The final week of the NFL regular season is upon us and there are still things to be settled regarding the playoffs.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe AFC North can be wrapped up by the Baltimore Ravens (11-5) with a win over the Cleveland Browns (3-13) on Saturday evening. If the Ravens were to lose, then the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) can win the AFC North and gain that all important home tie in the playoffs, by beating the Cincinnati Bengals (8-8), who still have an outside chance to reaching the playoffs themselves. If both sides win, then the Steelers would be the 5th seed.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, for the Bengals to reach the playoffs, they need a few things to happen first. They would need both the Miami Dolphins (8-8, @ New York Jets) and the Denver Broncos (9-7, v Kansas City Chiefs) to lose, and they would still need to beat the Steelers to claim the final playoff spot. But seeing as it has been reported by Chiefs Coach Andy Reid that they are resting a lot of their starters, including Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the Broncos are in with a win, regardless of what happens elsewhere. The Dolphins just need a Broncos loss, provided they beat the New York Jets, to make the playoffs.
Embed from Getty ImagesOn the NFC side, there is still the matter of who will be the No.1 seed and get homefield advantage all the way through to the Superbowl LIX. The Detroit Lions (14-2) travel to face the Minnesota Vikings (14-2) in a massive matchup. Both sides are on win streaks (Lions 2 games, Vikings 9 games), so this really is a massive matchup for both teams. The Lions beat the Vikings 31-29 in their week 9 clash.
Embed from Getty ImagesElsewhere in the NFC, the South division, and the 4th seed, will be settled if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) win at home against the New Orleans Saints (5-11). The Atlanta Falcons (8-8) will be hoping that the Buccaneers lose, as long as they beat the Carolina Panthers (4-12), which would give them the division as they have beaten the Buccaneers twice this season. Both teams are in the early slate of games, so it could be a nervy time for both sets of fans.
The entire slate of games for week 18 is:
Saturday 9:30pm
Cleveland Browns (3-13) @ Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Sunday 6pm
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Carolina Panthers (4-12) @ Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Washington Commanders (11-5) @ Dallas Cowboys (7-9)
Chicago Bears (4-12) @ Green Bay Packers (11-5)
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) @ Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
Buffalo Bills (13-3) @ New England Patriots (3-13)
New York Giants (3-13) @ Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
New Orleans Saints (5-11) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Houston Texans (9-7) @ Tennessee Titans (3-13)
Sunday 9:25pm
San Francisco 49ers (6-10) @ Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) @ Denver Broncos (9-7)
Seattle Seahawks (9-7) @ Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) @ Las Vegas Raiders (4-12)
Miami Dolphins (8-8) @ New York Jets (4-12)
Monday 1:20am
Minnesota Vikings (14-2) @ Detroit Lions (14-2)
