Week 18 of the NFL season is here, and the final regular-season games get started with a Saturday doubleheader in the AFC North. In the early matchup, the Ravens can win the division and secure an opening-round home game with a win over the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens were thoroughly dominant in a 31-2 Christmas win over the Texans. Lamar Jackson was brilliant, throwing for 168 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 87 yards and a score, and in doing so, becoming the NFL’s all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks. He’s thrown 39 touchdown passes and just four interceptions this season and will have a final shot at padding his resume for a potential second consecutive (and third career) NFL MVP award. He’d join a Mount Rushmore of NFL legends with a third MVP — Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas and Jim Brown are the only players to have won it three times.
The Cincinnati Bengals are clinging to slim playoff hopes, and the only thing they can do to help themselves is win their Week 18 matchup with the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Cincinnati is 8-8, featuring one of the great offenses in the league this year, with Joe Burrow leading the NFL in touchdown passes and passing yards. The Bengals need a win — and also losses by Denver and Miami — to sneak into the postseason. The Steelers will find out if this is a meaningful game for them after the Baltimore-Cleveland matchup. If the Ravens win, Pittsburgh is a wild-card team, but if Cleveland can sneak the upset, a Steelers win would mean an AFC North title and a first-round home game.
Week 18 NFL Saturday schedule
Live13 updates
-
Bailey Zappe benched in favor of Dorian Thompson-Robinson
The Browns are giving Dorian Thompson-Robinson another chance, bringing on the second-year quarterback and putting Zappe on the bench after that pick-six.
-
Lamar Jackson tries a cheeky pass, and falls short
Now it’s the Ravens’ turn to turn over on downs: On fourth-and-1, Jackson tries beat the tackl with a hook pass, but it falls incomplete. Cleveland gets the ball on their own eight-yard line.
-
Lamar Jackson moves the ball down the field with a gorgeous throw to Isaiah Likely
-
Browns go for it on fourth-and-1, but turn over on downs
The Ravens find themselves in excellent field position after the Browns make the bold choice of going for it on 4th-and-1 at their own 39-yard-line. Zappe’s pass intended for Jerry Jeudy is batted down, and Baltimore is in a great spot to extend its lead.
-
Ravens Pick-Six! Rookie CB Nate Wiggins intercepts Bailey Zappe and takes it to the house
Poor Bailey Zappe doesn’t even see Wiggins coming. Justin Tucker hits the PAT, and suddenly it’s 7-0 Ravens.
The pick marks Wiggins’ first career interception, and the Ravens’ defense is thrilled for their rookie.
-
Ravens forced to punt after two incomplete passes
Despite his rushing yards, Lamar Jackson is struggling to get things going in the air. Two incomplete passes — to TE Mark Andrews and WR Zay Flowers — force Baltimore to punt on fourth down. Not a lot coming from this game offensively so far.
-
Lamar Jackson with two huge first-down scrambles
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson rushes on back-to-back plays, picking up 12 yards and then 19 yards for Baltimore.
-
Bailey Zappe starts off strong
Bailey Zappe is taking over as Cleveland’s starting QB, and kicks off this game with a strong play. On the first drive, Zappe passed to tight end Jordan Atkins for a 21-yard gain to put the Browns into Ravens territory.
Cleveland couldn’t keep the momentum going, though, and are forced to punt to end the drive.
-
A top-three draft pick is at stake for the Browns
The Browns are currently in line to get the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. With a loss today, Cleveland will lock up a top-three draft pick.
-
Browns safety Rodney McLeod wears a pair of custom cleats for his final NFL game
McLeod, who is retiring after this season, showed up to Saturday’s game in a pair of custom Nike cleats, styled to look like Jordans and sprinkled with written notes about his career. McLeod was undrafted, but has spent the past two seasons of his 13-year career with Cleveland.
-
Lamar Jackson hitting buckets in warmups
-
-
