Aaron Rodgers is set to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame five years after retiring from the NFL, with his waiting period potentially starting this Monday. At 42, Rodgers aims to postpone this milestone by at least a week as he leads the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Baltimore Ravens in a crucial Week 18 Sunday Night Football game at Acresure Stadium. The winner will secure the AFC North title and a playoff spot—Pittsburgh (9-7) seeks its first division crown since 2020, while Baltimore (8-8) looks for its third straight championship. The loser will miss the playoffs, with a loss possibly marking the end of Rodgers’ career as he becomes a free agent and might retire.
In their Week 14 meeting in Baltimore, Rodgers rushed for a season-high 284 yards and a touchdown, helping Pittsburgh claim a 27-22 win. However, Steelers’ leading receiver DK Metcalf, who threw seven passes for 148 yards, will be absent due to a suspension following a fan altercation in Week 16.
Sunday’s broader sports lineup features five NBA games, including the Minnesota Timberwolves (22-13) facing the Washington Wizards (9-24) at 6 p.m. ET, where the Wizards have gained momentum with four wins in five games while the Timberwolves have been solid on their road trip. The NHL hosts three games, spotlighting the Las Vegas Golden Knights (17-11-11) against the Chicago Blackhawks (16-18-7) at 7 p.m. ET, with Chicago trying to capture a third consecutive win as Las Vegas aims to snap a four-game losing streak.
College basketball highlights feature a Big Ten battle between Washington (9-4) and Indiana State (10-3) at 8 p.m. ET in Bloomington, Indiana, with both teams chasing their third straight victory. Latest odds favor the Ravens by 3.5 points over the Steelers, the Timberwolves by 11.5 over the Wizards, the Golden Knights at -272 money line against the Blackhawks, and Indiana State by 8.5 points over Washington.
Key viewing and betting recommendations include the Steelers vs. Ravens game on NBC at 8:20 p.m., with a projected total score over 41.5 and a suggested bet on Derrick Henry scoring an anytime touchdown. NBA fans can catch Timberwolves vs. Wizards via NBA League Pass at 6 p.m., with a strong lean toward the over 238.5 points and Naz Reid scoring 14.5+ points. NHL’s Blackhawks vs. Golden Knights is on ESPN+ at 7 p.m., with Chicago favored to cover a +1.5 spread, and college basketball’s Indiana State vs. Washington airs on Big Ten Network at 8 p.m., expecting Indiana to cover an -8.5 spread.
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Fan Take: This lineup underscores how basketball continues to command prime-time attention alongside football, with key NBA and college games presenting exciting bets and storylines. For basketball fans, these matchups offer a chance to see rising stars and potentially season-defining performances that could shape the competition’s intensity and fan engagement moving forward.
