QB Lamar Jackson Will Start in Pivotal Game Against the Steelers
Posted on: January 2, 2026, 11:11h.
Last updated on: January 2, 2026, 11:14h.
- Ravens QB Lamar Jackson to start Sunday’s game against the Steelers
- Seahawks slight betting favourites against 49ers in pivotal NFC game
- Patriots’ Vrabel betting favourite for coach of the year, says DraftKing’s Avello
Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson put to bed any doubts whether his wonky back will keep him out of Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Carolina Panthers in Tampa to play the Bucs tomorrow at 4:40 p.m. EST and the Ravens in Pittsburgh to play the Steelers Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. EST are two games where the winner makes the playoffs, the loser goes home.
Jackson told reporters he has never quit on the Ravens, despite media reports that he is planning an exit after the season.
“100 per cent,” Jackson told media yesterday when asked if he is starting Sunday. “Feeling great … to be out there with my guys. I’ve been doing a lot of treatment. There’s always noise in the National Football League. I am just focused on winning.”
Betting Lines for Week 18
The Denver Broncos (hosting the LA Chargers Sunday at 4:25 p.m. EST), Jacksonville Jaguars (hosting the Tennessee Titans at 1 p.m. EST Sunday), and New England Patriots (hosting the Miami Dolphins at 4:25 p.m. EST Sunday) are playing for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
In the NFL, Seattle Seahawks are in San Francisco to take on the 49ers tomorrow at 8 p.m. EST in a massive game for the No. 1 seed there.
The Ravens are -185 betting favourites on the ML at DraftKings, the Steelers are +154. The Seahawks are -125, the 49ers +105. The Jaguars are -900, the Titans +600, with the Broncos -1000, the Chargers +650. The Bucs are -155 betting favourites, the Panthers +130. The Patriots are big betting favourites in their game, at -625, with the Dolphins at +455.
Vrabel for Coach of the Year?
With the NFL regular season wrapping up, we asked DraftKings’ Sportbook Director Johnny Avello for his thoughts on what surprised him this season on the betting side.
“I scratch my head every week at something that happened, not always with the NFL, but in the world of sports,” said Avello.
I look at the way that this year is going to wrap up,” said Avello. “The Rams were the favourite to win the NFC West, and here the Rams don’t even know where they’re going to be, as far as playoff seed. You got Seattle and 49ers fighting for the division, and it comes down to Tampa Bay and Carolina. At the end of the year, you usually don’t see the last week deciding the division.
Maye Betting Favourite for MVP
“I thought Pittsburgh would be okay, and win 9-10 games, but I didn’t know that the Baltimore Ravens would struggle this year the way they did, and so therefore that comes down to one game,” he said. “So here we are last week and we’ve got four divisions up for grabs, even Jacksonville is up for grabs.
I think one surprise for me in the NFL was Drake Maye. We had Maye 50-1 to win MVP, and he just took over as favourite this last week. He was still a 3-1 underdog and in just one game with him with five touchdown passes and Matthew Stafford having a poor game with three picks turned that around where Maye is now the favourite.”
Maye is -295 at DraftKings, Stafford is now at +225.
Bucs Betting Favourites Over Panthers
Patriots’ head coach Mike Vrabel is the betting favourite for coach of the year, at -170, followed by 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan at +170.
“Shanahan had a team that was capable of having a good season whereas Vrabel’s was an unknown” said Avello. “Who knew that he would have the type of season where he would have an MVP candidate, go on and win the AFC East and be possibly the No. 1 seed. We didn’t see that coming. So I think it will be hard for Shanahan. I know Shanahan and the team has rallied as of late, but I don’t know if you can overcome what Vrabel has done for the year.”
Most bet games (tickets) so far at BetMGM are Seahawks at 49ers, Panthers at Bucs, Ravens at Steelers, Lions at Chicago Bears, and Chargers at Broncos. Most bet spreads? 49ers +1.5, Panthers +3, Bears -3, Ravens -3.5, Bills -6.5.
No comments yet