Written by: Tyler Deakin
Wow, it’s hard for me to believe that I’m writing my last weekly column of the year! Who would’ve thought I would get this far when I created this column back in September 2021? Thank you for following along with me in this weekly journey through the 2021 football season. Last week was exciting, with 4 great games (Chiefs-Bengals, Raiders-Colts, Cardinals-Cowboys, & Rams-Ravens) proving to be huge in deciding playoff positioning & matchups. It’s unlikely football fans will get a repeat performance this week; however, there are some important games that could turn into great ones this week. Here is my list of the best Games to Watch in Week 18.
Chargers (9-7) at Raiders (9-7): Sunday Night Football
This game is certainly the Game of the Week for several reasons, beginning with the fact that the winner goes to the playoffs & the loser goes home. Things get dicey in the unlikely event that the Jaguars beat the Colts though, as this sets up a scenario where both teams would make the playoffs if the game somehow ended in a tie. The league surely won’t stand for this, and coaches for both teams have publicly expressed that they will not be playing for this to happen; however, it’s a fascinating hypothetical circumstance that shouldn’t be completely thrown out. Anyways, assuming that the Colts-Jaguars outcome doesn’t influence this game, it should be a great game to watch as these divisional rivals put their playoff hopes on the line in Week 18.
Steelers (8-7-1) at Ravens (8-8)
Both of these teams are rooting for chaos in the AFC playoff picture as neither team has a realistic shot of making it into the tournament at this point. The Steelers need a win, a Colts loss, & the Chargers-Raiders game to not end in a tie to punch their playoff ticket. Meanwhile, the Ravens need even more help including a win & Chargers, Colts, & Dolphins losses to clinch. The fact that all of these outcomes are still possible should make this game an absolute thriller. This could be the last game of Ben Roethlisberger’s career as he squares off against Tyler Huntley. TJ Watt is closing in on Michael Strahan’s single season record of 22.5 sacks, and he needs just one more sack against the Ravens to tie the mark. Make sure you tune in for this one.
49ers (9-7) at Rams (12-4)
Let’s break down just how important it is for each of these teams to win this game, starting with the fact that the 49ers clinch a playoff berth with a road upset over the Rams. Meanwhile, the Rams would clinch the NFC West division title by beating the 49ers at home. The 49ers are 5-0 vs. the Rams under Kyle Shanahan, adding even more intrigue to this game. This game could be decided by the winner of the Aaron Donald vs. Trent Williams matchup. QB Jimmy Garoppolo is questionable to play after he underwent right thumb surgery last weekend.
Saints (8-8) at Falcons (7-9)
I’m impressed that the Saints still have a shot at the playoffs despite their issues this year. They need a win over the Falcons & a 49ers loss to the Rams to make it happen, but it’s possible. Unfortunately for them, the Falcons won’t be taking it easy on them in this huge rivalry game that doubles as the Falcons last home game of the year. The Dirty Birds are 1-5 at home this season, and will surely be motivated to change that in Week 18 against the Saints. RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson had a field day against the Saints in Week 9 with 201 all-purpose yards. Will their defense be able to contain him this time around? Also, starting Taysom Hill at QB over Trevor Siemian is a good idea against a Falcons defense that struggles against mobile QBs.
Patriots (10-6) at Dolphins (8-8)
The Patriots have struggled against the Dolphins in Miami for whatever reason with a 1-3 record in these games over the past 4 seasons. They will be looking to buck this trend under rookie QB Mac Jones, and clinch the AFC East division title with a road win over the Dolphins. These games have always gotten a little whacky in recent years, with the 2018 “Miracle in Miami” play serving as the highlight of this rivalry. QB Tua Tagovailoa wants to finish this season strong as he auditions for either the Dolphins to keep him or for other teams to want him. Mac Jones will also look to build on his solid rookie season & clinch his first NFL division title.