered safe

The Sam Darnold question

Last season, the Vikings had a Week 18 game at the Lions with the division title on the line. Darnold had a rough game, not leading the Vikings to any touchdowns in a loss. A week later, Darnold was bad in a playoff loss to the Rams. Those two losses cost Darnold some money in free agency and created the narrative that he would melt down in big games.

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What if Darnold repeats that same pattern to end this season? Like last season’s Vikings, the Seahawks either get the No. 1 seed with a win in their season finale Saturday night at San Francisco or slide to a wild-card spot with a loss.

Panic meter: If the Seahawks lose this weekend, or in their first playoff game, you know what the talking points will be