One of the biggest games on the entire Week 18 slate is the last game of the 2025 NFL regular season, when the Baltimore Ravens visit the Pittsburgh Steelers. The winner secures the AFC North title and the final playoff spot in the AFC, while the loser is eliminated from the playoffs.
Whether Lamar Jackson will take the field for that game is “to be determined,” according to head coach John Harbaugh:
Jackson exited Baltimore’s Week 16 game against the New England Patriots after taking a knee to his back, and suffering what Harbaugh described as a “very painful” injury. Speaking to the media ahead of Baltimore’s Week 17 game against the Green Bay Packers, Harbaugh had this to say:
“It’s not like a black and blue mark. These are deep-tissue contusions,” Harbaugh said.
“I’m not a medical guy, but I did see the MRI. It’s legitimate, very painful. The muscles lock up around it, you can’t really move very well. He’s in the process now of loosening all that up. You can’t really say when it’s going to be right. He’s got to be able to play. He’s got to be able to be an athlete and go move.”
Jackson was inactive for Baltimore’s Week 17 game against the Packers, with Tyler Huntley starting in his place. Huntley completed 16-of-20 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, but the big story was Derrick Henry. Baltimore’s standout running back ran for 216 yards and four touchdowns in the Ravens’ 41-24 win, which kept their playoff hopes alive.
When the Steelers lost to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, it set up a Week 18 showdown for the division title.
Jackson has endured several injuries this season. In addition to missing Week 17 with the back injury, the two-time MVP missed three games in October with a hamstring injury.
