The first 17 weeks of the 2025 regular season worked out perfectly for the NFL. And for ESPN/ABC and NBC.
There are two highly-compelling games with stakes that are irrelevant to when the games are played. For Sunday night’s Ravens-Steelers game on NBC, there are layers of potential drama for the team that loses and, in turn, misses the playoffs. For Saturday night’s Seahawks-49ers game, both are in — and the winner will take the all-important top seed in the NFC.
Both teams are currently hot. Hotter than any two teams have ever been when squaring off in the last week of the season.
Via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, citing the Elias Sports Bureau, Seahawks-49ers will be the first regular-season finale in league history featuring both teams on winning streaks of at least six games.
Both teams last fell to a team the winner may be seeing again in the divisional round.
The 49ers lost on November 9, 42-26 to the Rams. The Seahawks last lost on November 16, 21-19 to the Rams.
The Rams will be the No. 5 seed if the Seahawks win tonight and the Rams beat the Cardinals on Sunday. The Rams will be the No. 6 seed if the 49ers win, or if the Rams lose.
When the Rams seemed to be on track to be the No. 1 seed, the possibility of hosting a division rival like the 49ers or Seahawks loomed. Now, the Rams could be the team that rolls into Levi’s Stadium or Lumen Field to bookend the regular-season win with a victory that ends the top seed’s season.
Rams Clips
Marvin Harrison Jr. had already been ruled out for Sunday’s season finale against the Rams. But the Cardinals have now made a move to free Harrison’s roster spot.
Arizona has placed Harrison on injured reserve, the team announced on Friday.
Harrison has been dealing with a heel injury on one leg for several weeks then was hobbled by a foot injury by the other. Darren Urban of the team’s website notes Harrison was having clear issues just walking in the locker room earlier this week.
“I thought he did some good things [this season],” head coach Jonathan Gannon said, via Urban. “We moved him around the formation. He scored points for us. He got open, caught it. I don’t think he’s hit his ceiling, and I look forward to the future with that.”
Harrison ends his second season having caught 41 passes for 608 yards with four touchdowns in 12 games with 10 starts. He had 62 receptions for 885 yards with eight TDs in 17 games as a rookie in 2024.
Though they can be just the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the NFC, the Rams are planning to play their starters against the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.
Receiver Davante Adams could be among those starters on the field, as he’s one of several players Los Angeles will list as questionable.
Via multiple reporters, head coach Sean McVay said on Friday that Adams, running back Kyren Williams, running back Blake Corum, left tackle Alaric Jackson, and linebacker Omar Speights are all questionable.
Adams has not played since aggravating his already-injured hamstring in the Rams’ Dec. 14 victory over the Lions. Adams nevertheless leads the league with 14 touchdown receptions. He’s caught a total of 60 passes for 789 yards in 14 games this year.
Williams and Corum are both dealing with ankle injuries. Jackson has a knee injury. Speights also has an ankle injury.
Additionally, McVay noted tight end Tyler Higbee is set to be activated off of injured reserve after being sidelined since mid-November with an ankle injury. The veteran TE has 20 catches for 190 yards with two touchdowns in 2025.
L.A. has lost its last two games in disappointing fashion after moving to 11-3 with a Week 15 win over Detroit.
The Giants fired Brian Daboll on Nov. 10 after the club started 2-8, leaving Daboll with a 20-40-1 record.
Now as the 2025 regular season comes to its conclusion, New York’s coaching search is starting to take shape with the club casting a wide net.
Jordan Raanan of ESPN reports the Giants’ list of candidates includes former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, former Raiders head coach and former Giants player Antonio Pierce, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, and Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula.
While owners John Mara and Steve Tisch will make the final decision on the next coach, the search is being led by General Manager Joe Schoen.
Schoen’s presence is not expected to hamper candidates’ interest in the job, Raanan notes.
Raanan also lists interim head coach Mike Kafka, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Vikings QBs coach Josh McCown, and Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski as potential candidates for the job.
As for current head coaches, Raanan lists the entire slate in the AFC North — Cleveland’s Kevin Stefanski, Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Baltimore’s John Harbaugh, and Cincinnati’s Zac Taylor — as candidates, with Stefanski as “a name to watch” who could attract “serious interest” should he be fired.
The Giants can interview candidates who are not currently with teams now, including McCarthy and Pierce.
On Monday night against the Falcons, Rams linebacker Jared Verse turned a potential three-score game into a one-score game, by blocking a field goal attempt, recovering the loose ball, and returning it for a touchdown. Along the way to the end zone, Verse flashed two fingers to the Atlanta sideline.
He knew he was risking a penalty for taunting.
“I was scared as [expletive],” Verse told reporters on Thursday. Verse specifically feared the reaction from coach Sean McVay.
“I was like Sean’s going to kill me,” Verse said. “I was like, ‘It’s bad.’ I got to the end zone and was like, ‘They’re not going to review it?’”
Taunting fouls aren’t subject to replay review. Also, taunting fouls committed during a play don’t take the eventual touchdown off the board.
The worst the Rams would have gotten is 15 yards added to the PAT. That didn’t happen.
Even though it was missed by the officials during the game, it surely wasn’t missed by the league. Verse likely will be getting a fine from the NFL. If has hasn’t already.
Rams wide receiver Davante Adams returned to practice on Thursday, getting in limited work. He is not expected to play in Week 18 as he works his way back from a hamstring injury.
“It’s more of just to make sure that we’re able to get him a full workload,” coach Sean McVay said Wednesday, via Stu Jackson of the team website. “He’s going to be able to do some different things in a more controlled setting, but just with the position he plays, being able to open up, want to make sure that we’re getting everything ready to roll and being smart with him.”
Adams has missed two games since aggravating the injury in the Week 15 win over the Lions.
He has 60 receptions for 789 yards and a league-best 14 touchdowns this season.
The Rams opened the 21-day practice window for safety Quentin Lake (elbow). Lake hasn’t played since Week 11 but could return for the postseason.
Wide receiver Xavier Smith (chest) was a full participant a day after a limited session.
The rest of the team’s report remained the same.
Running back Blake Corum (ankle), offensive lineman Kevin Dotson (ankle) and cornerback Josh Wallace (ankle) sat out practice again on Thursday.
Defensive end Braden Fiske (ankle), left tackle Alric Jackson (knee), safety Jaylen McCollough (hip), inside linebacker Omar Speights (ankle) and running back Kyren Williams (ankle) remained limited.
Rams safety Quentin Lake signed a three-year extension on Thursday, the team announced. He is under contract through 2028 now.
Lake had a career year last season when he totaled 111 tackles, five passes defensed and two sacks, while playing primarily in the slot.
He injured an elbow in Week 11 this season and finished the regular season with 61 tackles, 10 passes defensed, an interception and a sack. He played 100 percent of the defensive snaps in the 10 games he played.
The Rams planned to open Lake’s 21-day practice window on Thursday, coach Sean McVay said, with hopes of him returning for the playoffs.
Lake, a sixth-round pick in 2022, has 235 tackles, 22 passes defended, one interception and four sacks in 50 NFL games in his career.
With one week remaining in the regular season, the playoff field is almost set, as 12 teams have clinched playoff berths. But the playoff seeds remain in flux. Here’s a list of the teams remaining in contention for each playoff seed, and how they can earn those seeds.
NFC
1. Seahawks or 49ers. The winner of Saturday night’s Seahawks-49ers game in San Francisco will determine who gets the No. 1 seed in the NFC. If the teams tie, the Seahawks will be the No. 1 seed.
2. Bears or Eagles. If the Bears win or the Eagles lose, the Bears are the No. 2 seed. If the Bears lose and the Eagles win, the Eagles are the No. 2 seed.
3. Eagles or Bears. The team that doesn’t get the No. 2 seed gets the No. 3 seed. The Eagles are resting their starters and effectively conceding the No. 2 seed to the Bears and preparing to be the No. 3 seed.
4. Panthers or Buccaneers. If the Panthers beat or tie the Buccaneers on Saturday, the Panthers are the No. 4 seed. If the Panthers lose but the Falcons win on Sunday, the Panthers are also the No. 4 seed. If the Buccaneers win and the Falcons lose or tie, the Buccaneers are the No. 4 seed.
5. 49ers or Seahawks or Rams. If the Seahawks lose on Saturday, they are the No. 5 seed. If the 49ers lose on Saturday and the Rams lose on Sunday, the 49ers are the No. 5 seed. If the 49ers lose on Saturday and the Rams win on Sunday, the Rams are the No. 5 seed.
6. Rams or 49ers. If the Rams lose or the 49ers win, the Rams are the No. 6 seed. If the 49ers lose and the Rams win, the 49ers are the No. 6 seed.
7. Packers. The Packers are the only team that has clinched its playoff seed. The Packers are the No. 7 seed in the NFC regardless of anything that happens in Week 18.
AFC
1. Broncos or Patriots or Jaguars. If the Broncos win or the Patriots and Jaguars both lose, the Broncos are the No. 1 seed.
If the Patriots win and the Broncos lose, the Patriots are the No. 1 seed.
If the Jaguars win and the Broncos and Patriots both lose, the Jaguars are the No. 1 seed.
2. Patriots or Broncos or Jaguars. If the Patriots and Broncos both win, the Patriots are the No. 2 seed. If the Patriots and Jaguars both lose, the Patriots are the No. 2 seed. If the Broncos win and the Jaguars lose, the Patriots are the No. 2 seed regardless of what the Patriots do.
If the Broncos lose, the Patriots win and the Jaguars lose, the Broncos are the No. 2 seed. If the Broncos lose, the Patriots lose and the Jaguars win, the Broncos are the No. 2 seed.
If the Jaguars win, the Broncos lose and the Patriots win, the Jaguars are the No. 2 seed. If the Jaguars win, the Broncos win and the Patriots lose, the Jaguars are the No. 2 seed.
3. Jaguars or Broncos or Patriots or Texans. If the Jaguars, Broncos and Patriots all win, or the Jaguars tie, thie Jaguars are the No. 3 seed. If the Jaguars and Texans both lose, the Jaguars are the No. 3 seed. If the Broncos win, the Patriots win and the Texans lose, the Jaguars are the No. 3 seed regardless of what the Jaguars do.
If the Broncos lose and Patriots and Jaguars both win, the Broncos are the No. 3 seed.
If the Patriots lose and the Jaguars win, the Patriots are the No. 3 seed.
If the Texans win and the Jaguars lose, the Texans are the No. 3 seed.
4. Steelers or Ravens. If the Steelers beat or tie the Ravens on Sunday night, the Steelers are the No. 4 seed. If the Ravens win, the Ravens are the No. 4 seed.
5. Texans or Jaguars or Chargers or Bills. If the Texans and Jaguars both win, the Texans are the No. 5 seed. If the Texans, Chargers and Bills all lose, the Texans are the No. 5 seed. If the Jaguars win and the Chargers and Bills lose, the Texans are the No. 5 seed regardless of what the Texans do.
If the Jaguars lose, the Texans win and the Bills lose, the Texans are the No. 5 seed. (There are also scenarios that see the Jaguars as the 5 seed based on the strength of victory tiebreaker with the Chargers.)
If the Chargers win and the Texans lose, the Chargers are the No. 5 seed. If the Chargers win and the Jaguars lose, the Chargers could also get the No. 5 seed based on clinching the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Jaguars.
If the Bills win, the Chargers lose and either the Texans or Jaguars lose, the Bills are the No. 5 seed.
6. Chargers or Jaguars or Texans or Bills. If the Chargers, Texans and Jaguars all win, the Chargers are the No. 6 seed. If the Chargers and Bills both lose, the Chargers are the No. 6 seed. If the Texans win and the Bills lose, the Chargers are the No. 6 seed regardless of what the Chargers do.
If the Jaguars and Chargers both lose, and the Texans and Bills both win, the Jaguars are the No. 6 seed.
If the Texans lose and either the Bills lose and Chargers win, or the Bills win and Chargers lose, the Texans are the No. 6 seed.
If the Bills win, the Chargers lose and the Texans and Jaguars both win, the Bills are the No. 6 seed. If the Bills win, the Chargers win and the Texans lose, the Bills are the No. 6 seed.
7. Bills or Jaguars or Texans or Chargers. If the Bills lose, the Bills are the No. 7 seed. If the Chargers, Texans and Jaguars all win, the Bills are the No. 7 seed regardless of what the Bills do.
If the Jaguars lose and the Texans, Chargers and Bills all win, the Jaguars can be the No. 7 seed if the Chargers clinch the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Jaguars.
If the Texans lose and the Chargers and Bills both win, the Texans are the No. 7 seed.
If the Chargers lose and the Bills win, the Chargers are the No. 7 seed.
Tight end Tyler Higbee could be back to help the Rams in the postseason.
The team announced on Wednesday that Higbee has been designated for return from injured reserve. The move allows him to return to practice this week and be activated at any point in the next 21 days. That means he could play as early as their Week 18 game against the Cardinals, but a return in the wild card round could be more realistic.
Higbee has missed the last six games with an ankle injury. He had 20 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns in his nine appearances this season.
Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, Davis Allen, and Nick Vannett are the Rams’ other tight ends.
Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.'s second NFL season is over.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters on Wednesday that Harrison will not play against the Rans in Sunday’s regular season finale. It will be the fifth game that Harrison misses this season.
Harrison missed two games after having an appendectomy and two more with a heel injury. He returned to play in Weeks 15 and 16, but was limited to 19 games by the heel last week.
The 2024 first-round pick had 41 catches for 608 yards and four touchdowns this season. Injuries contributed to that, but his production even when healthy hasn’t been where most expected it to be based on how productive he was at Ohio State.
Harrison’s bid to change that seems likely to unfold with a new quarterback next season, but any word on who that might be will have to wait until the offseason is officially underway in Arizona.
