Eagles win but concerns grow
USAT’s Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaca question both teams’ Super Bowl hopes after a lackluster performance.
Sports Seriously
Better luck next year.
For half of the 32 NFL franchises and their respective fanbases, Week 18 of the regular season isn’t very meaningful. Sixteen teams entered the week eliminated from playoff contention; 12 of the 14 playoff berths were decided. Four teams were in play for those final two postseason spots.
Instead, a week of divisional games was meaningful to eliminated teams in one specific way: the 2026 NFL Draft in April. Week 18 will solidify the selections for the first half of every round in the upcoming draft.
This upcoming class has standout talent at linebacker, defensive line, interior offensive line and wide receiver. Teams looking for reinforcements at those positions will be in luck over the seven rounds of drafting from Pittsburgh.
After their loss in Week 17, the Las Vegas Raiders enter Week 18 as the favorite to land the No. 1 pick. But will they end the day with it?
Week 18’s outcomes will set the first 18 selections of the 2026 NFL Draft. Here’s how things look as Sunday results finish up:
Here’s a look at the latest draft order for the first round with strength of schedule information via Tankathon. Record indicates original owner of pick:
Las Vegas Raiders: 3-14 record; .538 strength of scheduleNew York Jets: 3-14, .552Arizona Cardinals: 3-14; .571Tennessee Titans: 3-14, .574New York Giants: 4-13; .524Cleveland Browns: 5-12, .486Washington Commanders: 5-12; .507New Orleans Saints: 6-11; .495Kansas City Chiefs: 6-11; .516Cincinnati Bengals: 6-11; .521Miami Dolphins: 7-10; .488Dallas Cowboys: 7-9-1; .438Los Angeles Rams (from ATL): 8-9; .495Baltimore Ravens: 8-9; .507Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-9, .529New York Jets (from IND): 8-9; .540Detroit Lions: 9-8; .490Minnesota Vikings: 9-8; .514 SOSCarolina Panthers: 8-9, .522 SOSDallas Cowboys (from GB): 9-7-1; .483Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7; .503Los Angeles Chargers: 11-6; .469Philadelphia Eagles: 11-6; .476Buffalo Bills: 12-5, .471Chicago Bears: 11-6; .458San Francisco 49ers: 12-5, .498Houston Texans: 12-5; .522Cleveland Browns (from JAX): 13-4; .478Los Angeles Rams: 12-5, .526New England Patriots: 14-3; .391Denver Broncos: 14-3; .422Seattle Seahawks: 14-3; .498
Here’s how the first five picks could play out, according to USA TODAY Sports’ Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz:
Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, IndianaNew York Jets: Dante Moore, QB, OregonArizona Cardinals: Arvell Reese, DE/LB, Ohio StateTennessee Titans: Keldric Faulk, DE, AuburnNew York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State