Washington (AFP) – 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 will be decided when the NFL regular season ends on Sunday. Tampa Bay and Denver would capture the last available playoff berths with victories on Sunday, but the scene-stealing matchup in Detroit pits two 14-2 clubs with an NFC top seed at stake.
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. Meanwhile, the loser will settle for a fifth seed and likely spend the playoffs on the road. “We’re well into our preparation for a really big football game and we’re excited for it,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said.
The 28 combined wins are the most by any two clubs in an NFL regular-season contest, breaking the previous record of 25 held by New England and the New York Giants in 2007, and Seattle and Indianapolis in 2005. “We’re all excited, but it’s not like it’s the playoffs,” Campbell said. “We all know it’s still going to come down to the prep, and we’ve got to put the work in. You put your best foot forward, give your guys all you can, you cut them loose and let them go make plays and see where you stack up.”
O’Connell sees little impact from Detroit’s 31-29 victory at Minnesota in October. “Both teams are very different,” he said. “The journey of a season, both teams are new teams almost every week, it feels like, in some capacity. You get to game 17, both teams know who they are and know how they want to play, and then it comes down to all these little details and how disciplined each team is going to determine what happens on Sunday. One play here or there, good football teams capitalize on it and win.”
Joining the Vikings and Lions in having clinched NFC playoff spots are the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Washington Commanders, and Los Angeles Rams. Tampa Bay (9-7) can clinch the NFC South crown with a home triumph over New Orleans (5-11), but a loss would allow Atlanta (8-8) a chance to get the division title and playoff spot with a home victory over Carolina (4-12).
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, and Los Angeles Chargers. The Denver Broncos (9-7) would take the last AFC spot with a home win over Kansas City, with the Chiefs expected to rest many of their top players having already secured a first-round bye and home-field playoff edge.
Should Denver lose, Miami (8-8) could take the last AFC playoff berth with a road victory over the New York Jets (4-12). If the Broncos and Dolphins both lose, the Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) could swipe the playoff spot by winning on Saturday at Pittsburgh (10-6). Also at stake on Saturday will be the AFC North division crown and the third seed in the AFC playoffs behind Kansas City and Buffalo. Baltimore (11-5) can clinch both with a Saturday home victory over Cleveland (3-13), but a Ravens loss would allow the Steelers to take the division title and higher seeding by beating Cincinnati.
© 2024 AFP
