At a Glance
- Ravens stay alive thanks to the Browns upset, keeping the AFC North alive.
- Patriots finish flawless 8-0 on the road, a historic first for the franchise.
- Titans lose 34-26 to Saints, failing to close late games.
- Why it matters: The outcomes shape division races and set up high-stakes Week 18 matchups.
The final Sunday of 2025 delivered a rollercoaster of outcomes across the NFL, with playoff implications hanging in the balance as teams fought for division titles and a chance to host postseason games. From the AFC North to the NFC South, every win and loss carried weight for teams vying for the last playoff spots.
Ravens Stay Alive, Browns Upset Steelers
The Baltimore Ravens stayed in the playoff hunt, but the real story was the Cleveland Browns knocking off the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6. The Browns’ defense held the Steelers to just two touchdowns, and a last-second goal-line stand sealed the win.
- Browns defense: 2 sacks, Steelers 3 for 15 on third down.
- Aaron Rodgers: 168 passing yards, 2 interceptions by Shedeur Sanders.
- Steelers offense: 0-3 on third down.
Buccaneers Fall, Panthers Lose Chance
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell 20-17 to the Miami Dolphins, dropping to 7-9 and keeping the division open. Carolina Panthers, at 8-8, were eliminated after a 27-10 loss to Seattle, leaving the Bucs with a final shot in Week 18.
- Bucs record: 7-9.
- Panthers record: 8-8.
- Next week: Florida face-off.
Jaguars Edge Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars, now 12-4, beat Indianapolis Colts 23-17 after a 10-7 halftime lead. Trevor Lawrence rushed for two scores, overcoming an interception and a fumble to secure the win.
- Jaguars record: 12-4.
- Colts record: 8-8.
- Philip Rivers: 147 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
Cardinals Drop Eighth Straight
Arizona Cardinals lost 37-14 to Cincinnati Bengals, marking their eighth consecutive loss. Despite Jacoby Brissett’s solid play, the team struggled to stop the Bengals’ offense.
- Cardinals record: 3-13.
- Bengals record: 6-10.
- Joe Burrow: 305 yards, 2 TDs.
Patriots Finish Perfect Road
New England Patriots rolled past New York Jets 42-10, completing an 8-0 regular-season road record for the first time in franchise history. Drake Maye threw 5 touchdowns and 19 of 21 for 256 yards, while the Jets went 2-7 at home.
- Patriots road record: 8-0.
- Jets home record: 2-7.
- Maye: 5 TDs, 256 yards.
Titans Collapse in Second Half
Tennessee Titans fell 34-26 to New Orleans Saints, unable to hold a 20-10 halftime lead. Rookie Tyler Shough led the Saints to victory, while Titans rookie Cam Ward had 251 yards and 2 touchdowns.
- Titans record: 3-13.
- Shough: 4th straight win.
- Ward: 251 yards, 2 TDs.
Key Takeaways
- Ravens stay alive thanks to Browns upset.
- Patriots achieve historic 8-0 road record.
- Titans fail to close late games, hurting playoff chances.
With division races narrowing and Week 18 matchups looming, the final Sunday set the stage for a dramatic playoff push.
