2022 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 18

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) at Atlanta Falcons (6-10)

Sunday, January 8, 1:00 PM ET

The Buccaneers somehow found a way to do it, didn’t they? They defied the odds from just a couple of weeks ago, and they managed to fend off the rest of the teams in the NFC South as they struggled to 8-8 and a division title.

One way or another, Tom Brady is back in the playoffs. The man is inevitable.

Now that the Bucs are back in the playoffs, they have a clean slate. They obviously aren’t going to be anybody’s betting favorite to win it all this year but once you punch your ticket to the dance, really anything can happen in the postseason.

And having Tom Brady on your side is obviously a huge bonus.

What does that mean for the Bucs’ Week 18 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons? Well, all of what I previously said likely means we’re going to see Blaine Gabbert, who has recently made some headlines for heroism off the field

https://twitter.com/Buccaneers/status/1608880375421407233

Or perhaps if it’s not Blaine Gabbert, maybe we’ll get a look at Kyle Trask starting for the Bucs. One way or another, this game could either be wildly entertaining or it could be a barn burner.

The Falcons, playing at home, have nothing to play for but they are in evaluation mode with Desmond Ridder. The rookie still has not thrown a touchdown pass in three NFL games played. That’s got to happen at some point, right?

Since the Bucs are probably going to rest starters and coast into the postseason, let’s see Ridder go off and have some fun in this one.

Prediction: Falcons win 22-17