The Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions face off in an epic NFC battle

Around the AFC

MV3. What a season this has been for AFC quarterbacks. Any of Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson or Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow would deserve this award in most years. They all enter Week 18 with 40-plus touchdowns — Burrow 44 (42 passes), Jackson 43 (39 passes) and Allen 40 (28 passes) — and eight or fewer interceptions. They each did things that usually secure the material. Jackson’s tremendous season should get the slightest nod and give him a third MVP.

Monitoring time. After the Broncos, Miami has the second-cleanest path among the three remaining contenders to the final AFC playoff spot. The Dolphins need a win and Denver needs a loss against Kansas City. Their fate will be decided exclusively in the Sunday window at 2:25 p.m. And while they should deal with the New York Jets, who have nothing to play for, they’ll have to do it with Snoop Huntley at quarterback rather than the injured Tua Tagovailoa.

Colts quagmire. Week 18 should have meant something to the Colts, but they put up perhaps the most embarrassing performance of the year in Week 17. With everything on the line, Indianapolis gave up 42 points to a 2- 13 Giants who averaged 14.3 points. per game. Now they enter the offseason with a terrible taste in their mouth, a coach/quarterback duo that remains unproven, and far more questions than answers all around.

Around NFC

Saquon 2k. An AFC quarterback will likely win MVP, but few players have had a better 2024 than Saquon Barkley. The Philly running back surpassed 2,000 yards in Week 17 and will fall just short of Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing mark due to the team’s decision to draft him into the Eagles final. It’s a shame – and also understandable – but it shouldn’t take anything away from a remarkable season. He had 2,005 rushing yards and 2,378 total yards.

Rams on parade. Los Angeles won the NFC West in Week 17 due to its winning strength advantage over Seattle, making a Week 18 matchup between the teams unnecessary. A division title game would have been nice, but now the Rams can slow down if they want. This offense has a chance to be tough in the playoffs, although rankings will matter a lot. No. 4 – either LA or the winner of the NFC South – will face a 14-win Wild Card team.

Bears always stink. Remember Chicago’s October 27 Hail Mary loss to Washington? They fell to 4-3 that day and haven’t won since. The team’s last chance to win a game this season before moving up a gear in its coaching search comes against a Green Bay team that’s already stalled but could check in at No. 6 or 7 on the NFC side. Even if the Packers win, they could find themselves a No. 7 seed 12-5.

Game of the week

Minnesota at Detroit

Pretty easy here. Two of the best teams in football face off in the final regular season game of the year with a 15-win season, the NFC North division title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line. Do you know anything else? The Lions are favorites at home with 3 points. Every defense has been disruptive and every offense has an enviable fleet of playmakers. Then there are the quarterbacks. Each began their career as a first-round draft pick in another city and each has been perfect for their current situation. Oh, and since Week 11, they’ve combined to throw 38 touchdowns and three picks for major offenses. It doesn’t get much better than that. Unless, of course, they find themselves later this month with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

Lions 31, Vikings 30

Lock of the week

New Orleans to Tampa Bay

The Bucs lost control of their position in the NFC South, then regained it last week when Washington eliminated Atlanta. Along the way, Baker Mayfield threw for 359 yards and five touchdowns in a demolition of Carolina in Week 17. Now, only a beleaguered defense remains between the Bucs and the division crown. Hell, if they win and the Rams lose, Tampa Bay can move into the No. 3 seed and avoid the loser of the NFC North Battle Royale on Wild Card Weekend. They are favorites with 13.5 points and should qualify for the big dance.

Buccaneers 35, Saints 17

The upheaval of the week

Washington to Dallas

The Commanders have punched their ticket but their final seed is still up for grabs. The Cowboys put together an admirable – if ultimately futile – late-season charge when it came to the playoffs. The Commanders are 6-point favorites but don’t have much to play for – they get #6 with a win or a loss in Green Bay and #7 with a loss and a win in Green Bay – we’ll so see if Dan Quinn pulls out all the stops. In the meantime, this could be Mike McCarthy’s last hurray. Dallas owner Jerry Jones seems to want to reunite with the coach, but you never really know. Additionally, McCarthy is a free agent after the season. Eh.

Cowboys 24, Commanders 23

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