Nat Coombs' NFL Week 18 Tips Including Ravens @ Steelers
The final week of the NFL season is notoriously one of the toughest to pick.
Playoff-bound teams that can’t conceivably do much about their seeding – at least nothing seismically significant – will probably rest starters.
Dead rubbers abound, with those franchises in the doldrums of banality and inconsequentiality, testing out prospects to see what they’ve got.
Nat Coombs' NFL Week 18 Tips:
- Nat Coombs' Panel Pick 1: Dolphins @ Patriots: Over 45.5 Total Points - 10/11 With BetMGM
- Nat Coombs' Panel Pick 2: Browns @ Bengals: Over 44.5 Total Points - 10/11 With BetMGM
- Nat Coombs' Panel Pick 3: Ravens @ Steelers: Ravens (-3) - 20/21 With BetMGM
A few games have a real edge – two that are ostensibly “win-and-in”, essentially preliminary play-off games, including the Baltimore Ravens/Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Carolina Panthers, who will duke it out for a Wild Card spot.
The Seattle Seahawks/San Francisco 49ers match-up carries with it the number one seed in the NFC for the victor, but for the most part, with perfect symmetry, Week 18 sits alongside Week 1 as a complex path to navigate.
Nat Coombs, who will be in the FIVE studio on Sunday night, is sharing three more tips for this weekend's contests, using the latest odds from BetMGM.
Dolphins @ Patriots: Over Looks Appealing
The Miami Dolphins have handed the keys to rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers in the last few weeks, kicking the tyres to see if he’s a viable way forward if they move on from Tua Tagovailoa.
Ewers has been capable - if unremarkable - and a big performance here against playoff-bound New England Patriots will go a long way to convincing the Fins to move forward with him as an interim measure with upside in 2026.
His counterpart Drake Maye could well land the MVP title. It’s a two-way shootout between him and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford on betting apps, with the voting taking place following the conclusion of the regular season.
He’ll have tackle Will Campbell back in time for the postseason, and the Pats have a shot at the number one seed if they beat Miami and Denver slips up against the Los Angeles Chargers.
So, New England will be flexing for much of the game, and if this is to be Mike McDaniel's swansong as the Fins head coach, expect some trickery and offensive high jinks as a coda.
Nat's Selection 1: Dolphins @ Patriots: Over 45.5 Total Points - 10/11 With BetMGM
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Browns @ Bengals: Points Expected In Dead Rubber
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is gunning for the sack record, and if he achieves it against divisional rivals Cincinnati Bengals, who let’s face it, haven’t seemed too bothered about protecting quarterback Joe Burrow over the last few years, it’ll be a remarkable achievement for a player that deserves to be named defensive MVP.
The offence-obsessed era that we’re in skews perspective, and solid quarterback seasons from the likes of Maye and Stafford, are elevated above generationally elite defensive play.
There’s not much else on the line here, but since his return from injury, Burrow has been slinging in with the best of them, and Shedeur Sanders and a young Cleveland offence have shown flashes.
Whilst it’s improving, this is ostensibly a weak Bengals defense that can be cut.
Nat's Selection 2: Browns @ Bengals: Over 44.5 Total Points - 10/11 With BetMGM
Ravens @ Steelers: Baltimore To Cover
It feels as if Aaron Rodgers will return for another year – probably with Pittsburgh, possibly elsewhere.
Offensively, while not groundbreaking, the Steelers had been finding some kind of groove before the unfortunate incident with DK Metcalf and a Detroit Lions fan, which led to his subsequent two-game suspension.
Last week, there was zero groove apparent for Mike Tomlin’s crew, whilst the Ravens' offense, led by a resurgent running back Derek Henry, is positively humming.
It’s likely the Ravens will roll with quarterback Lamar Jackson, whose injury-hit season, along with a struggling offensive line, has been instrumental in their erratic offensive showing.
Baltimore are susceptible to the deep threat, but without Metcalf - and Rodgers rarely airing it out these days - it’s a weak link that may not get exploited.
It’s unlikely that either of these teams will strike fear into the hearts of the rest of the AFC playoff pack.
However, assuming Jackson plays and is even 70% of his usual level, the Ravens should take this and the AFC North title with it.
Nat's Selection 3: Ravens @ Steelers: Ravens (-3) - 20/21 With BetMGM
Nat's Week 18 treble pays out around 6/1 With BetMGM.
Which bet do you like in the NFL this weekend? Let us know in the comments below.
