Sunday Rundown: Key takeaways from Week 18's biggest games
Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.
Sunday night spotlight
Steelers somehow get it done
I probably counted the Steelers out on five separate occasions this season, and a few more during Sunday night's game alone. All of which, I'll add, were very much deserved. But that's pretty much the story with this team, isn't it? We can have all the conversations we want about how an organization toiling in mediocrity for the better part of the last eight years might be overdue for a change in leadership. And we can tell ourselves time and time again that they can't keep getting away with some of the things they do on the field. The dink-and-dunk passing game, the regular coverage busts, and some maddening game-management decisions, among other things, don't quite scream winning football. And yet here we are, once again reminded that it often doesn't matter. This latest act of the Steelers defying expectations saw Aaron Rodgers throw for a season-high 294 yards to outduel Lamar Jackson in a wild second half, leading the way to the club's first AFC North title since 2020. Will I be picking them next Monday night against Houston? Absolutely not. I wouldn't be surprised if Pittsburgh doesn't so much as find the end zone in a wild-card matchup against the Texans' defense. But here's the thing: I simultaneously don't think anyone could be surprised by any result with this team. As tired as Steelers fans may be of hearing about it, there's a reason Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season. Pittsburgh always punches above its weight.
Ravens disappoint again
I wrote this week that the AFC playoff field had better be hoping the Ravens didn't sneak into the playoffs. In some ways, Sunday night's game showed why. Lamar Jackson looked a lot more like his old self after missing the previous game, sparking the Baltimore offense with a few MVP-caliber plays. He was particularly spectacular in a wild second half, going 4-for-4 on passes of 10-plus air yards for 155 yards and two touchdowns, according to Next Gen Stats. An offense with that kind of player at quarterback, and a timeless Derrick Henry by his side, is a daunting matchup for any opponent. The problem with my bold take? Baltimore's defense didn't hold up its end of the bargain. Perhaps it would have been a different result if Kyle Hamilton hadn't left the game with a concussion early in the second half - the star safety elevates this unit as much as any defensive player in football. The loss of Nate Wiggins didn't help, either. But there's still no excuse for allowing a shorthanded Steelers offense to march up and down the field. The Ravens may have made some noise if they got into the tournament, but they ultimately got what they deserved: nothing. The latest heartbreak coming before the usual playoff letdown could leave the organization no choice but to make significant changes in the offseason. You have to wonder if this core missed its best chance to chase down a Super Bowl.
Late-afternoon games
A flawed No. 1 seed
The Chargers sitting starters for Sunday's regular-season finale had seemingly made it a forgone conclusion that the Broncos would get the win they needed to secure the top seed in the AFC. Denver indeed took care of business to earn a first-round bye, but it wasn't nearly the cakewalk it probably should have been. On one hand, nothing is easy against a Jesse Minter defense. That's why the Chargers' second-year coordinator is expected to be one of the hottest names in the coaching market this offseason. But the Broncos failing to post a single touchdown drive against a unit of mostly backups - Denver's lone TD was a pick-6 off Trey Lance - only reinforces the lingering concerns I've had about their true upside this season. The offense really doesn't need to do much to support a championship-caliber defense. Unfortunately for the Broncos, clearing that low bar with any sort of consistency continues to be an adventure. Denver's offense has posted a sub-45% success rate in all four of its matchups with teams in the AFC playoff field, according to TruMedia (vs. JAX: 44.6%, at HOU: 37.7%, vs. LAC: 34.5%, at LAC: 25%). Can that group make the most of the extra week of preparation and find a way to break through against top competition in the postseason?
Mission accomplished
The Rams were the only playoff team to roll with starters despite being locked into a wild-card spot and only having seeding to play for. Sean McVay said the decision - a departure from how he handled the exact same situation last year - was about getting back on track after back-to-back losses. I wondered whether the more significant factor may have been the opportunity to lock up the No. 5 seed and a matchup with the NFC South champion. Whatever the motivation, the mission was accomplished. The Rams' offense bounced back nicely after a rocky outing in Atlanta, with Matthew Stafford throwing four touchdowns as L.A. tied its second-best output of the season by EPA/play. And the win earns the Rams a trip to Carolina next week, easily the most appealing first-round matchup in the NFC playoff picture. Chris Shula's defense has shown some cracks down the stretch, tying for 24th in EPA/play since Week 13, but L.A. has more than enough wiggle room with an offense like this. Davante Adams potentially making his return next week would once again have the Rams looking like the Super Bowl contender we saw for much of the regular season.
Not a single INT
The Jets are truly one of a kind. Another embarrassing result to cap off a brutal season sees New York create a brand new class of its own among all-time sad defenses, becoming the first team in NFL history to finish a year without an interception. Zero in 17 games. It's almost impressive. The silver lining here is that the Jets dropping to 3-14, along with a win from the Giants, pushes them up to the No. 2 spot in April's draft. The potential opportunity to find a franchise quarterback was always the key to getting this team going back in the right direction. And not having to dip into their collection of draft picks to trade up would be incredibly valuable. But this rebuild is going to be a long process either way. And while all reporting appears to indicate that the Jets will stick with Aaron Glenn for a second year, the head coach's defensive expertise doing nothing to prevent an unmitigated disaster on that side of the ball is not a great sign for the leadership in place. There's a case to be made that the Jets should be looking to start over now, thus avoiding a rookie quarterback trying to find his way with a head coach already under pressure.
Early kickoffs
Panthers take NFC South
The Panthers are heading to the playoffs. As we discussed in our Saturday night reaction below, it was only fitting that the NFC South race came down to one last game between two teams that were eliminated from contention long ago. After falling to Tampa Bay, Carolina needed Atlanta to beat New Orleans to create a three-way tie atop the division. Tyler Shough made things interesting before the late interception, but the Falcons held on for a 19-17 win to send the Panthers through. Carolina probably won't go much further with the Rams rolling into town next week, but who knows? We've seen wild-card upsets before, and the Panthers did knock off L.A. in a stunner in Week 13. No matter what happens, and regardless of the fact that it only took an 8-9 record to win the NFC South, this is an extremely positive step for a Panthers organization that hasn't seen the playoffs since 2017.
Garrett makes history
Myles Garrett is the new single-season sack king. The Browns star had to sweat out the closing stages of his chase, with the Steelers effectively scheming him out of last week's game and Joe Burrow consistently getting rid of the ball in a flash Sunday afternoon. But he finally broke through with minutes to spare in the season finale, taking down the Bengals quarterback to record No. 23 and break the record shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. As I've said throughout this historic season, it's truly astonishing that Garrett's put up the numbers he does as part of a team that is almost always losing. He's right up there with Aaron Donald among the best defensive players I've ever seen. The Browns will likely continue to rebuff trade opportunities for the face of their franchise, but this remains a situation to watch heading into the offseason. As a team that's still a long way away from competing, would Cleveland really be able to pass on the opportunity to turn a 30-year-old defender into multiple first-round picks? Contenders would line up for the opportunity to acquire a generational pass-rusher who could put them over the top.
Raiders get No. 1 pick
The Raiders are on the clock. With the Giants beating the Cowboys on Sunday, Las Vegas officially secured the No. 1 overall pick before even taking the field against the Chiefs. This team has a long way to go before it's in a position to compete, and discussions about retooling the roster can't truly begin until we find out who the head coach will be next year. But a young quarterback can completely change an organization's outlook, and a clear path to such a player makes the Raiders' coaching job far more attractive to prospective candidates if the club lets go of Pete Carroll. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has positioned himself as the early favorite for the top pick with a Heisman Trophy season, and Oregon's Dante Moore will also be in the mix if he declares.
Costly wins for Giants, Browns
In-game tanking will never be a real thing in the NFL. Even if a better draft pick would undeniably benefit a team, there is simply no world in which the players and coaches (the ones who actually decide games) would do anything other than try to win. Too many jobs are on the line to take any other approach. That said, the Giants and Browns have certainly hurt their respective futures over the last few weeks. The Giants were in possession of the No. 1 pick until last week's blowout of the Raiders. After back-to-back wins to finish the year 4-13, they'll be picking at No. 5. New York probably wasn't going to take a quarterback, but trading down from one of the top spots could have landed them a boatload of picks. The Browns would own the No. 2 selection if not for their own consecutive wins to close out the season. Now they find themselves at No. 6. They could trade up with an extra first-round pick at their disposal, but they'd have to jump multiple QB-needy teams. Losing those opportunities for some meaningless late-season wins must be frustrating for both fan bases.
Bengals need change
Based on recent reporting, the Bengals probably won't fire Zac Taylor this offseason. And we probably shouldn't be surprised. Of all the owners in the league, Mike Brown might be the least likely to pay a coach to not work for him. That's just not his style. The front office shoulders the blame for putting together one of the worst defenses in football, and Cincinnati may well have been in the playoff picture if Joe Burrow hadn't missed nine games. But we shouldn't absolve the coaching staff of blame for the 6-11 season. Sunday's loss to the Browns drops the Bengals to 19-16 in games with their star quarterback over the last three seasons. Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins would make this a particularly interesting job for any prospective candidates in the upcoming coaching cycle. The Bengals might be wise to capitalize on that opportunity.
Leonard makes strong impression
The Colts head into the offseason facing some major question marks at the quarterback position. Daniel Jones was well on his way to earning an extension ahead of his free agency, but a season-ending Achilles injury clouds that situation. Even if he returns on a short-term deal, the Colts can't bank on him being ready for the start of next season. Riley Leonard shining in Sunday's season finale against the Texans adds an interesting wrinkle. The rookie quarterback completed 21 of 34 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while adding 21 yards and another score on the ground. While one game isn't enough for Indy to consider him as a clear-cut starter, Leonard making plays against a scary Houston defense does make you wonder whether Indy may have gotten a steal in the sixth round of the draft. And while Philip Rivers coming off the couch was a fun story, the Colts might have been better off turning to the kid while they were still in the playoff mix.
Saturday notes
The clear top dog
Locking up the No. 1 seed with a convincing win over the red-hot 49ers leaves no doubt: The Seahawks are the most complete contender in the NFC. As non-playoff teams around the league weigh significant changes in the offseason, perhaps Seattle's meteoric rise can serve as an example of what's possible for those bold enough to stray from what's comfortable. Moving on from Pete Carroll after 14 seasons couldn't have been an easy decision, but the organization wasn't about to sit back after three years of mediocrity. Mike Macdonald laid the foundation for an elite defense soon after arriving in 2024. His own pair of bold moves last offseason - Sam Darnold in at quarterback for Geno Smith, and Klint Kubiak in for Ryan Grubb as offensive coordinator - suddenly gave the team everything it needed to win a Super Bowl now. Admittedly, I've been torn between several candidates for Coach of the Year. After locking up home-field advantage by holding the 49ers' offense to three points and a season-low minus-0.36 EPA/play, Macdonald has a strong case for the honor.
49ers humbled in a big spot
I finally caved last week. After doubting the 49ers all season, a big Sunday night win over the Bears gave me no choice but to consider that my concerns about the defense might be overblown. What if Kyle Shanahan's offense was good enough to overcome any issues? Well, that group was humbled in a big way. With the No. 1 seed on the line Saturday night, San Francisco managed just one field goal in a crushing defeat. One outing, especially against an outstanding Seahawks defense, isn't enough for me to smash the panic button, and I still expect the 49ers to look a lot better in the first round of the playoffs and potentially even in a rematch with the Seahawks down the road. Yet I can't help but circle back to the initial reasons for my skepticism. While a 13-3 final score may not paint the picture of a shoddy defensive performance, San Francisco must be concerned with the way Seattle's offense controlled the game on the ground. Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet shared the load as the Seahawks finished with 180 rushing yards - their second-highest total of the season. As good as this club may be in other phases, Seattle's run game hasn't been its specialty, ranking last among all NFC playoff teams with a 42.6% rush success rate. A first-round matchup with the Eagles or Bears could put a lot of pressure on the 49ers' offense.
A fitting conclusion
The Bucs' narrow 16-14 victory over the Panthers means we'll have to wait another day to find out who will be crowned the NFC South champion. Tampa Bay holds the tiebreaker over Carolina, with both sitting at 8-9. However, if the Falcons beat the Saints on Sunday afternoon, we'll have a three-way tie at the top. In that scenario, it's the Panthers who would advance despite their latest disappointing defeat. If that sounds like a wild way for a No. 4 seed to be decided, well, that's because it is. But in a division that effectively became a battle of who wanted it least, it's oddly fitting that this comes down to an otherwise meaningless game between two teams already eliminated. And nothing about what we saw Saturday night suggests either the Bucs or Panthers will make much noise in the playoffs. Carolina's season-long run of inconsistency continued, with its typically strong run game a non-factor, averaging 1.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, the Bucs' passing attack continued to sputter, as Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Emeka Egbuka combined for just 50 yards on four catches. Tampa Bay's defense also keeps making things easy for opposing quarterbacks, ranking 27th in pass success rate. With all that in mind ...
Refs a main character (again)
I don't love spending time dumping on refs. More often than not, I'm inclined to acknowledge that they have a wildly difficult job. Missed calls are inevitable when trying to officiate an NFL game at full speed. But sometimes, as we saw from the crew in Tampa Bay during the third quarter Saturday night, the mistakes are too big to ignore. First, the refs botched a backward pass they ruled incomplete, only to give the Panthers the loss of yards anyway. Then, there was a missed facemask penalty when Tommy Tremble had his helmet ripped off. Tetairoa McMillan later had a critical 32-yard gain erased by an offensive pass interference call that looked like nothing more than a receiver overwhelming a defender to beat press coverage. Also, Cade Otton tripped while tracking the ball downfield, drawing a pass interference flag that put the Bucs in range for a key field goal. That series of calls may well be the difference between the Panthers making the playoffs. Again, it's a tough job. I get it. All I'm asking is that the NFL use the technology at its disposal to efficiently overrule the painfully obvious misses. If we can see how bad the calls are in real time, so can the league. There's no excuse for the product to be affected this much.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.