Week 18 Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day’s action and examines their significance moving forward.
Saturday notes
The clear top dog
The Seahawks secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a dominant win over the 49ers, showcasing their complete team under Coach Mike Macdonald, who is a strong Coach of the Year candidate. San Francisco, despite a disappointing performance, is expected to rebound in the playoffs, but concerns linger about their run defense. The Bucs’ narrow victory over the Panthers leaves the NFC South title undecided, while the Rams aim for the No. 5 seed, seeking a favorable playoff matchup. Officiating errors in the Bucs-Panthers game reignited discussions about the need for better use of technology to correct critical mistakes in real time.
