MMQB Week 18: An Emotional Bills Win, Eagles Gets Jalen Hurts Back, Mahomes Deserves MVP

Links to all our coverage of NFL Week 18, including Albert Breer’s conversations with Sean McDermott, Andy Reid, Nick Sirianni, Zac Taylor, Pete Carroll, Matt Eberflus and Jaguars DE Josh Allen.

Welcome to Week 18 of the NFL season here at The MMQB. We are trying things a little differently with Albert Breer’s Monday-morning column, publishing items as separate stories throughout the morning. Below are links to everything Albert wrote about Week 18, plus more from our staff.

What Damar Hamlin Meant to an Emotional Bills Win

Bills fans hold signs supporting Damar Hamlin in Week 18
It was an emotionally taxing week in Buffalo, which kept up when the game kicked off :: Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports

Albert Breer speaks to coach Sean McDermott on Buffalo’s unbelievable start, support from Belichick and the Patriots, and the first time he heard about a draft prospect named Damar Hamlin.


Three Deep: Is Patrick Mahomes the MVP? Andy Reid Says ‘He’s As Good As It Gets’

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are the No. 1 QB-coach duo in Sports Illustrated's ranking.
Mahomes is more than just his stats, especially when you consider all he took on this year :: Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today network

The Chiefs boss has coached Brett Favre and Michael Vick. But he speaks to Albert Breer about why his QB right now might be the best. Plus, conversations with Jacksonville DE Josh Allen about the Jaguars’ winning the AFC South and Bears coach Matt Eberflus on Justin Fields’s development.


Ten Takeaways: Eagles ‘Really Sucked’ Without Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts throws a pass against the Giants
With Hurts back in the fold, the Eagles won their 14th game and wrapped up the top seed in the NFC :: Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports

Albert Breer speaks to Nick Sirianni about getting his quarterback back on the field as his team clinched the No. 1 seed. Plus, the nation finds out why Cincinnati and the Bengals are special, the Seahawks are playoff bound without Russell Wilson, the Dolphins are headed back to the playoffs and much more.


Six From Saturday: NFL Scouts Share What They’ll Watch in the Georgia-TCU National Title Game

Georgia DB Kelee Ringo joins his former Georgia teammates with the Eagles after he was selected in the fourth round of the NFL draft.
Ringo has a chance to earn some real money Monday night going up against an NFL-caliber receiver :: Jordan Prather/USA TODAY Sports

Kelee Ringo covering Quentin Johnston. Dylan Horton against NFL-caliber tackles. QBs Stetson Bennett and Max Duggan. And more on the big game Monday night.


More From The MMQB Staff

Aaron Rodgers reacts after an interception was nullified by a Lions penalty in Week 18.
The Packers left Week 18 with a lot of soul searching to do :: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK

Conor Orr: The Packers Were Thoroughly Exposed in Week 18, and Better Hope They Learn From It

Conor Orr: The Bears’ Landing the No. 1 Pick Adds Intrigue to the NFL Draft and Offseason

Conor Orr: After a Week of Prayer, the Bills’ Return to the Field Defied Belief

Conor Orr: The Texans Job Actually Looks Desirable to Potential Coaches, If You Can Stomach Why It’s Open

Week 18 Game Balls: Recognizing the week’s top performers


MMQB Podcast

Listen to Gary Gramling and Conor Orr break down all the games and every major story line on The MMQB Podcast, in your feed every Monday morning.


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Albert Breer
ALBERT BREER

Albert Breer is a senior writer covering the NFL for Sports Illustrated, delivering the biggest stories and breaking news from across the league. He has been on the NFL beat since 2005 and joined SI in 2016. Breer began his career covering the New England Patriots for the MetroWest Daily News and the Boston Herald from 2005 to '07, then covered the Dallas Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News from 2007 to '08. He worked for The Sporting News from 2008 to '09 before returning to Massachusetts as The Boston Globe's national NFL writer in 2009. From 2010 to 2016, Breer served as a national reporter for NFL Network. In addition to his work at Sports Illustrated, Breer regularly appears on NBC Sports Boston, 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, FS1 with Colin Cowherd, The Rich Eisen Show and The Dan Patrick Show. A 2002 graduate of Ohio State, Breer lives near Boston with his wife, a cardiac ICU nurse at Boston Children's Hospital, and their three children.