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👋 Good morning! From the Week 18 results to the NFL postseason setup to the NFL’s Black Monday with firings around the league, we have you covered.
🏈 NFL postseason
Buckle up. The 2025 NFL playoffs are set with what looks liked the most wide-open field we’ve seen in years. Expect the unexpected over the next month!
Wild Card Round TV schedule:
Saturday, 4:30 PM ET: Rams vs. Panthers (FOX)
Saturday, 8:00 PM ET: Packers vs. Bears (Prime Video)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET: Bills vs. Jaguars (CBS)
Sunday, 4:30 PM ET: 49ers vs. Eagles (FOX)
Sunday, 8:00 PM ET: Chargers vs. Patriots (NBC)
Monday, 8:00 PM ET: Texans vs. Steelers (ABC)
🤯 The best of Week 18
Game 272: The final game of the 2025 NFL regular season was a treat, with the Steelers and Ravens exchanging blows in an outstanding fourth quarter that included two deep TDs from QB Lamar Jackson to WR Zay Flowers for Baltimore, Aaron Rodgers coming through in crunch time for Pittsburgh despite no DK Metcalf (suspension) at WR, and missed kicks by both sides—coming down to the final play (as missed FG by rookie Tyler Loop). Look for this game and final 15 minutes to be replayed a lot over the years as the latest chapter in perhaps the NFL’s best rivalry over the past two decades.
Earlier on Sunday, the Broncos clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed versus a Chargers team that was resting some key players. Jacksonville secured the AFC South by handling the Titans (Cameron Ward left early with a shoulder injury). The Lions defeated the Bears, giving an opening to the Eagles for the No. 2 seed in the AFC—but Philly rested many players and lost a close one to Washington.
To begin Week 18, the Panthers fell to the Bucs in a tight contest at Tampa with questionable officiating (a continued theme this season)—but they still won the NFC South at 8-9 thanks to a Falcons win over the Saints on Sunday.
On Saturday night, Seattle’s defense dominated the 49ers on the road to secure the NFC West and homefield advantage in the NFC.
The final week of the regular season has unfortunately led to a lot of resting, but other results included Browns star DE Myles Garrett narrowly breaking the single-season sack record (23.0) with a late fourth quarter sack of Bengals QB Joe Burrow.
Browns 20, Bengals 18
Texans 38, Colts 30
Rams 37, Cardinals 20
Patriots 38, Dolphins 10
Bills 35, Jets 8
Giants 34, Cowboys 17
Raiders 14, Chiefs 12
🧐 Black Monday
Starting on Sunday night with a full house cleaning for the Falcons—all of HC Raheem Morris, GM Terry Fontenot, and president/CEO Rich McKay were fired; naming Greg Beadle their new CEO—there’s been a lot of movement around the NFL, mostly at the HC position.
The biggest surprise was the Cardinals moving on from HC Jonathan Gannon after three seasons, as the word was he was likely safe given all the injuries for Arizona.
The Browns officially fired two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski, who is expected to get another HC job.
The Raiders, as expected, fired HC Pete Carroll after a 3-14 season in Vegas.
In all three cases, the GMs (ARI: Monti Ossenfort, CLE: Andrew Berry, LV: John Spytek) are staying on board despite the HC firings.
For Atlanta, former MVP QB Matt Ryan is expected to take a leading role in the front office, likely helping team owner Arthur Blank run the football side of things and pick the GM and HC.
Giants GM Joe Schoen is indeed, shockingly, staying in control of a front office that’s struggled mightily and will lead the search for a new HC.
More front office news includes the Dolphins hiring Hall of Fame QB and current Monday Night Football broadcaster Troy Aikman to assist in their GM search; and the Titans giving clarity to their front office structure between President of Football Operations Chad Brinker and GM Mike Borgonzi
📰 More NFL news and notes
The initial 2026 NFL Draft order for non-playoff team draft positioning is set, with the Raiders on the clock at No. 1 overall:
Off-field questions: Patriots stars WR Stefon Diggs and DL Christian Barmore both denied separate assault allegations in the past week.
Dallas to Green Bay: After being released by the Cowboys, former All-Pro CB Trevon Diggs was claimed by the Packers; Diggs played well in Week 18 and is now an intriguing piece for the playoffs.
The Seahawks signed star OT Charles Cross to a four-year, $104.4 million extension; also, the Rams extended standout S Quentin Lake, the Ravens locked up NT John Jenkins for another season, and the Jaguars signed OL Cole Van Lanen to a three-year extension.
Packers DE Micah Parsons “respectfully” took a shot at Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his former team for slandering his name, which Jones said he understands.
Injuries before and during Week 18: 49ers LB Tatum Bethune (groin) is out for the year; Bills DT Ed Oliver (knee) had a meniscus cleanup; Saints WR Chris Olave had a blood clot discovered before the season finale but will be fine; the Patriots got OT Will Campbell (knee) and Milton Williams (ankle) back.
QB Philip Rivers is expected to draw interest as an NFL head coach candidate.
Class act: Bengals QB Joe Flacco left a signed jersey at Ja’Marr Chase’s locker calling him the greatest ever and expressing his gratitude for getting to play with him.
Following the heartbreaking season-ending loss, Ravens RB Derrick Henry lifted up K Tyler Loop and told him to “trust in God’s plan.”
The 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists were announced.
Other Sports Updates
🏆 College Football Playoff: Former Nick Saban assistants for Indiana, Oregon, Ole Miss, and Miami make up the final four for the CFP Semifinals this Thursday and Friday.
🇺🇸 Team USA released its Olympics hockey roster, which is nearly the same as the 4 Nations Face-Off from last year.
⚾️ MLB signings: P Tatuya Imai to the Astros and INF Kazuma Okamoto to the Blue Jays.
🎩 Winter Classic hat trick: Mike Zibanejad became the first three-goal scorer in series history.