NFL Week 18: What to Look For

Jan. 2, 2025
As the 2024 NFL regular season concludes, Week 18 brings thrilling opportunities for players to achieve historic milestones. Here’s what fans should watch for as the postseason picture solidifies.

Key Players and Records to Watch

Prolific Passers

• Joe Burrow (Cincinnati): With 42 touchdown passes, Burrow can join the elite club of quarterbacks with 45+ TD passes and 5,000+ passing yards in a season. A three-touchdown performance would tie him with Tom Brady for consecutive games with at least three passing touchdowns.
• Lamar Jackson (Baltimore): With 39 touchdowns and only four interceptions, Jackson could become just the second player in NFL history with 40+ TDs and five or fewer interceptions in a season.
• Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets): Rodgers is one touchdown away from joining the exclusive 500 career TD pass club, potentially achieving the feat in fewer than 250 games.

Top Rookie Performances

• Jayden Daniels (Washington): Nearing 4,400 combined yards, Daniels can become the third rookie quarterback with 12 wins in a season.
• Bo Nix (Denver): Nix aims to secure his 10th game with two or more TD passes, tying Justin Herbert’s rookie record.

Record-Breaking Receivers

• Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati): Leading the league in receptions, yards, and TDs, Chase is on pace to join Cooper Kupp and Jerry Rice as the only players to achieve this rare triple crown.
• Mike Evans (Tampa Bay): With just 85 yards needed, Evans can tie Jerry Rice’s record of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

Dynamic Running Backs

• Derrick Henry (Baltimore): Just 47 scrimmage yards away from 2,000, Henry could become the fifth player in history to achieve 2,000+ scrimmage yards and 15+ rushing TDs in multiple seasons.
• Bijan Robinson (Atlanta): Robinson is on the cusp of tying Hall of Famers for the most games with 50+ scrimmage yards in his first two seasons.

Milestones in Sight

Quarterback Achievements:

• Three QBs—Burrow, Jackson, and Baker Mayfield—have a chance to make 2024 only the third season in NFL history with three players throwing 40+ touchdowns.

Receiver Records:

• Justin Jefferson (Minnesota): Jefferson could become the fifth player with three seasons of 100+ receptions and 1,500+ yards.

Tight End Dominance:

• Brock Bowers (Las Vegas) and Trey McBride (Arizona): Both are poised to challenge the single-season receptions record for tight ends.

Matchups with Playoff Implications

1. Cincinnati vs. Baltimore: A showdown for AFC North supremacy as Burrow and Jackson vie for individual records and postseason positioning.
2. Minnesota vs. Detroit: Sam Darnold and Jared Goff face off, with playoff spots and completion percentage records in play.
3. Tampa Bay vs. Atlanta: Baker Mayfield and Bijan Robinson aim to cap stellar seasons with postseason momentum.

Where to Watch

Visit watch.nfl.com for a personalized schedule and streaming options tailored to your location.

Enjoy the final week of the regular season as records fall and playoff dreams come to life!

Reporter David Rosales