Teams that have started Sam Darnold have gone 27-6 in the past two seasons. However, the Minnesota Vikings saw Darnold start to fade before his worst two games closed out the season and the San Francisco 49ers are hoping to get the same outcome in Week 18 this year .

Going into the final week of the regular season, a look at the most important non-QBs still alive in the playoff race.

Despite their mountain of injury issues this season, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves within reach of an NFC West title and the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC heading into week 18. The Niners are hosting the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, Jan. 3, the winner of which will claim both of those honors.

The 49ers were 4-11 when Trent Williams missed games entering the season. They went 1-6 last season, as his injury derailed the offense. Williams started last week, but went out after one play. The 49ers proceeded to score 42 points and win the game. Pleasants was not perfect, but he held it down and replaced someone who was deemed irreplaceable.

The 49ers are riding a five-game winning streak heading into Sunday’s game, but face one of the hottest teams in the NFL, as the Bears are also 11-4 after starting the season 0-2. They’ve beaten the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles in the last month, clinched the NFC North, and are 7-2 in close games.

Week 17 of the NFL is here with division championships and playoff seeding on the line. Teams must execute on both sides of the ball to give themselves and their fans the best Christmas gift they can offer – a win.

NFL Week 18 odds, picks, predictions, TV channel, streaming information for Saturday football game between Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.

The 2025 NFL regular season comes to an end on Sunday, and two playoff berths are still to be determined, with the AFC North and NFC South on the line.