HR 2: Fireside Friday – Week 18

We're in the final week of the season and both conferences have most of their playoff seeds up for grabs. There isn't a game with bigger stakes and more playoff seeding implication than the Lions taking on the Vikings in a battle for the NFC North crown and the NFC #1 overall seed. Tom and Jacob share who they got in the Triple Play, and they pick a winner for Steelers/Bengals.

The Steelers were looking to have some momentum entering the post season and turn things around after losing to three elite NFL teams, but came up just short against the Bengals and now Pittsburgh opens as a nine-point underdog on the road against the Ravens in the AFC Wild Card.

Cam Heyward and company managed to hold Joe Burrow to only 19 points so there is reason to believe the defense is capable of keeping the Steelers competitive against the Ravens in the first round of the playoffs. There was plenty of football madness yesterday as the regular season came to an end, and the day ended with Detroit running away from Minnesota to earn the franchise's first ever NFC #1 overall seed.

The Steelers offense has its easiest defensive matchup since the last time they faced the Bengals when Russ and Co scored 44 points. Joe Burrow is on his revenge tour and pursuing a fifth win in a row to make it to the playoffs and the Steelers defense need to tighten up after three poor performances in their last three losses. Tom and Jacob pick their Big Balllaaas for the Steelers final matchup against the Bengals

The guys are fully focused on the upcoming clash with Cincinnati as they get ready for Saturday's game.

The Steelers are currently the home underdogs for the Week 18 matchup against the Bengals, and that shouldn't come as any major surprise. TJ Watt was named the Steelers 2024 team MVP, and he alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cam Heyward, and Chris Boswell were all voted to the Pro Bowl.

Saquon Barkley will not play this week and try to pursue breaking the single season rushing record, but what would it matter if he did break it with an extra game played given the current seventeen-week season. Tom and Jacob rank their top ten teams heading into the final game of the 2024 regular season.

The Steelers could visit Houston or Baltimore or host the Chargers or Ravens in the first round of the playoffs depending on how Week 18 unfolds, so which outcome is the most likely and which matchup is the most favorable for the Steelers. George Pickens' untimely injury proved to be the most detrimental for the Steelers in 2024 but there were other blows throughout the season that were also costly for the team.