At last, we’ve made it to Week 18 of the NFL regular season! This week specifically is one of most intricate rabbit holes imaginable, as news/coach speak/beat writer blurbs and NFL knowledge will be put to the test as we try to navigate the 16 final games of the regular season. We already have several teams eliminated, a few teams with nothing to play for that are resting players for the postseason, and quite a few “on the bubble” teams that are must-starts when playing DFS this weekend. We’ll touch on motivation for each team in a game-by-game format below.
Cleveland Browns (3-13) @ Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Motivation: Ravens are going all-out.
Cleveland’s season is over. The Ravens win the AFC North with a win here or a Steelers loss on Saturday. Baltimore certainly has a chance to end the year with the No. 3 seed in the AFC — if Pittsburgh wins, Baltimore will be either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Motivation: Both teams are potentially going all-out.
All systems go for this game in all formats. Bengals need a win for their run to continue — a loss eliminates them. Pittsburgh will see whether or not they have to try on Saturday, as the Ravens play in the early game on Saturday. If Baltimore wins, Pittsburgh would need a win to claim the AFC North title. If Baltimore loses (unlikely, but still), Pittsburgh would fall to the No. 5 or No. 6 seed with a loss. If Baltimore loses, we could see the Steelers rest players.
Carolina Panthers (4-12) @ Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Motivation: Atlanta will be going all-out.
The Panthers are eliminated. Atlanta needs a win in order to have a shot at the postseason.
Washington Commanders (11-5) @ Dallas Cowboys (7-9)
Motivation: Washington has a chance to grab the 6 seed in the NFC.
Dallas Cowboys are eliminated. The Packers and Commanders play at the same time and both teams will either be the 6 or 7 seed. HC Dan Quinn has stated they will “go for the 6 seed” — Washington owns the conference tiebreaker over the Packers if both teams finish with 12 wins.
Chicago Bears (4-12) @ Green Bay Packers (11-5)
Motivation: This is the Bears Super Bowl. Green Bay has a shot at the No. 6 seed with a Washington loss.
Chicago would love to finish their disappointing season by spoiling the Packers in January at Lambeau. Green Bay and Washington play at the same time — except the Packers will be watching the Commanders to see what that score is in real time. If Washington controls the game at the half, don’t be shocked to see Green Bay rest their starters in the second half (these players are not safe for Week 18).
Houston Texans (9-7) @ Tennessee Titans (3-13)
Motivation: Neither team has motivation here.
The Titans have nothing to play for while the Texans are locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC. Houston should be expected to rest players.
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) @ Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
Motivation: Neither team has motivation.
Neither team has anything to play for after the Colts lost a ridiculous game to the Giants…ending their season.
Buffalo Bills (13-3) @ New England Patriots (3-13)
Motivation: Neither team has any motivation.
The Bills can’t move from the No. 2 seed in the AFC while the Patriots are eliminated. There’s a small chance that Josh Allen could play a chunk of time given his consecutive starts streak (114 straight) and a potential last second MVP push…but trusting anything for a full game here feels unlikely.
New York Giants (3-13) @ Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Motivation: Neither team has motivation here.
The Giants have nothing to play for even after they put up 45 on the Colts in Week 17. Philly is locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC. With Jalen Hurts coming off a concussion, we should expect the Eagles to rest most of their starters. RB Saquon Barkley can pass Eric Dickerson for the all-time single-season rushing record and he can do it against his former team (101 yards, this will be mentioned in the Week 18 milestones article).
New Orleans Saints (5-11) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Motivation: Tampa will be going all-out here.
The Bucs win and they are in the playoffs. A loss will eliminate them while the Saints are already eliminated. Tampa is a full-go.
Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) @ Denver Broncos (9-7)
Motivation: Denver is one of the most motivated teams on the Week 18 card.
Denver needs to win in order to make the playoffs. KC has the No. 1 seed locked up and Andy Reid has historically sat starters in this scenario over the last few seasons. While the Chiefs have the opportunity to play spoilers, we shouldn’t expect them to play their top contributors.
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) @ Las Vegas Raiders (4-12)
Motivation: The Chargers could either have nothing to play for or at least something to play for (see below).
Los Angeles can finish with the AFC’s No. 5 or No. 6 seed. If Pittsburgh wins on Saturday, the Chargers have nothing to play for. If Pittsburgh loses and the Bengals make the playoffs, the Chargers can grab the 5 seed with a win against Vegas. Should that be the case, LA will be highly motivated to take on the Texans rather than the Ravens. Vegas’ season is over.
Seattle Seahawks (9-7) @ Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
Motivation: The Rams COULD have motivation here.
Seattle’s season is over. The Rams will have either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the NFC. Considering this game is at the 4 pm ET window on Sunday, this game comes down to what happens in Tampa. HC Sean McVay has already stated that he is excited to see Jimmy G and Blake Corum in Week 18…indicating that the Rams will rest their starters.
Miami Dolphins (8-8) @ New York Jets (4-12)
Motivation: Miami will be going all-out.
Miami and Denver play at the same time on Sunday. The Dolphins need a win and they also need Denver to lose. The Jets have nothing to play for.
San Francisco 49ers (6-10) @ Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
Motivation: No motivation here.
Both teams are out of the playoff picture.
Minnesota Vikings (14-2) @ Detroit Lions (14-2)
Motivation: An amazing Sunday Night game to end the regular season. All-out.
The winner of this game not only gets the No. 1 see in the NFC, but they also get the NFC North division title as well. This game is the game of the week and potentially has the makings of the best storyline of the year. Obviously the best game on the Week 18 card from an implication standpoint.
Let’s finish the regular season off in style!
-JB
One response to “NFL: Week 18 Team Motivation”
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