Week 18 NFL Highlights 2025: Live Tracking Top Plays, Box Scores from Sunday Results
The final Sunday of the 2024 NFL regular season is here, and it promises to be nothing short of thrilling.
In the AFC, the final wild-card spot was a three-way battle between the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and Cincinnati Bengals.
However, Denver got a victory over the rested Kansas City Chiefs to secure a playoff berth.
Over in the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers locked up the NFC South title with a win against the New Orleans Saints.
And then came the main event.
On Sunday Night Football, the Detroit Lions hosted the Minnesota Vikings, with both teams entering at 14-2. Ultimately, it was the Lions who captured the NFC's No. 1 seed and the NFC North crown on the line.
Top 5 Plays
Here are the top five plays of the day.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers's 500th career passing touchdown vs. Dolphins:
Chicago Bears special teams's trick-play touchdown vs. Packers:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans's catch to reach 1,000 receiving yards for a record-tying 11th consecutive season vs. Panthers:
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota's game-winning touchdown pass vs. Cowboys:
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston's one-handed catch vs. Raiders:
Detroit Lions 31, Minnesota Vikings 9
First Quarter
Jahmyr Gibbs took the pass from Jared Goff and fought for the first down:
Goff hooked up with Jameson Williams to convert on fourth down:
Gibbs found the end zone to put the Lions on the board first:
Za'Darius Smith got to Sam Darnold for the sack:
Second Quarter
Gibbs got taken down hard in the backfield:
Darnold found Justin Jefferson to convert on third down:
The interception set the Vikings up with great field position:
Goff gave the Lions the chance to extend the lead before halftime:
Third Quarter
Cam Akers broke off a 58-yard run:
The Lions defense kept the Vikings out of the end zone:
Goff was picked off again on the very next play:
Goff and Gibbs connected to extend the lead:
Fourth Quarter
Gibbs found the end zone for the third time:
The Lions got to Darnold on third down, much to the delight of Aidan Hutchinson:
Gibbs continued his dominance on the ground:
Gibbs punched it in for his fourth touchdown of the night:
Lions' top performers:
QB, Jared Goff, 27-33, 231 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT
RB, Jahmyr Gibbs, 23 CAR, 139 YDS, 3 TD (5 REC, 31 YDS, 1 TD)
Vikings' top performers:
QB, Sam Darnold, 18-41, 166 YDS
RB, Cam Akers, 6 CAR, 65 YDS
Carolina Panthers 44, Atlana Falcons 38 (ot)
First Quarter
Michael Penix Jr. connected with KhaDarel Hodge on a beautiful sideline throw:
Panthers' wideout Adam Thielen came up with an impressive catch for the first down:
Second Quarter
Bryce Young ran in for a score to give the Panthers a 10-3 lead:
Penix dove for the pylon to tie the game up:
Young threw a beauty to Miles Sanders to put Carolina back in front:
Penix threw a dart to Drake London for the big gain:
Bijan Robinson found the end zone to tie it up:
Penix threw an absolute DIME to Ray-Ray McCloud III to put the Falcons in the red zone with under 20 seconds to play:
With eight seconds on the clock, Penix SOMEHOW found London in the end zone to give the Falcons a seven-point halftime lead
Third Quarter
Young found Tommy Tremble on 4th and 1 to tie it up at 24:
Young threw his third touchdown pass of the day to give the Panthers a 31-24 lead:
Fourth Quarter
Penix threw a dot to London on 3rd and 20 to make it 31-31 with over 9:00 to play:
Young scored his FIFTH touchdown of the day to give the Panthers a 38-31 lead with 4:01 left:
Bijan cut outside and found pay dirt to make it 38-38:
Overtime
Sanders found pay dirt to give Carolina the OT victory:
Panthers' top performers:
QB, Bryce Young, 25-34, 251 YDS, 3 TD (5 CAR, 24 YDS, 2 TD)
RB, Miles Sanders, 17 CAR, 66 YDS, 1 TD (3 REC, 50 YDS, 1 TD)
Falcons' top performers:
QB, Michael Penix Jr., 21-38, 312 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT
RB, Bijan Robinson, 28 CAR, 170 YDS, 2 TD
WR, Drake London, 10 REC, 187 YDS, 2 TD
Washington Commanders 23, Dallas Cowboys 19
First Quarter
Micah Parsons sacked Commanders' Jayden Daniels to become the 4th player in NFL history to record 10+ sacks in each of his first four seasons:
Parsons came up with another sack just plays later:
Cowboys' quarterback Trey Lance connected with Jalen Tolbert for a 31-yard gain:
Third Quarter
Marcus Mariota found Zach Ertz to give Washington the lead:
Fourth Quarter
Mariota took a read option to the house to give the Commanders the lead;
Rico Dowdle found pay dirt to put Dallas in front:
Mariota picked up 33 yards on 4th and 1 to keep the game alive:
MARIOTA FOUND TERRY MCLAURIN IN THE BACK OF THE END ZONE WITH 3 SECONDS LEFT TO GIVE THE COMMANDERS THE WIN:
Commanders' top performers:
QB, Marcus Mariota, 15-18, 161 YDS, 2 TD (5 CAR, 56 YDS, 2 TD)
WR, Terry McLaurin, 8 REC, 62 YDS, 1 TD
Cowboys' top performers:
QB, Trey Lance, 20-34, 244 YDS (6 CAR, 26 YDS)
RB, Rico Dowdle, 22 CAR, 72 YDS, 1 TD
WR, Jalen Tolbert, 4 REC, 98 YDS
Chicago Bears 24, Green Bay Packers 22
First Quarter
Bears' punt return trickery had every Packer player fooled and ended with six on the board:
Tremaine Edmunds and Jonathan Owens forced a Green Bay turnover:
Second Quarter
D'Andre Swift found pay dirt to pad Chicago's lead:
Josh Jacobs stayed up for the score to make it a one-score game:
Third Quarter
Chicago's trick play ended in a turnover:
Bears' safety Kevin Byard came up with a big-time sack on Malik Willis and T.J. Edwards scooped up the ball for the takeaway:
Fourth Quarter
Caleb Williams connected with D.J. Moore on a 32-yard catch-and-run touchdown to extend Chicago's lead:
Packers' running back Emanuel Wilson cut outside and got loose for the score:
Packers' defense forced a HUGE takeway with 1:49 to play:
Brandon McManus drilled a 55-yard field goal to give Green Bay a one-point lead with 54 seconds left:
Caleb Williams connected with Moore and then spiked the ball to give Chicago the chance to kick a game-winning field goal:
Cairo Santos drilled a game-winning 51-yard field goal to stun Green Bay and end Chicago's 10-game losing streak:
Bears' top performers:
QB, Caleb Williams, 21-29, 148 YDS, 1 TD
RB, D'Andre Swift, 20 CAR, 65 YDS, 1 TD
WR, D.J. Moore, 9 REC, 86 YDS, 1 TD
Packers' top performers:
QB, Malik Willis, 10-13, 136 YDS
RB, Emanuel Wilson, 14 CAR, 73 YDS, 1 TD
Houston Texans 23, Tennessee Titans 14
First Quarter
C.J. Stroud found Nico Collins in the end zone to put the Texans up early:
Second Quarter
Texans' running back Dameon Pierce got loose for a 92-yard touchdown:
Fourth Quarter
Texans' defensive end Derek Barnett scooped up the fumble and returned it for the score:
Will Levis connected with wideout Tay Martin on a 49-yard deep ball for the score:
Texans' top performers:
QB, Davis Mills, 12-22, 128 YDS
RB, Dameon Pierce, 19 CAR, 176 YDS, 1 TD
Titans' top performers:
QB, Will Levis, 9-17, 175 YDS, 1 TD
RB, Tony Pollard, 22 CAR, 62 YDS
WR, Calvin Ridley, 3 REC, 76 YDS
Indanapolis Colts 26, Jacksonville Jaguars 23 (ot)
First Quarter
Joe Flacco threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce on the opening drive:
Tank Bigsby found pay dirt to put the Jags on the board:
Second Quarter
Jonathan Taylor found pay dirt to give Indy the lead:
Jaguars' top performers:
QB, Mac Jones, 20-32, 225 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
WR, Brian Thomas Jr.m 7 REC, 103 YDS
Colts' top performers:
QB, Joe Flacco, 23-40, 264 YDS, 1 TD
RB, Jonathan Taylor, 34 CAR, 177 YDS, 1 TD
WR, Josh Downs, 10 REC, 94 YDS
New England Patriots 23, Buffalo Bills 16
First Quarter
Pats' backup QB Joe Milton III scored his first career touchdown and made sure to show his excitement:
Bills' backup QB Mitch Trubisky found Ray Davis on 4th and goal for six:
Second Quarter
Milton was impressive early in his debut:
Patriots' top performers:
QB, Joe Milton III, 22-29, 241 YDS, 1 TD (10 CAR, 16 YDS)
WR, Kayshon Boutte, 7 REC, 117 YDS, 1 TD
Bills' top performers:
QB, Mitchell Trubisky, 15-21, 101 YDS, 1 TD
RB, Ray Davis, 15 CAR, 64 YDS (2 REC, 1 YD, 1 TD)
Philadelphia Eagles 20, New York Giants 13
First Quarter
Eagles' third-string quarterback Tanner McKee found Ainias Smith to put Philly up a score:
Fourth Quarter
Eagles' EJ Jenkins scored his first career NFL touchdown to make it a two-score game:
Drew Lock connected with Malik Nabers on the deep ball to make it a one-score game:
Eagles' top performers:
QB, Tanner McKee, 27-41, 269 YDS, 2 TD
WR, Jahan Dotson, 7 REC, 94 YDS
Giants' top performers:
QB, Drew Lock, 22-29, 138 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
RB, Tyrone Tracy Jr., 14 CAR, 59 YDS
WR, Malik Nabers, 5 REC, 64 YDS, 1 TD
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, New Orleans Saints 19
Second Quarter
Spencer Rattler found Dante Pettis to give the Saints a suprising 10-point lead:
Third Quarter
Baker Mayfield's 40th TD pass of the season made it a one-score game:
Jack Browning's poor punt gifted New Orleans the ball at midfield:
Fourth Quarter
Baker found Jalen McMillan on 4th and 8 to keep the drive alive:
Baker threw an absolute beauty to McMillan plays later to give Tampa its first lead of the day:
BAKER RAN FOR 28 YARDS ON 3RD AND 14 TO KEEP THE DRIVE ALIVE:
Bucky Irving ran for the score to give Tampa an eight-point lead:
MIKE EVANS TIED JERRY RICE'S RECORD OF 11 CONSECUTIVE SEASONS WITH 1,000 RECEIVING YARDS:
Buccaneers' top performers:
QB, Baker Mayfield, 21-32, 221 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT (9 CAR, 68 YDS)
RB, Bucky Irving, 19 CAR, 89 YDS, 1 TD
WR, Mike Evans, 9 REC, 89 YDS
WR, Jalen McMillan, 5 REC, 74 YDS, 1 TD
Saints' top performers:
QB, Spencer Rattler, 26-42, 240 YDS, 1 TD
TE, Juwan Johnson, 6 REC, 80 YDS
New York Jets 32, Miami Dolphins 20
First Quarter
Aaron Rodgers' first pass attempt was picked off:
De'Von Achane picked up 61 yards to put the Dolphins in the red zone:
RODGERS THREW HIS 500TH CAREER TOUCHDOWN PASS:
Dolphins' QB Tyler Huntley threw an INT on the next drive:
Rodgers connected with Davante Adams for a big gain:
Jets' defense forced turnover on a wild play:
Rodgers found a wide open Allen Lazard for the touchdown:
Jets' defense had a field day against Huntley in the first half:
Third Quarter
Jets' defense forced yet another turnover:
Rodgers found a toe-tapping Adams for the first down:
Fourth Quarter
Achane scored on a 15-yard rushing touchdown to make it a one-score game with 14:12 left:
Rodgers found Adams to cap off a seven-play, 70-yard drive:
Huntley found Jonnu Smith in the end zone to bring the deficit back down to five:
Rodgers threw his fourth touchdown pass of the day to give the Jets a 12-point lead:
Jets' top performers:
QB, Aaron Rodgers, 23-36, 274 YDS, 4 TD, 1 INT
WR, Davante Adams, 6 REC, 88 YDS, 1 TD
Dolphins' top performers:
QB, Tyler Huntley, 25-41, 227 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT
RB, De'Von Achane, 11 CAR, 121 YDS, 1 TD
TE, Jonnu Smith, 9 REC, 56 YDS, 1 TD
Denver Broncos 38, Kansas City Chiefs 0
First Quarter
Marvin Mims Jr. took a screen pass to the house to give the Broncos an early lead:
Bo Nix connected with Cortland Sutton for a big gain:
Nix went back to Sutton a few plays later for the touchdown:
Second Quarter
Denver scored a touchdown like you've never seen to take a 21-point lead:
Third Quarter
Nix threw a screen pass to Javonte Williams, who did the rest for a big gain:
Denver continued to pile on the points:
Fourth Quarter
Broncos' running back Audric Estime joined in on the fun to make it a 38-point game:
Broncos' top performers:
QB, Bo Nix, 26-29, 321 YDS, 4 TD (7 CAR, 47 YDS)
WR, Cortland Sutton, 5 REC, 98 YDS, 1 TD
Chiefs' top performers:
QB, Carson Wentz, 10-17, 98 YDS
Los Angeles Chargers 34, Las Vegas Raiders 20
Second Quarter
Aidan O'Connell found Jakobi Meyers for a 22-yard gain:
O'Connell went back to Meyers a few plays later for the 25-yard score:
Justin Herbert connected with Ladd McConkey to put the Chargers in the red zone:
Chargers' linebacker Daiyan Henley came up with his first career INT right before halftime:
Herbert found D.J. Chark Jr. for his first touchdown of the season:
Chargers successfully converted on the two-point attempt to make it a seven-point game:
Third Quarter
Las Vegas' defense came up with a big goal line stand, limiting the Chargers' offense to the field goal:
Aidan O'Connell connected with tight end Brock Bowers, who became the first rookie in NFL history with 110 receptions:
Fourth Quarter
Herbert flashed off his speed on the 42-yard pickup:
Herbert found a wide open Will Dissly to make it a two-score game:
Herbert connected with wideout Quentin Johnston, who made an impressive one-handed grab:
Hassan Haskins found the end zone to make it a three-score game:
Chargers' top performers:
QB, Justin Herbert, 28-36, 346 YDS, 2 TD (3 CAR, 43 YDS)
RB, J.K Dobbins, 18 CAR, 63 YDS
WR, Quentin Johnston, 13 REC, 186 YDS
WR, Ladd McConkey, 5 REC, 95 YDS
Raiders' top performers:
QB, Aidan O'Connell, 24-34, 214 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT
WR, Jakovi Meyers, 9 REC, 123 YDS, 1 TD
TE, Brock Bowers, 4 REC, 50 YDS, 1 TD
Seattle Seahawks 30, Los Angeles Rams 25
First Quarter
Geno Smith found Jake Bobo to put Seattle in front:
Second Quarter
Geno evaded pressure and found DK Metcalf for six:
Jimmy Garoppolo found Tyler Higbee to make it a one-score game:
Garoppolo's pass was picked off by Julian Love:
Third Quarter
Geno found AJ Barner in the end zone to make it an eight-point game:
Jordan Whittington took a screen pass into red zone territory:
Fourth Quarter
Garoppolo connected with Tyler Johnson to make it a two-point game:
Garoppolo found a wide open Whittington for 50 yards:
Joshua Karty drilled a 38-yard field goal to give the Rams their first lead of the day:
Geno found tight end Noah Fant to give the Seahawks a five-point lead with 3:19 to play:
The Seahawks' defense came up with the 4th down stop to seal its 10th victory of the season:
Seahawks' top performers:
QB, Geno Smith, 20-27, 223 YDS, 4 TD
RB, Zach Charbonnet, 14 CAR, 59 YDS
TE, Noah Fant, 5 REC, 63 YDS, 1 TD
Rams' top performers:
QB, Jimmy Garoppolo, 27-41, 334 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT
WR, Jordan Whittington, 3 REC, 86 YDS
Arizona Cardinals 47, San Francisco 49ers 24
First Quarter
Fred Warner showed off his MMA skills with the tackle:
Cardinals' special teams unit pulled off the fake punt for a big gain:
Josh Dobbs' pass attempt was picked off by a toe-tapping Sean Murphy-Bunting:
Second Quarter
Kyler Murray connected with speedy wideout Greg Dortch for the catch-and-run touchdown:
Dobbs found the end zone on the QB sneak to tie it up:
Trey McBride hurdled his way en route to the first down:
Kyler connected with McBride to give the Cardinals a 17-10 lead:
Dobbs connected with Ricky Pearsall in the end zone to cap off a 70-yard drive:
Third Quarter
Kyler connected with Dortch for another touchdown:
Dobbs found Kyle Juszczyk to make it a one-score game:
Fourth Quarter
Michael Carter found pay dirt to extend Arizona's lead;
Kyler connected with Marvin Harrison Jr. for the score:
Tony Jones Jr. joined in on the fun in Arizona:
Cardinals' top performers:
QB, Kyler Murray, 25-35, 242 YDS, 4 TD
TE, Trey McBride, 7 REC, 65 YDS, 1 TD
WR, Marvin Harrison Jr., 5 REC, 63 YDS, 1 TD
49ers' top performers:
QB, Joshua Dobbs, 29-43, 326 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT (7 CAR, 18 YDS, 1 TD(
RB, Patrick Taylor Jr., 17 CAR, 109 YDS
WR, Ricky Pearsall, 6 REC, 69 YDS, 1 TD