Aaron Rodgers on Steelers-Ravens: 'Pretty emotional' -- plus more Week 18 quotes - ESPN

The NFL's regular-season finale brought long-awaited clarity to the playoff picture.

No game captured that reality more than Sunday's last matchup, as the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Baltimore Ravens in a win-or-go-home showdown to decide the AFC North champion and the final postseason berth.

The high stakes provided plenty of fuel for trash talk and sharp sound bites, as some of the game's best moments often come from what's said before or after the whistle.

Players and coaches carried the intensity from the field to the podium, delivering standout lines in their postgame sessions.

From bold declarations to perfectly timed one-liners, here are the best quotes from around the NFL in Week 18.

The Steelers hung on to defeat the Ravens 26-24 after Baltimore's Tyler Loop's 44-yard field goal attempt to win the game sailed wide right. On the previous drive, Rodgers connected with Calvin Austin III for a 26-yard go-ahead touchdown.

Rodgers is now back in the postseason for the first time since 2021, his penultimate season with the Green Bay Packers. He couldn't help but be emotional when reflecting on what it meant to return to the playoffs.

When Garrett entered Week 16 with 21.5 sacks and 44 pressures, it appeared inevitable he would break the NFL's single-season sack record of 22.5. That certainty wavered after he failed to record a sack against the Steelers in Week 17. And Week 18's outing seemed to be following a similar script — until Garrett finally broke through, taking down Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow with 5:16 remaining in the third quarter to register sack No. 23.

After the game, Garrett celebrated the milestone but was already looking ahead, setting his sights on his next goal: breaking the record