NFL Week 18 preview: Playoff spots on the road in remaining week of standard season

January 07, 2023 Muricas News 0 Comments

NFL Week 18 preview: Playoff spots on the road in remaining week of standard season [ad_1]

Muricas News —

The NFL household has waited on tenterhooks this previous week on the well being of Damar Hamlin as he continues to get better in hospital, however this weekend the present goes on and the ultimate sport week of the common season nonetheless holds loads of thrilling soccer.

Hamlin collapsed throughout the first quarter of the Payments sport at Cincinnati on Monday, a contest that was postponed, then canceled by the NFL on Thursday night time.

The canceled sport leaves the Payments (12-3) – a win behind the Chiefs (13-3) within the hunt for the No. 1 seed and a bye within the subsequent spherical.

The Payments must play their sport in opposition to the Patriots (8-8) Sunday realizing that with a win and a Chiefs loss they might nonetheless clinch that high spot within the AFC due to the next win share.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow says he “in all probability needs to play” his crew’s subsequent sport but additionally understands that others don’t within the aftermath of Hamlin’s collapse on Monday.

“I’m certain for those who polled the locker room there could be blended votes on that,” he instructed reporters. “Personally, I believe enjoying goes to be powerful, however there’s people who need to play, too, and there’s people who don’t.

“Personally, I in all probability need to play. I believe getting again to as regular as you'll be able to as quick as you'll be able to is personally how I sort of cope with these sorts of issues. However like I stated, everybody has a distinct method of coping with it.”

The Bengals don't have any probability of topping the AFC. At greatest, they might steal the Payments’ second spot in the event that they beat the Ravens and the Payments misplaced.

The flip facet is that even when the Ravens beat the Bengals, due to the next win share the Bengals will stay high of the AFC North.

The Ravens have seemed toothless these previous couple of weeks within the absence of quarterback Lamar Jackson, however with an imperious protection and the Bengals doubtlessly struggling to beat the shock of Monday, there is a chance for the Ravens to maneuver into the playoffs with some momentum

The sport will get underway at 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Joe Burrow will return to action after featuring in the game where Hamlin collapsed.

For Tennessee and Jacksonville, the playoffs have come early.

The winner takes a playoff spot and high spot within the AFC South, in the meantime the loser comes away with completely nothing.

And it’s not wanting nice for the Titans, who misplaced a sixth sport on the go once they had been overwhelmed 27-13 at house by the Cowboys.

Issues have been made worse by their scenario at quarterback. Starter Ryan Tannehill is out injured. His alternative Malick Willis threw solely 99 yards and was turned over twice in opposition to Houston, earlier than he was changed of their final sport by Josh Dobbs.

The 2017 draft choose has solely performed seven profession NFL video games and began a sport for the primary time in opposition to the Cowboys.

The groups performed in opposition to one another simply 4 weeks in the past, with the Jaguars popping out 36-22 on high on Tennessee soil. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was on hearth, throwing 368 yards and three touchdowns.

Tune in at 8:15 p.m. ET on Saturday.

One other sport with every part to play for because the Packers, Lions and Seahawks all have an similar 8-8 report going into the ultimate sport.

Due to earlier outcomes in opposition to one another, if the Packers win, they're by means of to the playoffs; if the Lions win, they'll want a down-and-out Rams crew to do them a favor and cease the Seahawks successful on house soil.

That is additionally a sport of two groups which have recovered from horrible begins (Packers had been 3-6 and the Lions had been 1-6) to complete the common season in high type.

The Packers have constructed their success on one of many meanest defenses within the NFL. They've received their final 4 video games on the spin with out conceding greater than 20 factors in any of them.

Towards the Packers is a Lions crew scoring for enjoyable. Detroit put 41 previous Chicago final week with Jared Goff hitting high type, throwing 255 yards, three touchdowns and nil interceptions.

The Packers will likely be praying for a Seahawks win as that is the ultimate sport on Sunday, which means that the Lions may already be knocked out once they kick off in Wisconsin.

But when the Rams pull off an upset, this sport may have every part using on it for each groups.

Tune in at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday.

The Lions beat the Packers 15-9 the last time the two met this season.

Just a few weeks in the past the Philadelphia Eagles seemed unstoppable. That they had solely misplaced one sport, had the very best report within the NFL and virtually sown up high spot within the NFC.

Quick ahead to this weekend and the Eagles may doubtlessly finish the weekend within the five-seed after dropping their final two video games.

The Cowboys are just one sport behind the Eagles within the NFC East after beating them two weeks in the past and will leapfrog them within the playoff desk.

Their destiny continues to be of their arms nonetheless, however Philadelphia will likely be hoping that the Giants do them a favor by resting their starters.

The Giants clinched an inconceivable playoff spot final week once they beat the Colts however, no matter outcomes, will are available in six-seed and so face the age outdated query of whether or not to play or relaxation their greatest gamers.

That bye is especially necessary to an Eagles crew who're determined to offer a full relaxation to star quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has been sensational for the Eagles however missed the 2 latest losses due to a shoulder damage.

With the Cowboys dealing with comparatively straightforward sport in opposition to the Commanders, all eyes will likely be on the Eagles to see if they will flip round their mini-slump to finish the season on a excessive, or lose all of the momentum they've constructed up this season.

The sport will get underway at 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.