NFL Week 18 is here and pretty much nothing has been decided. Almost every game on the week 18 schedule will affect playoff seeding. In this blog, we handicap quarterback matchups. Check out QB matchups analysis and NFL Betting picks for every game on the NFL Week 18 schedule.
Who’ll Win the Quarterback Matchups in Week 18? | NFL Lines & Betting Predictions
Kansas City – Patrick Mahomes vs Las Vegas – Jarrett Stidham | Saturday, Jan. 7
Mahomes is the easy pick, right? Not so fast. Stidham threw for 364 yards and tossed 3 touchdowns against the league’s best defense. Jarrett gets the nod in this individual matchup.
QB Matchup Pick: Jarrett Stidham
Tennessee – Joshua Dobbs vs. Jacksonville – Trevor Lawrence | Saturday, Jan. 7
Dobbs will struggle against one of the top defenses in the NFL. Trevor Lawrence should have an excellent day versus a Titans team that’s reeling in every way imaginable.
QB Matchup Pick: Trevor Lawrence
Baltimore – Tyler Huntley vs. Cincinnati – Joe Burrows | Sunday, Jan. 8
Here’s another where the matchup is one-sided. Joe Burrow is an MVP candidate. Tyler Huntley is filling in admirably for Lamar Jackson. But he made some bad plays that allowed the Steelers to grab a win in the Ravens’ last. Burrow wins this one.
QB Matchup Pick: Joe Burrow
Tampa Bay – Tom Brady vs Atlanta – Desmond Ridder | Sunday, Jan. 8
Brady rallied the Buccaneers against a much better team in NFL Week 17. The Panthers were up big over Tampa. But the Terrific One would have none of it.
Desmond Ridder will be a decent quarterback in the NFL but this is a training exercise for the Atlanta Falcons. Brady will be the one handing out the lessons.
QB Matchup Pick: Tom Brady
New England – Mac Jones vs Buffalo – Josh Allen | Sunday, Jan. 8
Jones has taken a step back this season. Mac suffered some injuries early in the season and hasn’t gotten back to playing his best ball.
Josh Allen, like Joe Cool in Cincinnati, is an MVP candidate. Allen for sure will outplay Jones.
QB Matchup Pick: Josh Allen
Minnesota – Kirk Cousins vs Chicago – Justin Fields | Sunday, Jan. 8
The Bears have just 3 wins. But if Justin Fields is one-hundred percent, he should dominate a Vikings’ defense that isn’t very good.
QB Matchup Pick: Justin Fields
Houston – Davis Mills vs Indianapolis – Sam Ehlinger | Sunday, Jan. 8
Throw a dart. We’ll go with the Texans because Mills can lean on a decent rushing attack and a pretty good defense. The Colts are ready to head to the fishing hole.
QB Matchup Pick: Davis Mills
NYJ – Mike White vs. Miami – Skylar Thompson | Sunday, Jan. 8
Jets‘ quarterback Mike White might take a seat. Even if he doesn’t, Skyler Thompson gets the nod. We have to look at the supporting cast in this matchup and Skylar’s is much better than Mike’s.
QB Matchup Pick: Skylar Thompson
Carolina – Sam Darnold vs. New Orleans – Andy Dalton | Sunday, Jan. 8
Darnold has better stats. However, the Saints’ defense looked fantastic versus Gardner Minshew and the Philly Eagles in week 17. Sam isn’t a better QB than Gardner and this happens in the Superdome. In addition, Andy should be fired up after alma mater TCU upset Michigan and will play in the National Championship.
QB Matchup Pick: Andy Dalton
Cleveland – Deshaun Watson vs. Pittsburgh – Kenny Pickett | Sunday, Jan. 8
On paper, Watson should dominate. Pickett, though, has become a solid signal-caller. Twice in the past two weeks, Kenny has rallied the Steelers. Pittsburgh can make the playoffs with a victory. So we should expect Kenny to step it up.
QB Matchup Pick: Kenny Pickett
LAC – Justin Herbert vs. Denver – Russell Wilson | Sunday, Jan. 8
Herbert faces a much tougher defense than many believe. Denver picked it up against Kansas City in a decent game in week 17. The Broncos didn’t win but they played Mahomes and the Chiefs tough. Wilson turned it on in the matchup. There’s a chance Russell keeps it going.
QB Matchup Pick: Russell Wilson
NYG – Daniel Jones vs. Philadelphia – Gardner Minshew | Sunday, Jan. 8
Jones doesn’t make mistakes. But Daniel won’t post numbers close to Minshew. Gardner figures to throw for over 300 yards and at least 2 TDs. Jones will throw for 200 to 220 at best.
QB Matchup Pick: Gardner Minshew
Arizona – David Blough vs. San Francisco – Brock Purdy | Sunday, Jan. 8
Purdy is playing like a 10-year vet who hasn’t missed a start during his career. Blough is a journeyman quarterback who hopes to keep his second string spot into 2023-2024.
QB Matchup Pick: Brock Purdy
LAL – Baker Mayfield vs. Seattle – Geno Smith | Sunday, Jan. 8
Baker is playing decent football. So is Geno. The thing about this matchup is that Seattle will lean on their rushing attack. The Rams have zero rushing game. So even if the Seahawks win, they can even win big, Baker takes the individual matchup.
QB Matchup Pick: Baker Mayfield
Dallas – Dak Prescott vs. Washington – Carson Wentz | Sunday, Jan. 8
We’ve go the feeling Wentz is about to hang up the cleats. The man showed zero urgency in a must win game in week 17. Dak loves playing football. Prescott especially loves beating the Commanders. If the Cowboys win and the Eagles lose, Big D takes the NFC East. So expect Prescott to light up D.C.
QB Matchup Pick: Dak Prescott
Detroit – Jared Goff vs. Green Bay – Aaron Rodgers | Sunday, Jan. 8
Green Bay should win the game, but this is going to be close. Rodgers won’t push the envelope because Aaron knows if Green Bay hopes to make the playoffs, they must win.
Goff will outplay AR in this game. Jared has proven he’s a legit QB1.
QB Matchup Pick: Jared Goff
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