A lot was decided in the final week of the NFL regular season, including four division titles, the No. 1 seeds in the playoffs and the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The regular season finale delivered the drama, with the Pittsburgh Steelers beating the Baltimore Ravens in a thrilling game to secure the AFC North crown and the final spot in the postseason.
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Here’s your rundown of what each result this week meant.
Result: The Buccaneers beat the Panthers, but Carolina wins the NFC South anyway because the Falcons won on Sunday to force a three-way tie for the division lead. The Panthers have the upper hand in the tie breaker and will head to the playoffs as the No. 4 seed. The Bucs are eliminated.
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Result: The Seahawks stifled the 49ers to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs and the NFC West title. The 49ers fall to the sixth seed after the Rams won on Sunday.
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
Result: Houston lost out on a shot at the AFC South title via the Jaguars’ win. But the Texans did secure the No. 5 seed with the win.
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars
Result: The Jaguars comfortably secured the AFC South title with a blowout win over the Titans. They slot into the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs. Tennessee gets the No. 4 pick in the 2026 draft.
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants
Result: The Cowboys sat Dak Prescott in the second half, and the Giants pulled away for a victory that dropped them to the No. 5 pick in the draft.
Result: The Packers rested several starters because they were already locked into the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The Vikings end their season on a five-game win streak.
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
Result: Neither team had much to play for in this game, but the Falcons’ win pushed the Panthers to the NFC South title thanks to a three-way tiebreaker between Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Carolina. Atlanta’s win also hurts the draft position of the Los Angeles Rams, who own the Falcons’ 2026 first-round pick.
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots
Result: The Patriots won to secure the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs.
Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos
Result: Denver wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye in the playoffs by beating the Chargers, who fell to the seventh seed with the loss.
Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles
Result: Despite a Bears loss providing the opportunity for Philadelphia to move up in playoff seeding, the Eagles settled for the third seed resting starters in Sunday’s loss. The Commanders fall to the No. 7 draft pick.
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Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears
Result: Chicago maintained the No. 2 seed despite losing on a last-second field goal. The Bears kept the spot because of the Eagles’ loss to the Commanders on Sunday.
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills
Result: The Bills moved up to the No. 6 seed with a win coupled with the Chargers’ loss on Sunday. The Jets clinched the No. 2 pick in the draft with the loss.
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
Result: The Rams moved up to the No. 5 seed thanks to Sunday’s win. The Cardinals secure the No. 3 pick in the draft.
Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders
Result: The Raiders got to finish their season with good vibes after beating a division rival on a field goal in the closing seconds. Either way, Las Vegas already had the No. 1 pick in the draft wrapped up. The Chiefs locked up the No. 9 pick in the draft.
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Result: The Steelers were the very last team to secure a playoff spot, and it took a missed field goal by the Ravens as time expired to do it. Pittsburgh wins the AFC North and earns the No. 4 seed, which means it will host the Houston Texans in the wild-card round. The Ravens are sent home for the season in painful fashion.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ season is over, and Travis Kelce isn’t ready to make a decision about his football future.
The Chiefs concluded their season Sunday with a disappointing 14-12 loss to the 3-14 Las Vegas Raiders and finished out of the playoffs at 6-11 for the first time since Kelce’s second NFL season in 2014. It’s an unfamiliar spot for Kansas City and Kelce, who faced the same decision last offseason, that time coming off a loss in the Super Bowl.
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Kelce talks decision process
Kelce addressed his football future on Sunday and how he’ll go through the process of making the decision while speaking with reporters in the postgame locker room. He says it will start with meeting with Chiefs management.
“I’ll spend some time with them, go through exit meetings tomorrow and get close to the family and figure things out,” Kelce said.
Kelce was then asked specifically if he intends to take some time to get away from the emotions of the season before making his decision. He acknowledged that, unlike this year, he knew right away that he wanted to return.
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“Who knows?” Kelce continued. “Either it hits me quick or I’ve got to take some time. Last year was a little bit easier. I think I knew right away I wanted to kind of give this one a shot. So I dunno. We’ll see.”
Kelce, 36, is coming off his 13th NFL season, all of them with the Chiefs. There’s nothing left for him to accomplish on the football field.
Will he or won’t he?
Kelce is a seven-time All-Pro, 11-time Pro Bowler, three-time Super Bowl champion and a future Hall of Famer. Per Spotrac, Kelce has earned more than $111 million in his career, and that doesn’t include his endorsement deals. He’s engaged to Taylor Swift.
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If Kelce decides to return, he’ll do so for the love of playing the game and for the Chiefs. That might not be as enticing as it was last season when the Chiefs were fresh off their fifth Super Bowl appearance in six years. And the status of quarterback Patrick Mahomes for next season is unclear following his season-ending ACL tear in December.
Kelce’s play has declined from his All-Pro level in recent seasons, but he remains relatively healthy and one of the game’s most productive tight ends. Kelce played in all 17 games this season, tallying 76 catches for 851 yards and 5 touchdowns, earning his 11th straight Pro Bowl selection in the process.
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If Kelce ultimately decides to hang it up, he’ll do so as one of the greatest tight ends to play the game.
The Steelers immediately took advantage of his absence and picked up their first touchdown drive of the game following his exit en route to a 26-24 win to claim the AFC North and eliminate the Ravens from the playoffs.
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The Steelers scored 23 of their 26 points following Hamilton’s exit as Aaron Rodgers repeatedly connected on downfield passes while throwing for 294 yards. This was following a three-point effort from the Steelers in the first half.
Hamilton sustained the injury on Pittsburgh’s first drive of the second half at Arcisure Stadium when he collided helmet-to-helmet with teammate Alohi Gilman. The back of Hamilton’s helmet hit the turf after the collision.
Hamilton remained down on the turf for several moments, but was eventually able to walk off the field on his own.
Following Hamilton’s exit, the Steelers marched for their first touchdown of the game to tie it at 10.
A three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro in his four NFL seasons, Hamilton is the anchor of Baltimore’s secondary and arguably their most valuable defender. In addition to the concern for his health, the Ravens were significantly handicapped without him on the field.
The game erupted following his exit with 27 combined points in the fourth quarter. The Steelers secured the win when Baltimore kicker Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal as time expired.
The Steelers will now host the Houston Texans in the wild-card playoff round next week. Baltimore’s season is over.
Nate Tice & Charles McDonald give their instant reactions and takeaways from Week 18 of NFL action. The two hosts start with their takeaways from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ dramatic win over the Baltimore Ravens to win the AFC North on Sunday night.
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Later, the duo dive into their biggest takeaways from Week 18, starting with Myles Garrett finally breaking the NFL sack record. Nate & Charles also give their thoughts on the Seattle Seahawks shutting down the San Francisco 49ers to take the NFC 1-seed on Saturday and the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars extending their monster winning streaks and threatening to do some real damage representing the AFC South in the playoffs.
On the low side of Week 18, the NFC South was decided in the dumbest way possible, and the duo discuss the future of every team in the division as the Carolina Panthers stumble backwards into the playoffs. Also, the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets appeared to wave the white flag in the final week of season. After Charles reacts live to Atlanta Falcons firing Raheem Morris, Nate & Charles close out the show with their early thoughts on the final playoff picture and the first round of playoff matchups.
(00:55) – Steelers beat Ravens to win AFC North
(17:30) – Myles Garrett breaks sack record
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(25:35) – Seahawks shut down 49ers
(36:50) – AFC South looking dangerous entering playoffs
(50:50) – NFC South decided in the dumbest way possible
(1:06:20) – Dolphins & Jets wave the white flag
(1:11:25) – 2026 playoff picture thoughts
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 3: Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after winning an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on January 03, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
In the 62nd minute of Leeds United’s clash with Manchester United on Sunday, Brenden Aaronson won over the Elland Road crowd with his first goal in more than two months.
The English Premier League match would end in a 1-1 draw, leaving Leeds in the bottom five, but for both the West Yorkshire club and the 25-year-old American midfielder, the goal was another bright moment after a November swoon.
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Just six weeks ago, Leeds manager Daniel Farke was so concerned about the relentless social-media criticism aimed at Aaronson that he spoke out with great passion. With Leeds unbeaten in seven straight and the U.S. men’s national team veteran playing well, both have been able to breathe easier.
Aaronson provided the lead Sunday, slipping into defender Ayden Heaven’s blind spot to pounce on Pascal Struijk’s well-weighted throughball. The New Jersey native then warded off Heaven before coolly finishing into the far corner for his second Premier League goal of the season.
The Red Devils answered three minutes later, but the result was good enough to extend Leeds’ run to 2-0-5 since a four-match losing streak in November. The Whites (5-8-7) sit in 16th place but eight points clear of the relegation zone.
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“It is great for the team to stay unbeaten,” Aaronson said, “but of course we wanted three points.”
Describing the goal, he said, “I just was kind of just running in behind to see if I could get lucky. Sometimes you have to take a chance. The ball came to me. I think that the centre back didn’t know I was going to be kind of running off his shoulder like that. It was a good touch, and then it is just about putting it on target.”
Since being demoted to the bench for four consecutive matches, Aaronson has started four in a row. Last weekend, he assisted in a 1-1 draw at Sunderland. His three assists lead the team and, combined with his two goals, he is tied for second in goal contributions.
It was a very different situation in late November, when fan anger prompted Farke to come to the American’s defense.
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“I’m just worried how we are as a society, with social media stuff, how we are as human beings,” he said at the time. “You just see the negative comments. If you see 5,000 negative comments about yourself as a 25-year-old guy, you think the whole world is on your shoulders.
“I could make my life easy and also slam him and then everyone would say, ‘Yes, Daniel, great, we don’t like him anyway.’ But I protect human beings. This is what I do. I work with human beings. I don’t work with robots. I also see what this lad is doing. And he is always a fantastic teammate. He works his socks off.”
Farke added, “Judge his performances, be at least a little bit fair. And if you don’t want to do this in terms of relationship, come on, be a bit respectful with a young lad of 25 years old. And then, otherwise, we don’t have to have all this mental-health awareness days, and we can put it into the bin.”
By maintaining his good form, Aaronson is on pace to earn an invite to U.S. training camp in March for friendlies against Belgium and Portugal in Atlanta — the final assembly before coach Mauricio Pochettino names his World Cup squad in late May.
New Jersey native Brenden Aaronson has played a key role for Leeds United this season despite facing heavy criticism.
(Action Images via Reuters / REUTERS)
A member of the 2022 World Cup team, Aaronson appeared in eight matches last year, with three starts, one goal (against Trinidad & Tobago at the Gold Cup) and one assist. He was left off the September roster, made one sub appearance in the October friendlies and, a month later, started against Paraguay and came in late against Uruguay.
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With midfielder Tyler Adams and center back Chris Richards injured, Aaronson was among just two Americans in Premier League action over the weekend. Antonee Robinson, Fulham’s left back/wing back, went the distance in a wild 2-2 home draw with Liverpool. Both teams scored in second-half stoppage time.
Since recovering from a knee injury, Robinson has played every minute of six consecutive matches across all competitions.
In the second-flight English Championship, central midfielder Aidan Morris played 90 in Middlesbrough’s 4-0 win over Southampton, a result that trimmed the gap with first-place Coventry City to six points.
Forward Haji Wright entered in the 67th in Coventry’s 3-2 loss at Birmingham City, extending the frontrunner’s winless streak to three matches.
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Forward Patrick Agyemang (60 minutes) went scoreless for the third consecutive match as Derby County fell 2-1 to Wrexham. Forward Josh Sargent logged 89 minutes in a 2-0 loss to Stoke City.
Italy
Midfielder Weston McKennie scored his first Serie A goal of the season, connecting from close range in the 50th minute in a 1-1 draw with Lecce. He has scored twice in the Champions League.
Amid a stretch of six matches in 22 days, AC Milan top scorer Christian Pulisic came off the bench in the 79th minute of a 1-0 victory over Cagliari.
Midfielder Yunus Musah continues to struggle for starting roles, entering in the 59th minute of Atalanta’s 1-0 win over Roma.
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France
Striker Folarin Balogun’s accidental assist was the lone highlight of slumping Monaco’s 3-1 home loss to Lyon. With Balogun spun around by a defender while in transition just before halftime, the ball nicked his foot and fell into the path of Mamadou Coulibaly for the one-timer.
Midfielder Tanner Tessmann entered in the 66th minute for Lyon, which has won four straight in all competitions.
Wing back Tim Weah played 90 for third-place Olympique Marseille, which lost two players to first-half red cards and lost to Nantes 2-0 snapping a three-game winning streak across all competitions.
Center back Mark McKenzie went the distance in Toulouse’s 3-0 home loss to first-place Lens. He has started 15 of 17 league matches.
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Others
In Glasgow’s Old Firm derby, center back Auston Trusty played 90 minutes in Celtic’s 3-1 home loss to Rangers — the sixth defeat in eight matches under former Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy. Trusty missed an early scoring chance and didn’t perform well in the second half. “Overworked and underskilled,” The Times wrote. …
In Spain’s La Liga, midfielder Johnny Cardoso played the last half-hour of Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad. …
The German and Dutch leagues are on winter break, impacting eight U.S. national team candidates. Mexico’s Liga MX will resume this coming weekend. MLS preseason camps will open this month.
While the No. 1 seeded Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos each get to kick back and relax this coming weekend, 12 other teams will battle in the wild-card round.
Here’s a look at the six games, which includes: a team that backslid into the postseason despite not hitting the .500 mark; a hot NFC North rivalry; the emergence of a former No. 1 NFL Draft pick; the defending Super Bowl champion showing vulnerability; an MVP candidate in only his second season and jaw-dropping magic from Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers.
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(5) Los Angeles Rams at (4) Carolina Panthers
Why the Panthers can win
Week 13 of the regular season, the Panthers beat this Rams team 31-28 in Charlotte. So why not again? The key will be getting Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford off his game again, which is what Carolina did in the first match. In that one, Stafford uncharacteristically turned the ball over three times, including a first-quarter pick 6 that was ultimately the difference in the loss. Carolina quarterback Bryce Young was also efficient and opportunistic, and hit the big fourth-quarter pass when it mattered on a game-deciding, 43-yard touchdown to rookie Tetairoa McMillan.
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Why the Rams can win
Wideout Davante Adams could be back in the lineup and that would make the Rams an extremely difficult team to boat race between Adams, receiver Puka Nacua, the very effective two-headed running back rotation of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, and Stafford coming off a nice four-touchdown pass game in the regular-season finale win over the Arizona Cardinals. Safety Quentin Lake returning to the lineup for the playoffs is also a massive development. L.A.’s defense was playing some of its best football into mid-November when he went down, and he was sorely missed in multiple big games down the stretch. He missed the first matchup with the Panthers and will absolutely make a difference in this one.
Who has the juice going in
Without question, the Rams are feeling much better after getting their offense on track in the season-ending win over the Cardinals and a defensive performance that produced six sacks of Jacoby Brissett from five different players. Yes, it was against the Cardinals, but the Rams had something to play for and they showed it. They also know their defense is getting Lake back this week. There are a lot of positive feelings in Los Angeles. The Panthers backed into the playoffs, falling in their regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then needed help from the Atlanta Falcons to get in. Carolina is also 8-9 and its offense has been a roller coaster. The Panthers are at home, but it’s hard to know what Panthers team you’re going to get.
(7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Chicago Bears
Why the Packers can win
Quarterback Jordan Love will be back from a concussion and was playing some of his best football of the season before the Packers’ loss to Denver on Dec. 14. Green Bay is also facing a feast-or-famine Chicago defense that has been too reliant on turnovers over the course of the season and is struggling to get to the quarterback over the past month while giving up massive amounts of yardage.
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Why the Bears can win
Despite losing the season finale to the Detroit Lions, Chicago’s offense has some intriguing young talent that is blossoming at the right time. Tight end Colston Loveland is a significant matchup problem and wideout Luther Burden III is versatile and more comfortable than ever in his role. The Bears also may get wideout Rome Odunze back from lingering foot issues.
Who has the juice going in
The Bears, only because the Packers have absolutely fallen flat on their face over the past month. They’ve lost four straight games to end the season, lost Micah Parsons to a season-ending injury and have Love banged up to close the season. Chicago has lost three of its past five, but the Bears’ offense has shown signs of life and the ability to be balanced. Chicago also gets the benefit of playing in front of a home crowd that hasn’t been this excited about its team since the 2018 season.
(6) Buffalo Bills at (3) Jacksonville Jaguars
Why the Jaguars can win
Trevor Lawrence is on an absolute heater over his past six games. He has 19 total touchdowns in a corner-turning run inside head coach Liam Coen’s offense. Granted, a lot of the sparks have come against some bad teams, but it also included one of the biggest regular-season wins of Lawrence’s career in a 34-20 road victory over the Denver Broncos on Dec. 21. It feels like an arrival of sorts for Lawrence — including a bit of playing with some arrogance (in a good way) — although there is still going to be suspicion about whether it can be replicated in the postseason. If the Bronco buster Lawrence is the real Trevor, the Jaguars can play with anyone in the postseason.
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Why the Bills can win
In Josh Allen, the Bills have got the best veteran quarterback in the AFC playoff field and he’s in his prime. He’s also a pain to bring down and is going against a Jaguars defense that can pressure quarterbacks but is in the league’s bottom five in sacks. And now Allen has a legitimate partner in the backfield to carry the playoff load in James Cook, who put up some big games against three AFC playoff teams (the Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots) since November. The 13-12 clunker defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17 wasn’t inspiring, but it’s better that Buffalo got that wakeup call in late December than January.
Who has the juice going in
The Jaguars have it, winning eight straight and nine of 10 games since their bye week. And the lone loss came on the road against a Houston Texans team that rounded into a high-end defense and playoff team down the stretch. Lawrence hitting another level as a quarterback might have the fan base as excited as it has ever been, and that will show up in the home-field advantage. On the other side of the ledger, it’s hard for the Bills since their last full-strength impression was that loss to the Eagles where Allen was sacked five times. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott being 0-5 in playoff road games is also concerning.
(6) San Francisco 49ers at (3) Philadelphia Eagles
Why the 49ers can win
If San Francisco — and this is an overwhelming “if” — has its full suit of offensive players for this game, the Niners can challenge the Eagles’ defense. But after seeing the 49ers’ struggles against a similarly talented (and well-coached) Seattle Seahawks defense in the 13-3 loss in Week 18, it’s clear offensive tackle Trent Williams and wideout Ricky Pearsall really need to be back up and running for this game. Running back Christian McCaffrey missed that tandem in the Seahawks’ loss. While we won’t know the update on that pair until midweek, that seems like a stretch right now.
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Why the Eagles can win
Their offense is inconsistent and frustrating and there’s no certainty that the running game will show up consistently in the postseason, but this defense has the elite talent to drag out wins. When defensive coordinator Vic Fangio put together a game plan that battered Josh Allen and held the Buffalo Bills to 12 points in Week 17, it showcased at least half of a Super Bowl-worthy team. Conversely, the 49ers’ pass rush has had issues getting to quarterbacks, which should make life for Jalen Hurts — and the performance of his uncharacteristically unpredictable offensive line — a bit easier.
Who has the juice going in
Oddly, even banged up and losing the regular-season finale to Seattle and getting sent on the road in the wild card, the 49ers had their chances against the Seahawks … and both quarterback Brock Purdy and the offense were smoking hot going into that game. Meanwhile, the Eagles rested their starters and lost out on the No. 2 seed in the NFC in the process, which was deflating and left the lasting memory of their offense being a putrid second half against the Bills. And frankly, between head coaches Kyle Shanahan and Nick Sirainni, it’s Shanahan who has put together a masterpiece this season despite playing in a brutal NFC West.
(7) Los Angeles Chargers at (2) New England Patriots
Why the Patriots can win
Quarterback Drake Maye turned a runaway MVP race into an absolute photo finish — and he did it by stressing defenses with his accuracy, deep-ball wizardry, ability to scramble and a poise that made him look like a 10-year veteran this season. He’s going to give the Chargers problems. And now he has a very potent two-headed running attack backing him up with TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson really coming together over the past month of the season. Defensive tackle Milton Williams and offensive tackle Will Campbell are also back in the fold right when New England needs them most. That’s a lot of up arrows.
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Why the Chargers can win
The New England run defense has had its issues down the stretch and the Chargers continually remixed offensive line could absolutely use the help. The return of Milton Williams will certainly help the Patriots, but you can’t count on consistent betterment in the front seven until you see it materialize. That said, QB Justin Herbert getting a running game out of Omarion Hampton — combined with Herbert’s own ability to scramble or create in designed runs — can certainly hurt New England. Especially in the rare occasions Herbert hasn’t gotten beaten up by the pass rush.
Who has the juice going in
The Patriots are flying right now and are only a terrible second half against the Buffalo Bills from going into the playoffs on a 14-game winning streak. They’ll have to settle for being 13-1 in their last 14, but they obliterated the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins in their past two games. Yes, they’ve feasted on a lot of non-playoff teams down the stretch, but good teams should beat and at times dominate bad teams, and that’s what New England did. The Chargers have lost their last two. And while Week 18 was a rest game for their starters, Herbert absorbed 16 sacks in three of his four games in December. He’s getting hit too much and still has an injured non-throwing hand. That’s concerning.
(5) Houston Texans at (4) Pittsburgh Steelers
Why the Steelers can win
If ever there was an emotional high and some magical dust sprinkled onto a team in its regular-season finale, Pittsburgh got it with its 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens to get into the postseason. But it wasn’t a fluke. After the Ravens took a 17-13 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the surrounding offense went blow-for-blow the rest of the way — and did it without DK Metcalf, who was in the final game of his suspension. Yes, it took a horribly missed field goal by the Ravens to win and get into the playoffs. But everything is a new lease now. The all-in gamble on making Rodgers work got the Steelers back into the postseason on an emotional high.
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Why the Texans can win
Houston started 0-3 but leaned on a hellacious defense to finish the season on 12-2 run that has seen its offense show signs of life down the stretch. That includes a 9-0 run to end the season. Aside from the Indianapolis Colts putting up a fight in Week 18 against the Texans (who began sitting starters as the game went on), this defense does not give up points to opponents. Houston also throttled a very mobile Justin Herbert in Week 17 with five sacks and will be staring at Rodgers like he’s a potted plant in this one. Among the playoff quarterbacks in the AFC field, the Texans beat Herbert, Trevor Lawrence and Josh Allen during their 9-0 run. That speaks loudly.
Who has the juice going in
This might be a coin flip, but for somewhat different reasons. Houston gets the edge via a 9-0 run, but the Steelers got the gift of playoff life when it looked like the postseason had been extinguished in their regular-season finale. That gift and playing at home gives Pittsburgh plenty of juice. But the Texans get the overall edge because of the aforementioned AFC playoff quarterbacks they’ve cut down on their way into the postseason. And the Steelers’ elation to have won their finale could turn out to be more relief than confidence. We will see.
PITTSBURGH — When the Pittsburgh Steelers regained possession, down 24-20, 2:20 remained in the game. Perhaps, fans in Acrisure Stadium wondered, 2:20 remained in the Steelers’ season and even in Aaron Rodgers’ career.
So the 42-year-old, four-time-MVP quarterback gathered his offense for a huddle. With three quick passes, they marched down to the Baltimore Ravens’ 26-yard line before Rodgers missed on two straight throws.
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Third-and-10 now threatened, with 1 minute to play. Rodgers began preparing receiver Calvin Austin III for a backside hitch-and-go route.
On the sideline, his teammates realized they were not worried.
“It was a weird, no-panic feeling,” edge rusher T.J. Watt said. “Just calm. It was just confident. We’ve seen him work a two-minute drill so many times. We’ve seen those ball-at-the-2-yard-line, seven-shot type plays so many times. Just complete confidence in him and the offense.
“He’s here for a reason. This is why he’s here. This is the best dude in the NFL for this moment.”
Rodgers validated that belief as he hit Austin for a go-ahead, 26-yard touchdown with 55 seconds to play. A 44-yard missed field goal by the Ravens helped buoy the Steelers to the 26-24 win, the AFC North crown and, most importantly, and another week of play. But even before then, at a series of intervals throughout the game, the Steelers believed their quarterback would help carry them to victory.
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“When I broke down [the huddle], I saw it was man to man, I had a good hope that the ball was going to come my way if I ran the route and executed,” Austin told Yahoo Sports from the postgame locker room. “Know it’s Cover 0, ball going to be up and down quick, so just get open and win.
“We’re just so blessed — to be able to continue to play and continue to give 8 [Rodgers] a season.”
The go-ahead touchdown to Austin was the last of Rodgers’ magic on a 31-of-47, 294-yard night featuring one passing touchdown and another 20 yards rushing.
Every ounce of it was needed to ward off a Lamar Jackson vintage performance to the tune of 171 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone.
But as the Steelers triumphed, delaying questions about the futures of Rodgers and head coach Mike Tomlin for at least eight more days, excitement was not their only reaction to hosting the Houston Texans in a Monday night wild-card game. Much of the team was also surprisingly even-keeled — resolute to work and prepare avidly, but managing their energy in the way their quarterback modeled through the night.
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“Sometimes in those intense moments, everyone can get pretty intense and loud and energetic,” receiver Adam Thielen told Yahoo Sports. “But he really has a calmness and a softness of how he calls the plays and just keeps everybody calm.”
Finding a quarterback of that demeanor for the Steelers is no accident. It was by design when Pittsburgh recruited Rodgers all last spring until he officially joined in June, and it’s by design that he’ll lead them into the playoffs.
“This was the vision in the spring when we pursued him,” Tomlin said. “That’s why you do business with a 41-, 42-year-old guy. Been-there, done-that guy with a résumé like his. He’s not only capable; he thrives in it.
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“I think he put that on display tonight.”
Rodgers led second-half rebound to edge Steelers past Ravens
Rodgers’ resilience shined most strongly in the second half.
The first half seemed shaky as Rodgers led an offense down top receiver DK Metcalf to suspension and big-bodied tight end Darnell Washington to a broken arm suffered a week prior.
Most of Rodgers’ completions were quick gains and screen passes that couldn’t pace Ravens running back Derrick Henry’s early explosions and 112-yard first half. And at times, glimmers of doubt surfaced about Rodgers’ future: When an early second-quarter pass to Jonnu Smith sailed high above the wide-open tight end, was Rodgers’ accuracy and timing slipping? A play later, Rodgers’ escaped the pocket to his right and tried to scramble. But his 42-year-old legs did not advance past the line of scrimmage before he was downed for a sack.
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The Steelers entered halftime trailing 10-3, a Watt interception-gifted short field not enough to convert in the red zone. But after halftime, Pittsburgh found a rhythm. Take the second-and-8 rope that Rodgers threaded to veteran receiver Thielen for 28 yards three minutes into the second half.
Thielen tried to move at the top of his route to counter tight coverage. The gain continued what would be a game-tying drive for the Steelers — and it also earned Thielen a reassuring gesture from Rodgers.
“Usually it’s a little look and a little point knowing that I made him proud,” Thielen told Yahoo Sports. “So I like those moments. I like when I see that face rather than the disappointed face.”
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Rodgers would warrant his own affirmation throughout a second half featuring six lead changes. The Steelers scored on a literal brotherly shove as Cam Heyward added to his defensive tackle responsibilities to help push his brother, Connor, into the end zone. Kenneth Gainwell scored around the right end of an immaculately blocked 2-yard score after Rodgers hit tight end Pat Freiermuth for 31 yards on third-and-8 up the middle. Rodgers had recommended Freiermuth fake his defender that he was breaking out before going down the middle, taking his time along the way. The tight end executed so in line with his quarterback’s high standards that Rodgers laughed.
“I’m literally throwing it kind of laughing to myself because I’m like, ‘This is it. See, I’ve been talking about it forever,’” Rodgers said. “Just little things that you talk about in Latrobe and you hope show up. … I’m just really proud of him.
“I can’t say enough good things about Pat.”
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Nor could Steelers teammates say enough good things about Rodgers after he helped them turn their end-of-year luck after a 10-7 season. The record was identical. But last year, the Steelers lost their final five games, including a wild-card exit.
Against the same Ravens team that dealt two of those five losses last year, including the playoff elimination, Pittsburgh secured a different result, including a sweep of Baltimore.
“Last year, the playoffs, going to Baltimore, we were really hurt by that,” Cam Heyward said. “I remember me and T.J. just sitting in the training room, just kind of scratching our heads.
“To get out here and play the same team, had some success in difference ways…
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“This is what we’ve all been waiting for.”
Texans are up next as Steelers players ‘want to be able to have some hardware’
Amid a postgame locker room cocktail of blaring music, cheers for top performers and pungent celebratory cigars, a group of Steelers players FaceTimed Metcalf.
The receiver wasn’t in the locker room receiving his “Been There, Won That” AFC North champion shirt. He wasn’t on the field when the Steelers’ offense could have used him against the Ravens on Sunday night, nor was he on the field when the Steelers’ offense could have used him in their Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns that blew their first chance to clinch the division.
Rodgers wasn’t the only player this group longed to ensure saw another game this season in a Steelers uniform.
“We were playing so we could get DK back and we did,” Austin told Yahoo Sports. “He’s our leader. He’s our energy. He’s the guy.”
The Steelers have many “guys,” from Metcalf, who they will get back, to Watt whose interception was just one element of his several-pronged impact against the Ravens.
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They had a guy in a headset on their sideline coaching, too. Supporters emphasized that Tomlin’s 19 seasons at the Steelers helm do not include even one losing season. Critics will be intimately aware next week that nine years have elapsed since Pittsburgh last won a playoff game.
The Texans opened as 3-point favorites at Pittsburgh, per BetMGM.
There is a restlessness to change the history among players who have lived it.
Fifteen years into his Steelers tenure, Heyward did not put on his AFC North champions hat as his teammates did.
“I want a different hat,” he said. “Hopefully I have a chance to win a championship. … I want to be able to have some hardware one day.”
Heyward spoke of the doubt he believes the NFL world has in the Steelers’ chances. He spoke also of why the Steelers believe in their 42-year-old quarterback more than they think most would.
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“To have a guy that has seen every type of defense allows you to go into a lot of gunfights and feel like you have a chance,” Heyward said. “He’s able to steer the ship.”
Can Rodgers do it again next week? The Steelers know they were one 44-yard field goal attempt away from the frustration and devastation that Jackson instead described. They may have been a cornerback keeping his footing away from not scoring their final touchdown, and a concussion to star Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton away from the offensive uptick they experienced.
For now, they won’t question it.
“If my aunt has male parts, she would be my uncle,” Tomlin quipped in dismissing the value of hypotheticals.
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The Texans are riding a nine-game winning streak. Rodgers brought up that his lone Lombardi Trophy followed a 10-6 season that included a one-score divisional win in the regular-season finale. He’s not afraid of the odds against him, and his calm appears to be permeating the franchise.
“We were underdogs at home tonight against our division rival,” Rodgers said. “It’s going to give us some belief.
“The belief level in the locker room after a win like this is exponentially greater.”
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🚨 Headlines
🏈 Falcons clean house: The Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot on Sunday night. Atlanta went 8-9 in both seasons under Morris and has now finished with a sub-.500 record eight years in a row.
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🏒 Team USA revealed: Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, Golden Knights center Jack Eichel and Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck headline the 25-man roster set to represent the United States at next month’s Olympics.
🏈 Portal season begins: The college football transfer portal officially opened on Friday. Among the biggest moves so far are North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker following head coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State, ex-TCU QB Josh Hoover committing to Indiana, and ex-Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby committing to Texas Tech. The portal will close on Jan. 16.
🥊 Fury un-retires (again): Tyson Fury’s fifth retirement from boxing has ended the same way as his previous four, with the former two-time heavyweight champion announcing a return to the ring. “Nothing better to do than punch men in the face and get paid for it,” wrote the 37-year-old.
🏈 Bring on the NFL postseason
(Jonathan Castro/Yahoo Sports)
The NFL regular season came to an epic conclusion on Sunday night in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers secured the final playoff spot over the rival Ravens thanks to a missed field goal as time expired. ICYMI: Truly an incredible last 10 minutes.
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More from Week 18: The Panthers lost to the Bucs but still won the NFC South, the Broncos and Seahawks won to secure their conference’s top seeds, and the Raiders locked up the No. 1 pick despite beating the Chiefs on a 60-yard field goal.
NFC playoff field
*Elite company: Seattle’s Sam Darnold is one of just two QBs in NFL history to win 14 games in back-to-back seasons. The only other QB to do that? Tom Brady.
*Controversial decision: The Eagles rested their starters in Sunday’s loss to the Commanders. Had they won, they would have leapfrogged the Bears for the No. 2 seed.
*They did it again: The Panthers are the first franchise in NFL history to make the playoffs twice with a losing record. The 2014 team also made the field with a 7-8-1 record.
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AFC playoff field
*Could history repeat? The last time the Broncos earned the No. 1 seed (2015), they went on to win the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium, which will host this year’s game.
*Worst to first: The AFC East champion Patriots join the Bears and Panthers as teams that won their division this season after finishing in last place a year ago.
*Going streaking: The AFC South ended the regular season on a trio of lengthy streaks. The Jaguars won eight straight games, the Texans won nine straight games and the Colts lost seven straight games.
Quick links:
💯 Big numbers
The NFL’s new single-season sack king. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
🏈 23 sacks
Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett set the NFL sack record on Sunday with his 23rd of the season, breaking the mark of 22.5 sacks previously held by Michael Strahan (2001) and T.J. Watt (2021).
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Finishing strong: Garrett set the record with a faster get-off speed (0.23 seconds) than any player on any sack this season. “Probably the best get-off I ever had,” he said after the game.
📺 96 of 100
Sports represented 96 of the top 100 most-watched telecasts in 2025, tying an all-time record, per Sports Business Journal. Of those 96 broadcasts, 92 were football games (84 NFL, eight college), two were World Series games, one was the men’s college basketball title game and one was the Kentucky Derby.
As for the non-sports broadcasts? The only four to make the top 100 were President Trump’s inauguration, his address to a joint session of Congress in March, the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Oscars.
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🏈 0 INTs
The Jets made the wrong kind of history (how unlike them!), becoming the first NFL team since 1933 to go an entire season without recording an interception.
For reference: In 1933, the NFL passing leader (Harry Newman of the Giants) had 973 yards and interceptions weren’t even an official statistic. It’s legitimately unbelievable that this happened in 2025, when the Jets defense allowed 3,674 passing yards and had infinitely more opportunities for a pick.
🏀 30-6
Following their historic 24-1 start, the Thunder are just 6-5 in their last 11 games. That includes three losses to the Spurs and one each to the Timberwolves and Suns, with the latter coming on Sunday courtesy of Devin Booker’s last-second 3-pointer.
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Looking ahead: OKC (30-6) is still on pace for 68 wins, which would be tied for the fifth-most ever in a season. But the 73-win mark set by the 2015-16 Warriors appears much safer than it did a month ago.
🏈 College football’s unlikely final four
(Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports)
We should all spend the next two weeks wrapping our minds around what’s happened to college football this season. In Year 2 of the 12-team playoff, the sport has gone crazy in the best possible way.
Take a look at that final four. That weird, disorienting, beautiful final four. One of Indiana, Oregon, Ole Miss or Miami is going to win the national title. Can we pause for moment and celebrate how impossible that would have seemed a mere three years ago and how cool it is now?
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Here’s Indiana, historically one of the worst programs in major college football, bullying everyone to a 14-0 record and the well-deserved status as national championship favorite thanks to a genius named Curt Cignetti who was hiding in plain sight until he was 60 years old.
Here’s Oregon, the poster child for new money that hung around the elite for so long it became the establishment, hoping to deliver the national championship 87-year-old Nike founder and mega-booster Phil Knight yearns to experience.
Here’s Ole Miss, the school that never lost a tailgate party but also never won a modern-era SEC championship, trying to save its conference from a playoff humiliation while the coach who built the program watches from Baton Rouge because he deemed it easier to win a title there.
And here’s Miami, a team that wasn’t projected to make the CFP until the selection committee pulled a switcheroo at the last second and vaulted the Hurricanes over Notre Dame for the final spot in the field.
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Meanwhile? Goodbye Georgia. See ya, Ohio State. Best of luck in your future endeavors, Alabama.
All we ever wanted was a postseason where the teams deemed to be elite by poll voters or committee members had to prove it on the field in a playoff format that looked like every other level of football. Now we have it, and it’s proven one thing definitively: When you put teams into a tournament bracket, unexpected stuff happens. Even in college football.
Bottom line: For far too many years, the paradigm of college football was based mostly on what we thought we knew about teams. It used to be a beauty pageant. Now, it’s a month-long exam. Finally, the results are in. They may not be what we expected, but at least we know we’re getting the truth.
🌎 The world in photos
(Tomas Diniz Santos/Getty Images)
🇺🇸 Miami, Florida — The Rangers crushed the Panthers, 5-1, in Friday’s Winter Classic at LoanDepot Park behind a masterclass from Mika Zibanejad, who had a hand in all five goals with a hat trick and a pair of assists.
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Sunshine State: Florida’s inaugural outdoor NHL game was unsurprisingly the warmest Winter Classic ever, with a temperature of 63.1 degrees Fahrenheit at puck drop.
(Warren Little/Getty Images)
🏴 London, England — 18-year-old Luke “The Nuke” Littler won his second straight World Darts Championship on Saturday, dropping just four sets all tournament en route to becoming the first repeat champion in a decade.
Climbing the leaderboard: Littler, already the youngest champion ever, is now one of just seven two-time winners, trailing only three-time champion Michael van Gerwen and 14-time champion Phil Taylor.
Belinda Bencic of Team Switzerland serves during Day 2 of the United Cup. (Paul Kane/Getty Images)
🇦🇺 Perth, Australia — The United Cup began on Friday, with 18 nations competing in the fourth edition of the mixed-gender tournament. Among those in action are four of the world’s top 10 men and three of the world’s top 10 women.
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Who’s favored? The United States is the No. 1 seed and defending champion, followed by No. 2 Canada and No. 3 Italy, whose men have won three straight Davis Cups and whose women have won two straight Billie Jean King Cups.
(Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images)
🇲🇦 Tangiers, Morocco — A Senegal supporter cheers for his side during their Round of 16 victory over Sudan in the Africa Cup of Nations.
12 teams left: Senegal, Mali, Cameroon and Morocco have reached the quarterfinals in the 35th edition of AFCON. They’ll be joined by the winners of two games today (Egypt vs. Benin, Nigeria vs. Mozambique) and two games tomorrow (Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso, Algeria vs. DR Congo).
📺 Watchlist: Monday, Jan. 5
(NCAA)
🏈 FCS National Championship
No. 2 Montana State and Illinois State play for the title tonight in Nashville (7:30pm ET, ESPN), where someone will be crowned champion for the first time in at least four decades.
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Meet the contenders: The Bobcats won their only championship in 1984, though this is their third trip to the title game in the last five years. The Redbirds, who stunned undefeated defending champion North Dakota State in the second round, are seeking their first title and would become the first unseeded champion since Richmond in 2008.
🏀 Unrivaled
The second season of the 3-on-3 women’s league featuring 54 WNBA players tips off today in Miami, where eight teams (up from six last year) begin their 14-game regular season.
Today’s schedule: Mist vs. Hive (1pm, truTV); Vinyl vs. Laces (2:15pm, truTV); Rose vs. Lunar Owls (8pm, TNT); Breeze vs. Phantom (9:15pm, TNT).
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More to watch:
🏀 NBA: Knicks at Pistons (7pm, Peacock); Nuggets at 76ers (8:30pm, Peacock); Warriors at Clippers (10pm, Peacock) … Detroit (26-9) and New York (23-12) are the top teams in the East.
🏀 NCAAM: No. 13 Nebraska at Ohio State (6:30pm, FS1); No. 24 USC at No. 9 Michigan State (8:30pm, FS1) … The Cornhuskers (14-0) are off to their best start ever, and are one of just six remaining undefeated teams.
🏒 World Juniors: Sweden vs. Czechia (8:30pm, NHL) … Saint Paul, Minnesota, hosts the final of the 50th World Junior Hockey Championship.
Hint: He played the majority of his career on a team that has since changed its name and city.
Answer at the bottom.
⚽️ Goal of the year
(Giphy)
Fulham’s Harrison Reed scored a stoppage-time screamer in the 97th minute on Sunday to snatch a point against Liverpool. Early contender for goal of the year.
Trivia answer: Oscar Robertson (26,710 points)
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Here’s how things look in the standings with the regular season now complete after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ thrilling 26-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football to win the AFC North.
(* Clinched playoff spot)
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NFC
1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3) 2. Chicago Bears (11-6) 3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) 4. Carolina Panthers (8-9) 5. Los Angeles Rams (12-5) 6. San Francisco 49ers (12-5) 7. Green Bay Packers (9-7-1)
AFC
1. Denver Broncos (14-3) 2. New England Patriots (14-3) 3. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) 4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) 5. Houston Texans (12-5) 6. Buffalo Bills (12-5) 7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
Here’s how the wild-card round matchups look:
NFL wild-card schedule
Saturday, Jan. 10
5. Los Angeles Rams vs. 4. Carolina Panthers Time: 4:30 p.m. ET Location: Bank of America Stadium | Charlotte, N.C. TV: Fox
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7. Green Bay Packers vs. 2. Chicago Bears Time: 8 p.m. ET Location: Soldier Field | Chicago TV: Amazon Prime Video
Sunday, Jan. 11
6. Buffalo Bills vs. 3. Jacksonville Jaguars Time: 1 p.m. ET Location: EverBank Stadium | Jacksonville, Fla. TV: CBS
6. San Francisco 49ers vs. 3. Philadelphia Eagles Time: 4:30 p.m. ET Location: Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia TV: Fox
7. Los Angeles Chargers vs. 2. New England Patriots Time: 8 p.m. ET Location: Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, Mass. TV: NBC
Monday, Jan. 12
5. Houston Texans vs. 4. Steelers Time: 8 p.m. ET Location: Acrisure Stadium | Pittsburgh TV: ESPN/ABC
The Falcons parted ways with both head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday night, the team announced. The move came despite a Week 18 win over the New Orleans Saints, which wrapped up Morris’ second season leading the franchise.
The decision comes after the Falcons finished the season with another 8-9 record under Morris, marking their eighth consecutive losing season. Morris went 16-18 in two seasons with the franchise.
“I have great personal affinity for both Raheem and Terry and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the Falcons, but I believe we need new leadership in these roles moving forward,” owner Arthur Blank said in a statement. “The decision to move away from people who represent the organization so well and have a shared commitment to the values that are important to the organization is not an easy one, but the results on the field have not met our expectations or those of our fans and leadership. I wish Raheem and Terry the absolute best in their future pursuits.”
Blank announced Monday morning that the team will be creating a new president of football role with both the head coach and GM positions reporting into that person. Multiple reports suggest former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is in line to assume the president of football role.
“The leader in this new role will set the vision and identity for our team,” Blank said in a letter released to Falcons fans.
Following an 8-9 season in 2024, there was hope the Falcons would take a step forward in 2025. Last season’s first-round pick, quarterback Michael Penix Jr., was set to take over as the team’s full-time starter, and the team used its first four picks in the 2025 NFL Draft to shore up a struggling defense.
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But the Falcons faded after a somewhat promising start. Through the first five weeks of the season, Atlanta was 3-2, and very much in the conversation for a playoff spot. But the team dropped five straight games, and despite a late-season rally, the Carolina Panthers ultimately came up with the division in a three-way tie to end Atlanta’s postseason hopes.
Raheem Morris’ run with the Atlanta Falcons has come to an end. (David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Falcons got exposed in a few ways during that losing streak. While Penix had some moments of promise, he, too, often proved in need of refinement. He averaged barely over a touchdown per start and put up a lowly 60.1 completion percentage in his first season as a starter. Atlanta’s defense, while better, didn’t take a big step forward. After ranking 23rd in points allowed in 2024, the team barely improved in 2025 despite heavily investing on that side of the ball during the draft.
The season appeared lost in Week 11, when Penix landed on injured reserve following a knee injury. Despite that injury, however, the Falcons rallied late, winning three straight games down the stretch to head into Week 18 with a chance to once again win eight games.
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Despite the late rally, ownership looked at the totality of the 2025 season and felt it was time to start over. That meant getting rid of Morris, who failed to post a winning season in two years with the team.
The firing marks the third time Morris has been ousted as a head coach. He was fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2011 after compiling a 17-31 record with the team. He also held the interim job with the Falcons in 2020 for just a handful of games before the team moved on. In six seasons as a head coach, Morris has one winning season on his résumé. Because of that, he might be relegated to defensive coordinator openings once the offseason hits.
Morris has proven to be an adept defensive coordinator and could be a valuable piece for any coaching staff in need of a defensive turnaround. If he performs well in that role, it’s possible Morris could again emerge as a head-coaching candidate in the future.
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Fontenot just finished his fifth season as the Falcons’ general manager. The team had only one winning record under his watch, and did not make the playoffs once. He finished with a 36-48 record. The Falcons dealt longtime quarterback Matt Ryan with him in charge, and unsuccessfully pursued Deshaun Watson when was wrapping up his time with the Houston Texans and involved in legal issues. Watson eventually landed with the Cleveland Browns. Ryan later said he thought he’d still be a Falcon if it weren’t for the team’s pursuit of Watson.
The Falcons also signed Kirk Cousins to a $180 million deal, and then selected Penix with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft soon after in a move that left many puzzled.
With the move, the Falcons now find themselves back in the market for a new head coach. While the team has some promising pieces on its roster, quarterback remains a massive problem. After losing roughly half of the 2025 season to injury, Penix is a much bigger question mark than expected after his second year in the NFL.
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Veteran Kirk Cousins hasn’t looked the same since he returned from a torn Achilles in 2024, though he deserves credit for leading the team to wins down the stretch in 2025. Cousins is still under contract with the Falcons for two more seasons, but the team does have a potential out on his contract in the offseason. It will be up to the Falcons’ next head coach to determine whether Cousins should stick around and whether more help should be brought in to push Penix.
While the new Falcons coach may want to start fresh with a rookie quarterback, that could prove difficult. Following last year’s trade that netted the team James Pearce Jr., the Falcons do not have a first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
