Broncos in the NFL: Week 18
1/3/2025 1:30:00 PM | Football
BOISE, Idaho – Twelve former Boise State players will represent the Blue and Orange in the final week of the NFL regular season, including two who will be battling for a playoff spot. Avery Williams (Atlanta Falcons) and JL Skinner (Denver Broncos) are in contention for a berth in the playoffs, with five other former Broncos earning a spot with their current teams.
Khalil Shakir and the Buffalo Bills will be the AFC's No. 2 seed after winning the AFC East for the fifth-straight season. Brett Rypien and the Minnesota Vikings can clinch the NFC North and the conference's No. 1 seed with a win over the Detroit Lions. The Vikings will hold the No. 5 seed with a loss, their second playoff berth in the last three years. John Bates and Jeremy McNichols have helped the Washington Commanders secure an NFC Wild Card spot. Scott Matlock and the Los Angeles Chargers have done the same on the AFC side.
SUNDAY
Atlanta Falcons (Avery Williams) vs. Carolina Panthers – CBS, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Williams totaled 81 yards on four returns in Atlanta's 30-24 overtime loss to the Washington Commanders. The Boise State product averages a single-season career-high 27.8 yards per kick return this season. Atlanta can clinch the NFC South title and a playoff berth with a win and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss.
Washington Commanders (John Bates, Jeremy McNichols) at Dallas Cowboys – FOX, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Bates had a 14-yard reception and set a season-high mark for pass blocking grade (78.3) in Washington's 30-24 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons. McNichols added 10 yards from scrimmage on three touches as the Commanders clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2020.
Buffalo Bills (Khalil Shakir) at New England Patriots – CBS, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Shakir caught three passes for 25 yards in Buffalo's 40-14 win over the New York Jets. The Boise State product has 605 yards after catch this season, ranking second among NFL wide receivers. He has set single-season career-highs in receptions (76), receiving yards (821) and receiving touchdowns (4).
New Orleans Saints (Cedrick Wilson Jr.) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – FOX, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Wilson Jr. made his third start of the season, catching three passes for 17 yards in the Saints' 25-10 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Tennessee Titans (John Ojukwu) vs. Houston Texans – CBS, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Ojukwu played a career-high 56 offensive snaps in Tennessee's 20-13 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He garnered a career-high Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade of 81.8.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Ezra Cleveland) at Indianapolis Colts – FOX, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Cleveland played 60 total snaps in Jacksonville's 20-13 win over the Tennessee Titans. The Boise State product has played at least 97% of Jacksonville's offensive snaps in 13 games this season.
Denver Broncos (JL Skinner) vs. Kansas City Chiefs – CBS, 2:25 p.m.
Last Week: Skinner played 25 snaps in Denver's 30-24 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, making a special teams tackle. The Broncos can clinch a playoff spot this weekend with a win, a tie or losses by the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins.
Los Angeles Chargers (Scott Matlock) at Las Vegas Raiders (Alexander Mattison) – CBS, 2:25 p.m.
Last Week: Matlock started at fullback and made one solo stop as a defensive tackle in the Chargers' 40-7 win over the New England Patriots. The Boise State product played a career-high 55 snaps, including 35 on offense. Mattison totaled 38 yards of offense on 11 touches in the Raiders' 25-10 win over the New Orleans Saints.
Seattle Seahawks (George Holani) at Los Angeles Chargers – FOX, 2:25 p.m.
Last Week: Holani appeared in his fourth game of his rookie season, playing 10 special teams snaps and making a tackle on kickoff coverage.
Minnesota Vikings (Brett Rypien) at Detroit Lions – NBC/Peacock, 6:20 p.m.
Last Week: Rypien was inactive in Minnesota's 27-25 win over the Green Bay Packers. The victory gave the Vikings a 14-2 record, their most wins in a season since 1998. The winner of the Sunday night showdown will win the NFC North and secure the conference's top seed.
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Khalil Shakir and the Buffalo Bills will be the AFC's No. 2 seed after winning the AFC East for the fifth-straight season. Brett Rypien and the Minnesota Vikings can clinch the NFC North and the conference's No. 1 seed with a win over the Detroit Lions. The Vikings will hold the No. 5 seed with a loss, their second playoff berth in the last three years. John Bates and Jeremy McNichols have helped the Washington Commanders secure an NFC Wild Card spot. Scott Matlock and the Los Angeles Chargers have done the same on the AFC side.
SUNDAY
Atlanta Falcons (Avery Williams) vs. Carolina Panthers – CBS, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Williams totaled 81 yards on four returns in Atlanta's 30-24 overtime loss to the Washington Commanders. The Boise State product averages a single-season career-high 27.8 yards per kick return this season. Atlanta can clinch the NFC South title and a playoff berth with a win and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss.
Washington Commanders (John Bates, Jeremy McNichols) at Dallas Cowboys – FOX, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Bates had a 14-yard reception and set a season-high mark for pass blocking grade (78.3) in Washington's 30-24 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons. McNichols added 10 yards from scrimmage on three touches as the Commanders clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2020.
Buffalo Bills (Khalil Shakir) at New England Patriots – CBS, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Shakir caught three passes for 25 yards in Buffalo's 40-14 win over the New York Jets. The Boise State product has 605 yards after catch this season, ranking second among NFL wide receivers. He has set single-season career-highs in receptions (76), receiving yards (821) and receiving touchdowns (4).
New Orleans Saints (Cedrick Wilson Jr.) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – FOX, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Wilson Jr. made his third start of the season, catching three passes for 17 yards in the Saints' 25-10 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Tennessee Titans (John Ojukwu) vs. Houston Texans – CBS, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Ojukwu played a career-high 56 offensive snaps in Tennessee's 20-13 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He garnered a career-high Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade of 81.8.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Ezra Cleveland) at Indianapolis Colts – FOX, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Cleveland played 60 total snaps in Jacksonville's 20-13 win over the Tennessee Titans. The Boise State product has played at least 97% of Jacksonville's offensive snaps in 13 games this season.
Denver Broncos (JL Skinner) vs. Kansas City Chiefs – CBS, 2:25 p.m.
Last Week: Skinner played 25 snaps in Denver's 30-24 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, making a special teams tackle. The Broncos can clinch a playoff spot this weekend with a win, a tie or losses by the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins.
Los Angeles Chargers (Scott Matlock) at Las Vegas Raiders (Alexander Mattison) – CBS, 2:25 p.m.
Last Week: Matlock started at fullback and made one solo stop as a defensive tackle in the Chargers' 40-7 win over the New England Patriots. The Boise State product played a career-high 55 snaps, including 35 on offense. Mattison totaled 38 yards of offense on 11 touches in the Raiders' 25-10 win over the New Orleans Saints.
Seattle Seahawks (George Holani) at Los Angeles Chargers – FOX, 2:25 p.m.
Last Week: Holani appeared in his fourth game of his rookie season, playing 10 special teams snaps and making a tackle on kickoff coverage.
Minnesota Vikings (Brett Rypien) at Detroit Lions – NBC/Peacock, 6:20 p.m.
Last Week: Rypien was inactive in Minnesota's 27-25 win over the Green Bay Packers. The victory gave the Vikings a 14-2 record, their most wins in a season since 1998. The winner of the Sunday night showdown will win the NFC North and secure the conference's top seed.
WAKE UP TO THE LATEST BRONCO NEWS
Get the latest news from Bronco Nation delivered to your inbox every morning! Delivered every weekday, Good Morning, Bronco Nation is a daily email full of the latest news, fun information, weekly schedules, stats and a daily trivia question. Click here to sign up today!
For complete coverage of Boise State Football, download the Bronco Sports App or follow the team on social media on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter/X.
--BroncoSports.com--
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