A showdown between Minnesota and Detroit will decide a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the playoffs while two other post-season spots have been decided with the NFL regular season coming to an end.
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Here, foxsports.com.au has the full state of play as to what is on the line in Week 18 and follow our live blog below for the latest results that matter!
NFL DRAFT ORDER: Race to No.1 pick goes down to the wire… but one team already blew it
AFC
Who is already locked into the playoffs?
In the AFC, two-time defending champion Kansas City has clinched the top seed and joining them in the AFC post-season will be the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.
Who took the final playoff spot?
The Denver Broncos (10-7) sealed the last AFC spot with a home win over Kansas City after the Chiefs rested many of their top players having already secured a first-round bye and home-field playoff edge.
Bo Nix broke the NFL record for most home touchdown passes by a rookie quarterback in the game with a crazy completion to Devaughn Vele.
Miami (8-8) could have taken the last AFC playoff berth with a road victory over the New York Jets (4-12) but look set to lose anyway.
If both the Broncos and Dolphins had lost, the Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) would have swiped the playoff spot after winning on Sunday at Pittsburgh (10-7).
Only four NFL teams since 1990 (2.5 per cent) have made the playoffs after a 0-3 start.
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What else is on the line?
Also at stake was the AFC North division crown and the third seed in the AFC playoffs behind Kansas City and Buffalo.
Baltimore (12-5) clinched both with a home victory over Cleveland (3-14).
Tiebreakers
The Steelers own the No. 5 seed over the Chargers having previously defeated Los Angeles 20-10 in Week 3.
Playoff picture (*clinched playoffs)
No. 1 seed: Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West winners)*
No. 2 seed: Buffalo Bills (13-3, AFC East winners)*
No. 3 seed: Baltimore Ravens (12-5, AFC North winners)*
No. 4 seed: Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South winners)*
No. 5 seed: Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, wild card No. 1)*
No. 6 seed: Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, wild card No. 2)*
No. 7 seed: Denver Broncos (9-7, wild card No. 3)
Playoff games (as it stands)
No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (BYE)
No. 2 Buffalo Bills vs. No. 7 Denver Broncos
No. 3 Baltimore Ravens vs. No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers
No. 4 Houston Texans vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers
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NFC
Who is already locked into the playoffs?
The Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions will battle for NFC supremacy on Monday but are already guaranteed a playoff spot along with the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Washington Commanders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams.
Who took the final playoff spot?
Tampa Bay (10-7) clinched the NFC South crown with a home triumph over New Orleans (5-12) but it was far from comfortable, with the Bucs getting home 27-19 off the back of a 14-0 fourth quarter. A loss would have allowed Atlanta (8-9) a chance to get the division title and playoff spot with a home victory over Carolina (5-12). However, the Falcons weren’t able to get it done anyway, going down 44-38 to the Panthers in an overtime thriller.
In a hilarious, last-minute gamble the Bucs could have kneeled the clock out as most teams would to secure the playoff berth, but instead decided to run one final play even though they didn’t need to.
But star wide receiver Mike Evans needed just five yards to reach 1,000 for the 11th-straight season and so Baker Mayfield was able to connect with his trusty target, who got nine yards on the play to not only get a $3 million bonus but tie Jerry Rice’s record.
What else is on the line?
The host Lions and visiting Vikings meet in the final game of the regular-season to decide the NFC North division title with the winner getting the NFC top seed, a first-round bye and home-field edge through the playoffs in a big boost to their Super Bowl hopes while the loser settles for a fifth seed and likely spends the playoffs on the road.
Tiebreakers
The Lions own the No. 1 seed and lead in the NFC North over the Vikings after winning 31-29 against Minnesota in Week 7.
The Commanders own the No. 6 seed over the Packers due to their superior win percentage in conference games (8-3, 72.7% vs 6-5, 54.5%).
Playoff picture (*clinched playoffs)
No. 1 seed: Detroit Lions (14-2, NFC North leaders)*
No. 2 seed: Philadelphia Eagles (13-3, NFC East winners)*
No. 3 seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7, NFC South leaders)*
No. 4 seed: Los Angeles Rams (10-6, NFC West winners)*
No. 5 seed: Minnesota Vikings (14-2, wild card No. 1)*
No. 6 seed: Washington Commanders (12-5, wild card No. 2)*
No. 7 seed: Green Bay Packers (11-6, wild card No. 3)*
Playoff games (as it stands)
No. 1 Detroit Lions (BYE)
No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers
No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. No. 6 Washington Commanders
No. 4 Los Angeles Rams vs. No. 5 Minnesota Vikings
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