Saints v Falcons, Colts v Texans and Titans v Jaguars: NFL gameweek 18 updates – live

January 5, 2026
4:49 am

Key events

Final score: Browns 20-18 Bengals

The kicker hits the walkoff to tie a ribbon on an amazing day for Myles Garrett who has the regular season sack record with 23 after taking down Joe Burrow in the second half.

It’s GOOD! Saints 10-19 Falcons 2:51, 4th quarter

Atlanta take out a two-score lead! Big comeback required for the Bucs to make the postseason.

Jacksonville win the AFC South!!!

Final score: Titans 7-41 Jaguars

The Jags stay in the race for the AFC No 1 seed. If the Patriots and Broncos lose later then the bye week is theirs.

PICK! Saints 10-16 Falcons 3:09, 4th quarter

Oh no! Tyler Shough is intercepted in the red zone and Dee Alford races Atlanta to New Orleans’ 30-yard line. Panthers fans will be dreaming of the playoffs, just three minutes to go until they claim the NFC South with a Falcons win.

Saints 10-16 Falcons 3:29, 4th quarter

New Orleans are in the red zone on 2nd and 7, Shough loops a long on but Ronny Bell is just overthrown. So close.

Final score: Packers 3-16 Vikings

Green Bay’s third-string QB Clayton Tune finishes 6/11 for 34 yards while being sacked four times. Ouch. All the backups in for the Packers roster understandably as they were already locked in for the NFC’s seventh seed.

TOUCHDOWN! Cowboys 17-34 Giants 5:48, 4th quarter

The Giants are whipping up on their rivals now. What a finish after a difficult season.

Colts 27-29 Texans 11:15, 4th quarter

The kicker battle continues with the Texans retaking the lead for a third time.

TOUCHDOWN! Browns 17-18 Bengals 1:29, 4th quarter

Cincinnati take a lead! Good news for the Browns’ draft hopes as a defeat will move them up to the fifth pick with the Giants winning.

Saints 10-16 Falcons 6:42, 4th quarter

Chase Young continues to dominate with a tackle for a loss after a hospital pass to Bijan Robinson.

Saints 10-16 Falcons 8:11, 4th quarter

Atlanta are back on the ball after a Saints punt. Kyle Pitts moves the chains with a nice stutter step and stiff arm. The tight end gains 13 yards but on the following play Kirk Cousins is ROCKED by Chase Young for an eight-yard loss. 2nd and 18 on the way.

Final 15 minutes

New Orleans Saints 10-16 Atlanta Falcons
Cleveland Browns 17-12 Cincinnati Bengals
Indianapolis Colts 27-26 Houston Texans
Tennessee Titans 7-41 Jacksonville Jaguars
Green Bay Packers 0-16 Minnesota Vikings
Dallas Cowboys 17-24 New York Giants

Here are your scores as we get stuck into the fourth quarters.

TOUCHDOWN! Titans 7-41 Jaguars 7:28, 4th quarter

It’s GOOD! Colts 26-27 Texans 15:00, 4th quarter

Indy retake the lead! Nail-biter.

It’s GOOD! Saints 10-16 Falcons 10:43, 4th quarter

Atlanta fail on a second 3rd and long after Drake London almost makes an incredible grab for what would have been a touchdown.

Myles Garrett breaks NFL sack record

Cleveland’s pass rusher has the most dominant sack numbers in a single season after taking down Joe Burrow for his 23rd takedown of the year. Congratulations to the big man who is just one of the best to ever do it.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) has had another brilliant season in the NFL. Photograph: Jeff Dean/AP

Saints 10-13 Falcons 12:55, 4th quarter

Atlanta pick up a big 1st down on 3rd with 10 yards to go. Darnell Mooney with some toe-drag swag to move the chains with 30-yards to go for the touchdown.

TOUCHDOWN! Cowboys 17-24 Giants 14:57, 4th quarter

In more advert news, Tom Brady puts in an all-time shocker with his Pizza Hut spot. His “roughing the passer” line about as wooden as it gets after being sacked by an octogenarian. Sadly the ad isn’t on youtube yet so here is Donald Trump, feels like a natural progression.

It’s GOOD! Colts 24-26 Texans 6:53, 3rd quarter

The Texans retake the lead in this seesaw thriller that sadly has lost its edge with the Jaguars thrashing the Titans.

NO TOUCHDOWN! Saints 10-13 Falcons 2:15, 3rd quarter

Tyler Shough tosses it away on 1st and Goal after the Falcons smell the screen and shut it down. On 2nd Audric Estime falls just short of the end zone. One yard to go but they fall short again! Huge 4th down now, they score on a short pass but Dante Pettis is pulled up for offensive pass interference. 11 yards to go on 4th down and they boot it through.

Colts 24-23 Texans 10:19, 3rd quarter

Houston have sensibly mothballed CJ Stroud with Jacksonville leading 34-7. Davis Mills is in at quarterback trying to retake the lead.

Philadelphia fans preparing for a date with Washington in a little while. I’m saying nothing …

Totally normal fandom Photograph: Matt Slocum/AP

OK, I have just seen a trailer for a show called Best Medicine on the Atlanta Falcons broadcast. It screamed Doc Martin rip off and it turns out it is an official remake! “Critics are raving it is the feel good show of the year,” says our commentary team. Enjoy!

Where is Martin Clunes when you need him?

It’s GOOD! Saints 7-13 Falcons 8:51, 3rd quarter

The Saints chase down Kirk Cousins on 3rd down who has to just toss it away.

Saints 7-10 Falcons 9:04, 3rd quarter

Kirk Cousins has still got it. The veteran throws a perfect arcing spiral over Drake London who reaches up to the top shelf and comes down with the grab on the sideline. A lovely 37-yard gain leaves 33 yard to go for the score.

TOUCHDOWN! Colts 24-23 Texans 13:05, 3rd quarter

The rookie balling out as he bundles over. A rushing score to add to his two passing touchdowns. Any Indy fans in the house? Should Riley Leonard have started the past three Philip Rivers did so and lost? This tiny sample size is too small for a real answer obviously but still very impressive against a fierce Texans defense.

TOUCHDOWN! Cowboys 10-24 Giants 9:48, 3rd quarter

The Giants will move out of the second overall pick in next year’s draft to pick seven as it stands. They go for two after a Dallas penalty and make it pay.

Saints 7-10 Falcons 11:20, 3rd quarter

Atlanta’s defense get nasty and sack Tyler Shough on successive plays to force the punt.

Saints 7-10 Falcons 14:11, 3rd quarter

With the AFC South wrapped up, let’s shine a light on the LOL bowl between the Saints and Falcons. The winner of which seals the NFC South for either the Panthers or Buccaneers. Falcons send the Panthers to the playoffs with a win and the Saints send the Bucs onward with the W.

The Jaguars are seriously flexing their muscles going into the playoffs. It has been a fantastic finish for them after an inconsistent start to the season that had them 5-4, they’ll be 13-4 in two quarters time. Hard not to look at Trevor Lawrence’s miraculous, and just a bit flukey, touchdown run that toppled the Chiefs back in October as a key moment in cementing their status as contenders.

Half-time

New Orleans Saints 7-10 Atlanta Falcons
Cleveland Browns 14-12 Cincinnati Bengals
Indianapolis Colts 17-20 Houston Texans
Tennessee Titans 7-31 Jacksonville Jaguars
Green Bay Packers 0-13 Minnesota Vikings
Dallas Cowboys 10-16 New York Giants

Houston are still out on the field with a few seconds left in field goal range … while as it stands the Jaguars will win the AFC South and stay in the race for the No 1 seed while the Panthers will just clinch the NFC South as the Falcons are beating the Saints.

TOUCHDOWN! Colts 17-20 Texans 1:25, 2nd quarter

Indy might be kicking themselves for not giving the rookie a go rather than Philip Rivers. Probably not though but Leonard rebounds from the strip sack with his second score to Alec Pierce.