Top 5 performances by Alabama football in the NFL in Week 18

The NFL regular season has come to a close as Week 18 has come and gone and everyone is now gearing up for the playoffs. The final weekend of the regular season always brings high drama and playoff jockeying and this one was no different.

Several former Alabama football players participated in big games with the playoffs, division titles, and first-round byes on the line. Others were chasing incentives and milestone numbers.

Let's take a look at the top performances in the NFL, one last time for the 2024 season.

Top 5 Alabama football players in the NFL in Week 18

5. Calvin Ridley

It wasn't a monster game for Calvin Ridley in the Titans' last game of the regular season, but Ridley caught three passes for 76 yards, and most importantly, his yardage total took him over the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the second straight season and the third time in his career.

Ridley finished the season in Nashville with 64 catches, 1,017 yards, and four touchdowns. The Titans finished a disappointing 3-14 and secured the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Maybe they will use it a on a QB who can reliably get Ridley the ball as Will Levis struggled to produce for Tennessee.

4. Xavier McKinney

It was a big first year in Green Bay for former Alabama safety Xavier McKinney, and he capped it off with yet another interception in the Packers' loss on Sunday to the Bears. Even in defeat, Green Bay had already clinched a playoff berth and will head to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in the Wildcard Round next week.

McKinney finished the game with four tackles, one pass defended, and his eighth interception of the season, which finished second in the NFL behind Detroit's Kerby Joseph.

It was a profitable offseason for the Packers in signing former Alabama players. McKinney had a big season in the secondary and Josh Jacobs finished sixth in the NFL in rushing.

3. Derrick Henry

It was another weekend full of NFL history for Derrick Henry as the Ravens routed the Browns and clinched the AFC North title. Henry carried the ball 20 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns in Baltimore's 35-10 win over Cleveland.

In the process, Henry set the rushing record for players over 30, breaking a record that Tiki Barber held for 20 years. Henry also became the first player in NFL history to produce a second season with over 1900 rushing yards. Henry finished second to only Saquon Barkley in rushing, totaling 1,921 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.

Henry also became the first player in NFL history to have three seasons with 1500+ rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. He finished the season 6th on the all-time list for rushing touchdowns and inside the Top 20 all-time in rushing yards

2. Jahmyr Gibbs

With David Montgomery still out with an injury, the full weight of the Lions rushing attack was on the shoulders of Jahmyr Gibbs in a huge game on Sunday night against the Vikings. The winner clinched the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC and a first-round bye, while the loser would be knocked down to the 5th seed and go on the road to open the Wildcard round.

When it mattered the most, Gibbs was outstanding. Gibbs carried the ball 23 times for 139 yards and three rushing touchdowns. He added 5 catches for 31 yards and another touchdown reception as the Lions rolled over the Vikings 31-9 to finish with a franchise record 15 regular season wins.

Gibbs led the NFL this season in touchdowns with 20 and finished with 1,412 rushing yards, good for fifth in the NFL. Gibbs had 53 fewer carries than any other player inside the top five.

1. Bryce Young

It was a career day for Bryce Young in leading the Panthers to a 44-38 overtime win over the Falcons in the regular season finale. The second year quarterback capped off an incredible second half of the regular season in one of the most remarkable in-season turnarounds I can ever remember seeing.

Young was benched after the first two games of the regular season, but got another opportunity to start after an injury to Andy Dalton and he made the most of it. He went from being an afterthought and likely on his way out this offseason in Carolina to now being the unquestioned franchise quarterback for the Panthers.

Young completed 25-of-34 passes for 251 yards and totaled five touchdowns in the win. He threw three touchdown passes and ran in two more. His three passing touchdowns tied a career-high, his two rushing touchdowns and his five total touchdowns were career-highs.

Bryce has his confident, cocky, swagger back and seems to be back on the path to realizing the potential that made him a Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick.