New year, new me. The saying holds different connotations when discussing different NFL franchises.

For some, the "new" aspect is the reset after the end of the regular season, with a potential playoff run on the horizon. For others, the offseason is coming at them like a runaway freight train, with a need to stop the careening by keeping everything on track.

Before any of that can occur, the final weekend of the 2024 slate needed to be played.

The NFL loaded Week 18. Saturday contests determined the winner of the AFC North, with the Baltimore Ravens emerging victorious. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed the NFC South during Sunday's early slate.

Finally, the Detroit Lions definitively staked their claim as the NFC's best seed with a decisive victory over the Minnesota Vikings during Sunday Night Football.

As with every week, Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski banded together to break down all of Week 18's most impactful results and biggest takeaways from every game

AFC Playoff Picture

Current AFC Playoff Standings

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)*

2. Buffalo Bills (13-4)*

3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5)*

4. Houston Texans (10-7)*

5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)*

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)*

7. Denver Broncos (10-7)*

Eliminated: Cincinnati Bengals (9-8), Miami Dolphins (8-9), Cleveland Browns (3-14), Indianapolis Colts (8-9), Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13), Las Vegas Raiders (4-13), New England Patriots (4-13), New York Jets (5-12), Tennessee Titans (3-14)

*= clinched playoff berth

NFC Playoff Picture

Current NFC Playoff Standings

1. Detroit Lions (15-2)*

2. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)*

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)*

4. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)*

5. Minnesota Vikings (14-3)*

6. Washington Commanders (12-5)*

7. Green Bay Packers (11-6)*

Eliminated: Atlanta Falcons (8-9), Seattle Seahawks (10-7), Arizona Cardinals (8-9), Carolina Panthers (5-12), Dallas Cowboys (7-10), Chicago Bears (5-12), New York Giants (3-14), New Orleans Saints (5-12), San Francisco 49ers (6-11)

*= clinched playoff berth

Indianapolis Colts 26, Jacksonville Jaguars 23

Indianapolis Colts' Season-Closing Victory Shines Spotlight on Team's Biggest Issues

The Indianapolis Colts didn't win the games that mattered down the stretch, then won when nothing but draft positioning was on the line.

Sunday's 26-23 overtime victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars allowed Shane Steichen's squad to finish with an 8-9 record. Since Steichen took the reins, the team is a perfectly mediocre 17-17. Mediocrity is the absolute worst place an NFL team can be.

Indianapolis still isn't settled at quarterback. The team will almost certainly go into next season with hopes of Anthony Richardson staying healthy and developing as a passer. Neither occurred during his second campaign. In fact, he finished his 2024 effort with a 47.7 completion percentage while sitting on the bench because of back spasms.

Instead, veteran Joe Flacco led the team to victory on Sunday. The Colts' defense simply isn't good enough from a personnel or schematic point of view. Last week, the unit provided as little resistance as one can imagine against the previously listless New York Giants.

"I think that if you're not embarrassed by what took place on Sunday, well then, you're probably the wrong person to be in the Colts organization," defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said after last week's embarrassing loss. "It burns you."

While Indianapolis emerged victorious during its final contest, the defense still allowed Mac Jones and Co. to amass over 300 total yards and score 10 points on their final two drives in regulation. Another year of Bradley calling plays, even with upgrades in the secondary and along the defensive front, is a recipe for more of the same.

Three weeks ago, the Colts held legitimate playoff aspirations. They fumbled that opportunity. Those hopes still flickered until a shameful loss against the Giants. Indianapolis is not a serious team as it's currently comprised. A meaningless Week 18 win doesn't change anything.

WR Brian Thomas Jr. Emerges as a Superstar Even in Jacksonville Jaguars' Lost Season

For everything that went wrong in Jacksonville this season—which was nearly everything considering the team's 4-13 finish—the play of rookie Brian Thomas Jr. can't be viewed as anything other than a spectacular success.

The Jaguars chose Thomas with this year's 23rd overall draft pick, as the fourth wide receiver off the board. He was viewed as a vertical threat, with the need to develop into a complete target.

Well, he already has.

Thomas caught seven passes for 103 yards during the team's final 2024 contest. Along the way, he set franchise rookie records in receptions (87), receiving yardage (1,282) and touchdown catches (10). He led all of this year's rookies in receiving yardage and touchdowns.

As the Jaguars limp into yet another offseason, they do so with an understanding that their currently set at quarterback with Trevor Lawrence, with Thomas serving as his primary target. This knowledge will allow Jacksonville to attack other areas of the roster because those building blocks are already in place.

Philadelphia Eagles 20, New York Giants 13

Giants Should Fire Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll

New York Giants co-owner John Mara will make a crucial decision regarding his franchise decision-makers in the coming days.

According to Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Mara will evaluate general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll separately.

As a general manager, Schoen has whiffed on critical roster moves, particularly taking offensive tackle Evan Neal in the first round of the 2022 draft, signing Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million extension in 2023 and allowing Saquon Barkley to walk in free agency this past offseason. When healthy, Kayvon Thibodeaux, a 2022 first-rounder, has been an underwhelming pass-rusher.

Schoen has made far too many questionable roster moves to retain his job. Though he has drafted a couple of promising rookies, Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr., those additions don't compensate for his glaring miscues.

During Jones' best season, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka handled play-calling duties. Daboll took full control of that responsibility at the beginning of this season, and it didn't go well. In November, the Giants benched and cut Jones. Big Blue entered Week 18 with the second-fewest points and the fourth-fewest yards.

Mara isn't accustomed to constant turnover, but he would be justified in cleaning house this offseason.

Nick Sirianni Should Be on the Hot Seat Going into the Playoffs

Typically, firing a head coach who has led his team to the playoffs every year would be asinine. Nick Siranni has done that with a 48-20 record.

Yet, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, "people around the league" are wondering about Sirianni's job security if the Eagles have a short playoff run.

However, as a head coach, Sirianni's leadership has come into question because of his fiery temperament. In a sports setting, within the game, that's fine, but Sirianni has been involved in a shouting match with fans, and one of his coaches had to restrain him from Jalen Carter this season.

If you're a firm believer that a team takes on the personality of its head coach, Sirianni's sideline blowups could be a foreshadowing of a big problem.

Additionally, the Eagles were one-and-done in two of their three playoff trips. So, if they bow out in the Wild Card Round, team brass should consider moving on from Sirainni if it can find an upgrade–a proven head coach like Mike Vrabel–or a young, innovative offensive play-caller looking to become a lead skipper like Ben Johnson.

For Sirianni and all the noise he brings on the sideline and away from the field, his team must be better than one-and-done for the third time in four years.

New England Patriots 23, Buffalo Bills 16

Bills' Deep Roster Is Equipped for Extensive Playoff Run

This past offseason, the Buffalo Bills lost notable veterans like wideout Stefon Diggs and edge-rusher Leonard Floyd. Still, they have depth on both sides of the ball, which may be more valuable for a deep playoff run.

On Sunday against the New England Patriots, the Bills rested key guys, but rookies Keon Coleman and running back Ray Davis made splash plays. Coleman hauled in a 20-yard pass, and Davis broke free for a 23-yard run. Starters like James Cook played limited roles. Amari Cooper missed the game for personal reasons.

Despite their inexperience, Coleman and Davis may be key playmakers in the Bills offense for the postseason. Davis has racked up 631 scrimmage yards and scored five touchdowns. Coleman finished second on the team in receiving yards (556), averaging 19.2 yards per catch.

All eyes will be on MVP candidate Josh Allen, but he has several playmakers at the skill positions who can take some pressure off him.

Patriots' Offseason Direction Is Uncertain Following Jerod Mayo's Dismissal

On Sunday, New England fired head coach Jerod Mayo shortly after defeating Buffalo, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

With the win, the Patriots fell from the No. 1 spot to the No. 4 in the 2025 draft order. Recently, New England has been linked to Mike Vrabel, who played eight seasons with the club.

Assuming Eliot Wolf retains his position as the Patriots' director of scouting and de facto general manager, the team must infuse the roster with offensive playmakers regardless of who becomes the new head coach.

The Patriots can hire an experienced head coach with a track record of building a quality staff or bring in a successful offensive coordinator to give their 30th-ranked offense and team new direction.

New England's new lead skipper would have Drake Maye, who has shown flashes this year, but the rookie quarterback needs a go-to perimeter playmaker.

Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin are the top projected impending free-agent wide receivers set to test the open market in March. If the Cincinnati Bengals don't re-sign Higgins, he'll have plenty of suitors, though the Patriots should make an aggressive offer to sign him.

While sharing targets with three-time Pro Bowler Ja'Marr Chase over the previous four seasons, Higgins has racked up 911-plus yards in three of the last four terms. He hauled in a career-high 10 touchdown passes this year.

Higgins would be a massive boost for the Patriots' aerial attack and an immediate aid for Maye. Slot wideout DeMario Douglas led New England's wideouts with modest receiving numbers for the season, hauling in 66 catches for 621 yards and three touchdowns.

Mayo's successor must have a plan for the offensive side of the ball.

Washington Commanders 23, Dallas Cowboys 13

Commanders Ensure Jayden Daniels Will Get First Playoff Start

Entering Sunday's game, the Commanders' plan was to play their starters, play to win and try to secure the highest seed possible.

"We recognize having a sixth seed and going into the playoffs with that is a good thing. So, we're going to fight like hell to keep that," head coach Dan Quinn told reporters on Monday.

However, Washington ultimately reversed course regarding rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels—possibly after learning that Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love had exited with an injury.

After trailing 9-3 at the half, Quinn pulled Daniels for backup quarterback Marcus Mariota.

The decision helps to ensure that Daniels will get his first career playoff start next weekend. Whether Washington's season continues beyond the Wild Card Round or not, a playoff appearance will be an appropriate way for the presumptive Offensive Rookie of the Year to cap his inaugural campaign.

Daniels didn't do much against Dallas, going 6-of-12 for 38 yards with 27 rushing yards before exiting. The LSU product finishes his rookie season with 3,568 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 891 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.

Mariota did enough to deliver a comeback win and secure the NFC's sixth seed, but Daniels will be back under center next weekend.

Cowboys Finally Audition Trey Lance, Must Now Ponder His Future

Two offseasons ago, the Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for quarterback Trey Lance. The third overall pick in the 2021 draft never emerged as a reliable starter for the 49ers, but he had the potential to be a long-term backup option for Dallas.

Cooper Rush has filled the backup role off and on since 2017, but he's 31 years old and slated for free agency in the offseason. Theoretically, the 24-year-old Lance—who will also be a free agent in the spring—could be a more cost-effective backup moving forward.

That's relevant because Dallas is projected to have just $19.3 million in cap space in 2025 and is due to give pass-rusher Micah Parsons an extension.

Before Sunday, however, Lance had never seen regular-season action for the Cowboys. Dallas finally gave him a starting opportunity against Washington. While Lance missed a few throws and didn't have the sort of game that will have teams lining up in free agency, he played relatively well.

Lance finished 20-of-34 for 244 yards with 26 rushing yards. While he didn't deliver the win, he did enough to make the Commanders earn it. He also played well enough for Dallas to seriously consider bringing him back as quarterback depth in 2025.

Houston Texans 23, Tennessee Titans 14

Texans Uncover Offensive Options in Largely Meaningless Game

Injuries at receiver have hampered the Houston Texans in 2024. Nico Collins missed significant time with a hamstring injury earlier in the year, while Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell are both out for the year with knee injuries.

Heading into the playoffs, the Texans desperately needed to find some ancillary playmakers behind Collins, tight end Dalton Schultz and running back Joe Mixon.

Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans didn't mean much for the Texans, but it did give them an opportunity to evaluate their depth ahead of the postseason. Fortunately, a few players did stand out after starters like Collins, Mixon and C.J. Stroud were pulled.

Robert Woods, who has played sparingly this season, caught a couple of passes. So did recent addition Diontae Johnson, who was claimed after being waived by the Baltimore Ravens. The star of Sunday's show, however, was running back Dameon Pierce.

Pierce, who had logged just 21 carries coming into Sunday, repeatedly gashed the Titans defense and provided one of the highlights of the early afternoon with a 92-yard touchdown run.

Pierce finished 176 rushing yards and a touchdown while leading Houston to a fairly convincing victory. The Texans will host the AFC's fifth seed in the Wild Card Round.

Titans Officially Turn Page on 2024 Quarterback Situation

Things may change in the coming days/hours, but it appears that head coach Brian Callahan will return in 2025.

"My sense is that Tennessee will want to keep Brian Callahan and let him work with a new quarterback, because Will Levis doesn't look like the answer," ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote on Thursday.

Sunday's loss, however, should officially bring the end of the Will Levis and Mason Rudolph era. Both quarterbacks have had opportunities, and both played on Sunday. Neither has provided quality quarterback play, and that trend continued against Houston.

Statistically, Levis and Rudolph were respectable—they finished a combined 16-of-26 for 245 yards and a touchdown. However, they couldn't lead Tennessee to a victory against mostly backups.

Of course, the Titans' quest for a new quarterback meant that losing was quite possibly the goal against Houston. With the New England Patriots winning on Sunday, Tennessee moved into the top spot in the 2025 draft.

This means that the Titans will have their pick of QB prospects like Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward—though targeting a free agent like Sam Darnold could be Plan A.

One way or another, Tennessee will have a new quarterback in 2025. The nightmare that has been its 2024 quarterback situation is over.

Carolina Panthers 44, Atlanta Falcons 38

Panthers Begin 2025 With Their Franchise Quarterback in Place

We've commented on Bryce Young's resurgence repeatedly over the second half of this season. It's hard to focus on anyone else, however, after Young carried the Panthers to an overtime victory over the rival Atlanta Falcons.

A year ago, Young was wrapping a miserable rookie campaign, and the Panthers didn't know if or how his career could be salvaged. They hired Dave Canales as head coach after his redemption work with Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield. There were some early struggles, and Young spent some time on the bench, but it's looking like Carolina made the right call.

Young, meanwhile, is playing up to his draft status. He was simply phenomenal against the Falcons on Sunday, consistently making huge plays with his arm and his legs.

Young finished 25-of-34 for 251 yards and three touchdowns to go with 24 rushing yards and two rushing scores. He repeatedly answered Atlanta's scoring drives and was virtually flawless (5-of-5) on the overtime touchdown drive.

While Carolina finishes the year an underwhelming 5-12, it earned three more victories than it had a year ago. More importantly, it had any lingering questions about Young's future answered. The Alabama product isn't a future star. He's a star already.

Teams that don't have a franchise quarterback are constantly searching for one—sometimes for decades at a time. The Panthers have theirs, which, for the first time in a long time, puts them in an enviable position as the page officially turns to 2025.

Michael Penix Jr.'s Final Audition Gives Falcons Hope for the Future

Three weeks ago, the Falcons benched quarterback Kirk Cousins for rookie first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. The hope was that Penix would provide enough of a spark to lead Atlanta into the postseason.

That was not to be. Tampa Bay's victory over New Orleans eliminated the Falcons before their own game was concluded. Atlanta needed a win and a Buccaneers loss to claim the NFC South, and they got neither.

What the Falcons did get was the best performance of Penix's young career. The Washington product had shown flashes in his two previous starts, but he looked like a legitimate playmaker against the Panthers.

While Penix did throw an interception, he also finished 21-of-38 for 312 yards with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score. He made several clutch decisions and high-level throws during the game—the sort Atlanta never saw from former quarterback Desmond Ridder.

While the Falcons would certainly prefer to be headed to the playoffs, Penix's final outing of the 2024 season should leave them hopeful about what lies ahead.

No longer a rookie, Penix has likely shown enough to enter 2025 as Atlanta's unquestioned QB1. The question for the Falcons now is what to do with Cousins, who is under contract through 2027 and set to carry a $40 million cap hit next season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, New Orleans Saints 19

Saints Could Finally Embrace Youth Movement in 2025

At some point, the New Orleans Saints will have to stop kicking the cap-space can down the road and terminate costly contracts in exchange for more roster flexibility.

As of Sunday, New Orleans is $66.6 million over the cap threshold, per Over the Cap. In recent offseasons, the front office has manipulated the salary cap and maintained a veteran roster.

With a new coaching staff in the upcoming offseason, the Saints may be better off in the long term if they let go of high-paid aging veterans like Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Tyran Mathieu.

The Saints have been a mediocre non-playoff team over the previous four years. New Orleans may get positive results from a recharged roster with an influx of upstart talent in starting positions rather than running it back with much older veterans on the decline.

Buccaneers' Close Win Over Saints Could Be a Wake-Up Call

The Buccaneers needed a win over the Saints to clinch the NFC South title. While this contest seemed like a mismatch, with New Orleans' injury-riddled offense trying to keep pace with Tampa Bay's fourth-ranked scoring offense, the Saints led for most of the game. The Buccaneers didn't capture the lead until early in the fourth quarter.

Remember, the Saints had rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler under center, and he didn't have Alvin Kamara behind him in the backfield or wideout Chris Olave on the perimeter.

In the first meeting against New Orleans, Rattler's first career start, Tampa Bay won 51-27. Though Rattler has shown improvement, one would think the Buccaneers could have gained an early lead against a depleted team.

Tampa Bay went through a tough battle with an inferior opponent and came out on top. Heading into the playoffs, the Buccaneers can use this nail-biter to revamp their focus.

Chicago Bears 24, Green Bay Packers 22

Bears Should Do Whatever It Takes to Hire HC Mike Vrabel

According to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, the Chicago Bears will target Mike Vrabel and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for their next head-coaching hire.

As an offensive play-caller, Johnson has an enticing resume. In all three of his years as a Lions coordinator, he led a top-five scoring offense. With good reason, the Bears might prefer an innovative offensive mind to help develop rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

However, the Bears need a strong-minded head coach who can change their losing culture. As the lead skipper of the Tennessee Titans, Vrabel led the franchise to double-digit wins in back-to-back campaigns. Before him, Tennessee hadn't recorded 10 or more victories in consecutive terms since 2007-08.

Vrabel is also a proven head coach with a 54-45 record. Johnson, though impressive as a play-caller, doesn't have a track record in leading an entire team.

Coming off their sixth straight non-winning campaign, the Bears need a culture-changer who can build a quality coaching staff more than a brilliant X's and O's play-caller.

Regardless of Injuries, Josh Jacobs Must Be the Focal Point of Green Bay's Offense in the Playoffs

On Sunday, Packers fans saw wideout Christian Watson leave on a cart because of a non-contact knee injury. Jordan Love suffered an elbow injury and didn't play in the second half.

Watson's injury seems more serious, which would be a blow to the Packers' aerial attack. He provided big plays, averaging 21.4 yards per catch. That said, Green Bay has quality depth at wide receiver. Dontayvion Wicks can take on a bigger role. Tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave could also fill a void in the passing attack.

If Love experiences lingering discomfort in his elbow, Green Bay may have to scale back on its passing game in the playoffs.

Even if the Packers get positive news about those injuries, they should continue to feature Josh Jacobs in the run game.

Since Green Bay's Week 10 bye, Love hasn't thrown for more than 30 passes in a game. Between Weeks 11 and 17, Jacobs has averaged 19.6 rush attempts per contest.

While Love and Watson can balance the Packers offense, connecting for big plays through the air, Green Bay's run-first approach will be its key to success in the postseason.

Los Angeles Chargers 34, Las Vegas Raiders 20

Chargers Are Built to Win in Any Playoff Environment

Even though the Chargers play their home games indoors, they'll built to win outside in the inclement weather, which is a huge plus for road games in January.

If the Chargers upset the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round, they may have to visit Kansas City, Buffalo, or Baltimore in the divisional round. While the Chargers would likely be underdogs in any of those matchups, their ground game, with J.K. Dobbins healthy and their No. 1 scoring defense, would give them a chance to pull off a big upset.

The Chargers aren't restricted to a ground-and-pound offense, though.

Quarterback Justin Herbert has built a strong rapport with rookie wideout Ladd McConkey. Quentin Johnston is coming off a career performance, hauling in 13 passes for 186 yards against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Moreover, the Chargers rarely turn the ball over. They entered Week 18 with the second-fewest giveaways (nine).

As a squad that can score in different ways, limits possessions and makes few mistakes, the Chargers will be a tough out in the postseason for any opponent.

Mark Davis Is Buying False Hope to Justify Retaining HC Antonio Pierce

In the offseason, the Raiders will make a decision on head coach Antonio Pierce.

According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the team has not given any members of the coaching staff "guarantees" about their future.

On Sunday, ESPN's Adam Schefter leaned toward the notion that Pierce's job is safe.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport talked about how the Raiders' back-to-back wins might work in Pierce's favor.

For context, the Raiders beat the four-win Jacksonville Jaguars and the five-win New Orleans Saints. Both the Jaguars and Saints started backup quarterbacks in those games.

Davis shouldn't overlook the level of competition to justify minimal progress in a four-win season that included a 10-game losing streak.

On Sunday, the Chargers gave the Raiders a reality check for how they stack up against playoff-caliber teams. Las Vegas needs an upgrade at head coach. The club shouldn't use low-quality wins as a measure of hope for the future under Pierce.

Arizona Cardinals 47, San Francisco 49ers 24

Cardinals Continue to Trend in Positive Direction Under Jonathan Gannon's Supervision

Prior to the start of the 2023 season, the Arizona Cardinals' roster was viewed as the league's worst. The team still won four games and didn't finish with the NFL's worst record. A year later, Arizona improved to 8-9 overall after Sunday's demonstrative 47-24 victory over the rival 49ers.

While the postseason was never in serious consideration, the Cardinals can build toward that goal in 2025 because of budding aspirations built this season. Gannon understands the process after where the roster began.

"I understand why people would be disappointed in being out of playoffs," the head coach told reporters, "but when you're in our seat, the joy is competition."

The answer comes across as tongue-in-cheek. It shouldn't. As Gannon also noted, the team showed improvement after being eliminated from the postseason last season. Arizona had dug itself quite a deep hole. The organization is slowly climbing its way out of it, and it has reached the point where a little bit of help can push then into contention.

Right now, the Cardinals require reinforcements along the trenches. The coaching staff and quarterback Kyler Murray can also do a better job making wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. more of a focal point of the offense.

An 8-9 record is a disappointment in certain situations. For Arizona, it is a major step in the right direction.

Ricky Pearsall Looks Like Future Star in 49ers Offense Based on 2024 Finish

The San Francisco 49ers appear to have yet another budding star at wide receiver.

Deebo Samuel is signed through the 2025 campaign, while Brandon Aiyuk inked a four-year contract extension in August. This duo has been outstanding at different points during their time with the franchise. Ricky Pearsall must now be counted among San Francisco's dangerous offensive threats.

This year's 31st overall draft pick had a rough start to his rookie campaign after being shot in the chest during an attempted robbery prior to Week 1. He returned to the lineup 50 days after the incident. Understandably, the Niners coaching staff took time before consistently working him into the rotation.

But the last two weeks showed that Pearsall can be a huge part of the 49ers offense during the 2025 season. Against the Detroit Lions a week ago, the rookie receiver caught eight passes for 141 yards and a touchdown. Pearsall followed up that performance with six receptions for 69 yards and another score.

"There's a lot of different things that I've learned, especially in an offense like this, how complex it is," Pearsall said when asked about his rookie performance. "The biggest thing is being more detailed, whether it's landmarks I have to get to in my route, coming off the ball as hard as I can and then getting to the depth of my route. There are a lot of different things that I've learned. It's just making me a better player."

Denver Broncos 38, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Bo Nix, Broncos Boost Confidence Ahead of Playoffs

Sunday's game meant nothing for the Kansas City Chiefs, who had already secured the AFC's No. 1 seed. The Chiefs rested most of their key players, and, at times, it felt like they had no interest in making the game competitive.

For the Denver Broncos, though, this was a play-in game. The Cincinnati Bengals' win on Saturday meant that there was no way Denver could lose and still claim the AFC's final wild-card spot. Sean Payton's squad came out with a playoff intensity and never let up.

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix, meanwhile, was simply fantastic. He made smart decisions, showcased his accuracy, made plays with his legs and flashed his ability to attack deep.

The Oregon product has shown growth throughout the season, and against Kansas City, he looked like a quarterback who will be difficult to contain in the postseason. He finished 26-of-29 for 341 passing yards, four touchdowns and 47 rushing yards.

Playing against Chiefs backups in Denver didn't tell us much about how dangerous the Broncos can be as a road playoff team. Teams can only play against the players opposite them, though. On Sunday, Denver looked and played like a team ready for win-or-go-home football.

The Broncos snapped their two-game losing streak with the win and can now start preparing for a wild-card visit to Buffalo.

Sitting Starters Was the Right Call by Chiefs

In the rest-versus-rust debate, an argument can certainly be made for not sitting starters at the end of the year. A long layoff can be difficult to overcome for some teams, and one only needs to examine the latest round of the College Football Playoffs for proof.

However, Kansas City isn't like most teams. The Chiefs have held the No. 1 seed before, most recently in 2022, and have made it to the AFC title game in every season with Patrick Mahomes as the starting quarterback.

Andy Reid knows how to get his team ready for the playoffs, so sitting starters like Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco and Chris Jones in a meaningless Week 18 game shouldn't mean much for Kansas City. Losing one of those key players to injury before the postseason, however, would.

While it's hard to take away much from a game that the Chiefs weren't concerned with winning, we learned this: Kansas City's backups leave plenty to be desired.

Quarterback Carson Wentz (10-of-17 for 98 yards) wasn't a complete disaster, but he failed to get much of anything going with pass-catchers like Nikko Remigio and Peyton Henderson. Carson Steele (8 carries for 25 yards) didn't get many opportunities to run the ball, but he struggled to find yards.

Kansas City's defense did nothing to slow the Broncos offense, which racked up 479 total yards.

The Chiefs lost big, but this wasn't the squad they'll roll out in the divisional round. Kansas City can suffer through a lopsided loss to a division rival if it means having a healthier team for the three-peat run.

New York Jets 32, Miami Dolphins 20

Aaron Rodgers Probably Won't Return to Jets but Aces Possible 2025 Audition

It certainly feels like the New York Jets will part ways with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and begin a complete reset in the offseason. According to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, there is "great doubt" around the NFL that Rodgers will return.

Rodgers himself doesn't know if he'll be back or will even play in 2025.

"I'm going to take some time after the year—unless I get released right away—but I'll still take some time whether or not I want to play," Rodgers said last month, per ESPN's Rich Cimini.

If Sunday's win over the Miami Dolphins was Rodgers' final game as a Jet, he may have sparked the interest of a few quarterback-needy teams heading into the offseason.

The Jets didn't have anything to gain from Sunday's game, aside from ending the year on a high note and spoiling things for the Dolphins. They got the win, and Rodgers had arguably his best game of the season.

For most of the year, the 41-year-old has played like an aging quarterback who no longer had the skills to carry an offense. Against the Dolphins he looked like a star again, finishing 23-of-36 for 273 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Along the way, he threw the 500th touchdown pass of his career.

Had the Jets gotten this version of Rodgers consistently throughout the year, they may have had a much different season. That didn't happen, and New York will probably move in a different direction in the coming months. However, Rodgers played well enough on Sunday to invite plenty of speculation on a potential future elsewhere.

Dolphins Must Find a Better Backup Plan in 2025

The Dolphins were knocked out of the playoff mix with Denver's victory on Sunday. However, they would have been out of the postseason even with a Broncos loss because they fell flat against the Jets.

The Dolphins found themselves in a difficult position in Week 18, largely because of their early season struggles while Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined by a concussion. The Dolphins went 1-3 while he was sidelined.

Entering the season without a strong backup plan at quarterback was a major mistake by general manager Chris Grier. Any team with playoff aspirations should have a high-end backup, and neither Skylar Thompson nor Tim Boyle was that. Miami also signed Tyler Huntley off of Baltimore's practice squad, and he's proved himself to be the best of Miami's backups.

Yet, Huntley has shown this season that he isn't an ideal fit for a Dolphins offense built specifically to play to Tagovailoa's strengths. He had a good outing against the lowly Cleveland Browns in Week 17 but was largely underwhelming otherwise.

Huntley's three turnovers (2 INTs, 1 fumble) played a big role in Miami's last loss of the season. He finished 25-of-41 for 227 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and four sacks taken.

While finding a backup who can operate Mike McDaniel's offense efficiently will be easier in theory than in practice, the Dolphins should know that what they have isn't good enough. Fortunately, several potential backup options—including Mac Jones, Justin Fields, Jameis Winston and Joe Flacco—are set to be available in free agency.

Seattle Seahawks 30, Los Angeles Rams 25

Seahawks Experience Successful 1st season Under Mike Macdonald But Have Decision Regarding QB Geno Smith

NFL teams don't want to talk about moral victories. They want results. The Seattle Seahawks may have showed improvement in Mike Macdonald's first season as head coach, but the team still missed the postseason.

At 10-7, Seattle joined the 2020 Miami Dolphins as the only 10-win squads not to make the playoffs since the NFL expanded to a 14-team playoff, according to the Associated Press' Josh Dubow.

Essentially, the Seahawks sit in the same place as they did the last two years...at home when the games really matter. However, Pete Carroll's squad hadn't eclipsed double-digit wins since the '20 campaign.

"I'm telling you, man. This team is heading in the right direction," quarterback Geno Smith said after Sunday's 30-25 victory. "That's with or without me…

"I just want to continue fighting with these guys."

Smith's salary-cap charge escalates from $26.4 to 44.5 million next season. The Seahawks must decide whether the 34-year-old veteran is part of the problem or the solution. His touchdown-to-interception ratio has worsened during each of the last two seasons. Seattle can save $25 million with this release.

Considering better options may not be available and the Seahawks can continue to build on this year's improvement, albeit minimal, Smith should be back and the team can take another run at returning to the playoffs.

Los Angeles Rams' Decision to Rest Stars Cost Them a Better Playoff Matchup

The Rams' decision to rest quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, running back Kyren Williams and offensive linemen Kevin Dotson and Alaric Jackson ended up backfiring on them.

Much like the Kansas City Chiefs, the decision itself is sound with a playoff berth already secured. A team doesn't want to risk any unnecessary injuries, particularly to star players. Stafford, Kupp and Nacua in particular have significant injury histories to consider.

But the move cost Los Angeles.

The Rams finished with the NFC's fourth seed. They'll still host a first-round contest. However, they'll face the lower seed between the Detroit Lions or Minnesota Vikings—both of whom play to acquire the NFC's No. 1 overall seed on Sunday Night Football.

A professional athlete will tell anyone who listens that they want to play the best. It's a great sound byte, but matchups matter greatly. Instead of facing a rookie quarterback in his first NFL playoff action, the Rams must now host one of the best their conference has to offer.

Detroit Lions 31, Minnesota Vikings 9

Detroit Lions Establish Themselves as NFC's Best Through Complementary Football

The formula is as old as the game itself. Run the football and play sound defense. Even in a league where passing is more prolific than ever, that tried-and-true approach still works. Ask the Detroit Lions, who used the formula to capture a 31-9 victory over the rival Minnesota Vikings to earn the NFC's No. 1 overall seed.

Offensively, the Lions weren't their same explosive selves against Brian Flores' aggressive defense. Ultimately, the unit still finished with nearly 400 total yards. However, Detroit's ground-and-pound offense really propelled the unit.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a career day in the biggest regular-season finale in Lions history. The second-year ball-carrier ran for 139 yards and...count 'em...four total touchdowns. He joined the great Barry Sanders as the only Lions running back to ever accomplish the feat.

With the Lions winning at the point of attack offensively, the other side of the ball needed to hold up its end of the bargain.

"You're damn right we can do it," coordinator Aaron Glenn told reporters Thursday when asked if his defense was good enough to help the Lions win a Super Bowl. "The thing that we have to continue to do is make these impact plays that we've been making, and we're going to continue to do that."

True to the coach's word, Detroit pieced together its best defensive performance when it mattered most.

Entering the contest, the Lions still ranked among the league's bottom 10 in total defense. However, the group played aggressive and physical against the Vikings. Despite numerous injuries, Detroit held Minnesota to 263 yards and pitched a shutout in the red zone, keeping the Vikings out of the end zone despite them making it inside the 20-yard line on four different occasions.

If the Lions can receive a similar effort from their defense like the one seen Sunday night while also remaining explosive on offense, Detroit will be nearly impossible to beat in the postseason. There's a very real possibility of this team playing in its first-ever Super Bowl.

Detroit Lions Create Blueprint to Rattle QB Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings' Sam Darnold has gone through a charmed season. As the calendar flipped to 2025, the Lions had seen enough. They weren't going to let the quarterback continue his career renaissance.

How did the Lions make life miserable for Darnold and the Vikings offense? Pressure.

As Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice and ESPN's Benjamin Solak noted, the Lions blitzed and pressured Darnold on over 50 percent of his first-half snaps. The Vikings managed only nine points total and finished 0-for-4 in the red zone.

Throughout this season, Many outside of the Vikings' building took their time buying into this squad mainly because of Darnold. An existing thought had to in be in the back of many minds waiting for the 27-year-old to turn back into a pumpkin. Well, he finally did Sunday with the NFC's No. 1 seed on the line.

As the Vikings ready themselves for the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the playoffs, Darnold had better believe Sean McVay's coaching staff is going to turn up the heat and bring as much pressure as the Lions did.

Baltimore Ravens 35, Cleveland Browns 10

Baltimore Ravens Winning AFC North Title Proves Costly

The Baltimore Ravens still had business to take care of in Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns. They did so with a 35-10 victory, which handed the squad its sixth AFC North title since John Harbaugh became head coach, including back-to-back crowns.

Unfortunately, the one thing that all playoff-bound teams want most is to be healthy going into the win-or-go home tournament. The Ravens didn't escape their final regular-season contest unscathed.

Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers caught one pass during the contest then suffered a knee injury at the end of the run. He didn't return to the game. Flowers is the Ravens' No. 1 target. He led the squad in receptions and receiving yardage, posting his first 1,000-yard campaign.

Without Flowers in the lineup, Rashod Bateman stepped up with a team-leading five receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Clearly, Baltimore has numerous weapons it can utilize with running back Derrick Henry, tight end Mark Andrews, Bateman and the game's greatest dual-threat quarterback ever, Lamar Jackson.

However, Baltimore's postseason performance has been lackluster, to say the least. Flowers is an integral part of the Ravens offense as someone who can consistently win matchups in the passing game and gives Jackson someone other than Andrews to target in big moments.

A division title and playoff seeding were important, but so is Flowers' undetermined status.

Cleveland Browns Secure Yet Another Top-3 NFL Draft Selection

With Saturday's loss, the Browns can't finish any lower than the third overall pick for the 2025 NFL draft.

While the team has been better during the Kevin Stefanski era, its current standing isn't anything unusual. In fact, Cleveland selected among the top three picks eight different times since the organization returned to the NFL in 1999. For comparison, the Browns have made the postseason three times during that same stretch.

As poorly as this season went in Cleveland, a silver lining may exist.

The Browns are legitimately within striking distance for one of the '25 class' top two quarterback prospects. Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders are projected to become top-five picks, if not the No. 1 and 2 overall selections.

Cleveland can possibly move up a spot or two depending on Sunday's outcomes dealing with the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots. Whatever occurs, a quarterback needs to be the primary target.

Deshaun Watson's acquisition and subsequent contract signing has been an unmitigated disaster. The Browns may not be able to get out of his deal for another year or two, but a cost-controlled rookie deal added to the quarterback room can instill newfound hope for a franchise that desperately needs stability at the game's most important position.

Even if Cleveland ends up with that third overall selection, an aggressive approach to the draft—trade up?—can land the organization exactly what it desires.

Cincinnati Bengals 19, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

Cincinnati Bengals Await Playoff Fate As The Team No One Wants to Play in Postseason

The Cincinnati Bengals still need help from the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins to make the playoffs, but Joe Burrow and Co. did everything they could to finish the 2024 campaign strongly and make the postseason. If that becomes a reality, the Bengals could very well be the most dangerous team entering extra play.

With Saturday's 19-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals remain alive for at least one more day. The squad's 4-8 start placed Cincinnati in a position where even that didn't seem likely.

Now, Zac Taylor's squad will be scoreboard-watching on Sunday, when the Broncos host the (resting) Kansas City Chiefs and the Dolphins meet the New York Jets. Both Denver and Miami need to lose for the Bengals to experience a truly amazing turnaround.

Cincinnati peaked at the right time winning five straight games, including last week's overtime thriller with the Broncos.

The Bengals are surging. Their quarterback's 43 touchdown passes will likely lead the league. Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is well on his way to become the NFL's fifth triple-crown winner as the leader in receptions, receiving yardage and touchdown catches.

Tee Higgins is a WR1 on almost any other roster. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson is the league's top sack artist with 17.5 after Saturday's 3.5-sack effort. Coordinator Lou Anarumo tweaked the secondary's coverages in order to improve upon what was a struggling group.

Everything favors Cincinnati the second it gets a chance to play in the postseason—though it may not get the opportunity to do so.

Pittsburgh Steelers Have a Quarterback Problem Again

The Steelers invested minimally in the quarterback position prior to the '24 season. Pittsburgh received the same in return.

Sure, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields joined the team. They're big names. But they have not proven to be good quarterbacks, at least at this point in their respective careers.

The Steelers did get the most out of each for short stretches. Despite a four-game losing streak to end the regular season, Pittsburgh still has a date to play in the postseason. It reached that point without quality quarterback play throughout the majority of the campaign.

The team benched Fields in favor of Wilson once the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback was cleared medically. Wilson started out like a house on fire only to fizzle through the final quarter of the season.

During Pittsburgh's current losing streak, the 36-year-old signal-caller averaged 174.5 passing yards per game. Everything seemed to be a struggle offensively.

To be fair, Wilson shouldn't be blamed for multiple drops by wide receiver George Pickens or a key fourth-down flub by tight end Pat Freiermuth with Saturday's game on the line. One can even argue the quarterback did enough to win with a little help from his playmakers.

But doing just enough isn't good enough.

The Steelers aren't an explosive offense. They live-and-die with their run game and a strong defense. No reason can be given why the team doesn't just move on from both quarterbacks after this season since they're on one-year deals, then reinvest in the position.

A high draft pick or different veteran may help end the Steelers' current cycle of mediocrity, where they're just good enough to make the postseason but serve as no real threat to the actual contenders.