49ers, Giants and Packers are suspended for Week 18
Lorenzo Reyes issues his final regular season suspensions before Week 18.
The NFL is back with another doubleheader on Saturday to begin the final week of the 2023 season.
And both games feature teams with playoff hopes on the line.
First, the Pittsburgh Steelers hope to secure a spot in the playoffs on the road against the Baltimore Ravens, who have secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC with quarterback Lamar Jackson, the league's MVP frontrunner.
And in prime time, CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans travel to Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC South battle with a division crown and wild card implications.
Here's what you need to know about Saturday's Steelers-Ravens and Texans-Colts matchups.
LONGEST NFL PLAYOFF DARDIES: These teams have the longest streak of missing postseason parties
Longest playoff win drought in the NFL: The Lions and Dolphins haven't won in the postseason in decades
Here's how to watch Saturday's games
The Steelers and Ravens kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Texans and Colts begin play at 8:15 p.m. Both games will be televised on ESPN/ABC and both will be available to stream on ESPN+.
With the No. 1 pick already decided, Ravens coach John Harbaugh will likely rest his key players and prepare for a Super Bowl run. And that includes Jackson, who could win his second MVP award.
Meanwhile, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin can celebrate, knowing he has posted a 17th straight undefeated season in Pittsburgh. But a playoff spot would be nice in a turbulent season.
Even if the Steelers win in Baltimore, they would need help from multiple teams to reach the postseason. Pittsburgh must win and take a Buffalo Bills loss to the Miami Dolphins with the AFC East on the line Sunday night, or a Jacksonville Jaguars loss or tie to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, or a tie in the Texans-Colts game to reach the league playoffs.
Two other scenarios put Pittsburgh in the postseason: Steelers draw, Jaguars loss and Texans-Colts not ending in a draw, or Jaguars loss and win on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders and Texans-Colts by the Denver Broncos, and the Texans- Colts don't end in a tie.
The Texans and Colts are vying for a playoff spot in their final game of the regular season, and it's inspiring to see the turnaround both teams have accomplished in 2023.
For the Texans and Colts on Saturday night it's simple: win and get into the playoffs. What if you want to win the AFC South? Win and hope the Jaguars lose to the Titans on Sunday.
To the loser: good luck next year.
Houston selected CJ Stroud with the No. 2 pick in the 20023 draft and found the right head coach in DeMeco Ryans after a merry-go-round of coaching hires at the top of the NFL Draft order in recent years. If Houston reaches the postseason, it will be the first time since 2019, when Bill O'Brien, Deshaun Watson, JJ Watt and DeAndre Hopkins were the faces of the franchise.
Meanwhile, the Colts have a chance to make the playoffs with Jonathan Taylor in and out of the lineup due to injuries and contract disputes and Gardner Minshew II leading the offense most of the season without rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder). a credit to first-year coach Shane Steichen, who maximized the talent. The Colts are 6-5 since Minshew took over and could return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
AFC SOUTH PLAYOFF SCENARIOS: Will the Jaguars win or can the Texans and Colts win the division?
Saturday's NFL game predictions
Here are the USA TODAY Sports staff predictions for both games:
- Jarrett Bell: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts
- Chris Bumbaca: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts
- Nate Davis: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts
- Safid Deen: Ravens over Steelers; Texans over Colts
- Tyler Dragon: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts
- Victoria Hernandez: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts
- Jordan Mendoza: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts
- Lorenzo Reyes: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts