The NFC's No. 1 seed will be determined in the final week as the Detroit Lions face off against the Minnesota Vikings. The victor will claim the NFC North title, securing a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The loser will settle for the No. 5 seed and face an away game in the wild-card round.
The Vikings, with a record of 14-2, managed to secure a crucial 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers, setting the stage for the high-stakes showdown in Week 18. The Lions, standing at 13-2, will play against the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of the NFC title game before their decisive clash with the Vikings. Detroit previously defeated Minnesota 31-29 in Week 7.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles have clinched the NFC East title and locked in the No. 2 seed following a dominant 41-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Coach Nick Sirianni faces a dilemma this week as star player Saquon Barkley is just 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. Sirianni must decide whether to rest Barkley and key starters in preparation for the playoffs or allow Barkley to chase the historic record.
In the NFC West, the Los Angeles Rams, with a record of 10-6, are on the verge of securing the division title. Their fate hinges on the outcome of the Atlanta-Washington game, which also impacts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A win for the Falcons would keep them atop the NFC South, while a loss would open the door for the Buccaneers to claim the division with a victory over New Orleans.
Over in the AFC, three teams have already solidified their playoff seeds. The Kansas City Chiefs, with a remarkable 15-1 record, have clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC West. The Buffalo Bills, winners of the AFC East with a 13-3 record, have secured the No. 2 seed. The Houston Texans, champions of the AFC South at 9-7, hold the No. 4 seed.
The Baltimore Ravens, at 11-5, have the opportunity to clinch the AFC North title and the No. 3 seed with a win or tie against Cleveland in the upcoming week. The Pittsburgh Steelers have already secured a wild-card spot, while the Los Angeles Chargers, at 10-6, have also locked in a wild-card berth, no lower than the sixth seed.
The final AFC playoff spot is up for grabs among the Denver Broncos (9-7), Miami Dolphins (8-8), and Cincinnati Bengals (8-8). Denver can secure the spot with a win or tie against the Chiefs, while the Dolphins need a Broncos loss and a victory over the Jets on the road. The Bengals must win and rely on losses by the Broncos and Dolphins to clinch the final playoff berth.
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