You could not have written a more dramatic ending to the 2021 regular season if you tried. From huge upsets to overtime thrillers and game-winning field goals, this slate of games had everything. There was even a firing and some of the most bizarre play calling you’ll ever see – I’m looking at you Joe Judge. Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly from Week 18.
The Good
Raiders win thrilling overtime battle – With the Chargers and Raiders both just needing a tie to make the postseason, this could have been a dull affair. It ended up being anything but. The Raiders led 29-14 with four minutes left, before the Chargers tied it at 29-29 on the final play of regulation. Both teams then scored field goals in overtime, before Daniel Carlson’s 47-yarder as time expired gave the Raiders the No. 5 seed in the AFC and ended the Chargers’ season.
49ers triumph to make the postseason – This was another outstanding overtime game in a weekend full of drama. The 49ers fought back from a 17-0 deficit to get the win and make the playoffs. This included an unbelievable 88-yard drive in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter to tie the game and take it to overtime. They took an overtime lead with a field goal, before rookie cornerback Ambry Thomas picked off Matthew Stafford to seal the win and their place in the postseason.
Playoffs for Pittsburgh – Ahead of Week 18, the Steelers apparently had just a 10% chance of making the postseason. It was almost guaranteed to be Ben Roethlisberger’s last ever game for the team. Instead, they are getting ready to play in their sixth postseason in the last eight years. This is an ugly team to watch, particularly on offense, but they keep finding ways to win when it matters most. It will be interesting to see if they can continue that in the playoffs.
Jags and Lions both win – I don’t think anyone could have predicted these two games going the way that they did. Jacksonville looked outstanding on both sides of the ball, with Trevor Lawrence finally playing like the No. 1 overall pick. They held the Colts to just 11 points and 233 total yards, winning the game as 15 point underdogs. The Lions also won a nail-biter against the Packers, triumphing 37-30. They still finish with the two worst records in football, but these results may have given fans some cause for optimism.
The Bad
Fangio fired after Denver loss – How costly one play can be. Deep in the fourth quarter it looked as though the Broncos were set to deliver a shock win over the Chiefs. They were leading 21-20 with under eight minutes left and had the ball in the red zone. Melvin Gordon then fumbled, with rookie linebacker Nick Bolton recovering the ball and returning it 86 yards for a fumble-six. This saw the Chiefs win 28-20 and brought an end to Fangio’s three year spell as the Broncos’ head coach.
Cardinals rough run continues – The Cardinals might have made the playoffs, but this weekend wasn’t exactly plain sailing. Their loss to the Seahawks meant that they surrendered the division title to the Rams. It also marked their fourth loss in the last five games. Their only win in that spell was a narrow victory over the Cowboys in Week 17. They will need to improve significantly if they are to have a chance against the Rams in the Wild Card round.
Patriots stung by Miami – I have to say I didn’t see this result coming. The Patriots were already in the playoffs, but they could have taken the division with a win and a Bills loss. Things got off to a terrible start, with Miami taking a 17-0 lead. In the end it was too much of a deficit for New England to overcome. They lost 33-24 and end the regular season on a sour note. A win would have given them a game against the Raiders. Instead they will face the Bills on Saturday.
The Ugly
Colts lose to the Jags – Indianapolis did the unthinkable and lost to the Jaguars. With that result they are now out of the playoffs. There will be a lot of blame to go around in the coming days and nobody deserves it more than Carson Wentz. The quarterback has been underwhelming all year and the Colts were unable to lean on their passing game when they needed it the most. He finished the game 17 of 29, with 185 yards, one touchdown and a pick. Don’t forget that they parted with a first round pick to get him.
The New York Giants… again – The Giants continue to look like the worst team in football. They scored just seven points, the fifth time since Week 11 that they have failed to top double digits. They had just 177 yards of offense, averaging just three yards per play. This looks like a team that has given up. Nothing encapsulated that better than their decision to run a QB sneak on a 3rd and 9 from their own four yard line. Joe Judge’s seat is getting hotter with every day that passes.
Week 18 MVP
Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks – Penny has been elite down the stretch for Seattle. This weekend he ran for 190 yards and a score on just 23 carries. This worked out at 8.3 yards per attempt. That is the third time since Week 14 that he has averaged 7+ yards per carry in a game.
Rookie of the week
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars – Finally we see the player we all expected. Lawrence was excellent against the Colts and delivered a huge upset. He finished the game 23 of 32 for 223 yards and two touchdowns. This included one of the more impressive touchdown passes you’ll see this season.
Stat of the week
83 – Tom Brady now has 83 touchdown passes as the Bucs’ quarterback. That is the second most by a player in franchise history. He’s done that in just two years with the team.
