The NFL pre-playoffs competition is heating up with crucial games determining who will advance to the post-seasons. The first regular-season game in NFL history featuring two teams, the Lions and the Vikings, with at least 13 wins will not only decide the NFC North title but also the conference’s top seed and lone first-round bye. Saquon Barkley from the Eagles could break a 40-year-old league record as he has a chance to become the ninth rusher with over 2,000 yards in a season. All eyes are on the last playoff spot in each conference, with the AFC wild-card berth and the NFC South champ still up for grabs. An unexpected win by the Giants over the Colts shakes up the front-runners for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft.
The 2024 season’s most unlikely story comes from the Vikings, who held off a Packers rally for a 27-25 win, keeping their hope for the NFC’s No.1 seed alive. Key to their remarkable journey has been Sam Darnold, who continues to defy the odds. Despite being on his fourth team in five years, he’s become the first quarterback in NFL history to win 14 games in his first season with a team and has played an essential role in the Vikings’ nine-game winning streak.
The Commanders clinched their return to the playoffs and secured a division title for the Rams, leaving only one division yet to be decided. The Bucs, after a decisive 48-14 win over the Panthers, are now one game ahead of the Falcons. However, if both teams finish with the same record, the Falcons will win the division due to a season sweep over Tampa Bay. Other notable games included the Dolphins’ win to stay in the AFC playoff race, the Bills routing the Jets, and the Colts facing an embarrassing loss to the Giants.
In the AFC, three teams – Denver, Miami, and Cincinnati – fight for the last playoff spot. The Broncos are most likely to secure it, but Miami and Cincinnati still have a shot. The Chiefs have already cemented their position as the No.1 seed after their Christmas Day victory over the Steelers. Other scenarios for the final playoff spot if all three teams lose, the Broncos would enter the playoffs. In the NFC, the top seed is still undecided until Week 18, with the Lions-Vikings winner not only earning the NFC North title but also the No.1 seed.
Week 17 unfolded with exciting developments, stirring up the draft order for 2025. Following the Giants’ surprise win over the Colts, they lost their top position in the race for the No. 1 pick, now slated to pick fourth, behind the Patriots, Titans, and Browns. This creates a perplexing situation for the Patriots, as they won’t need a quarterback but might trade out of the top spot if another team wants to nab their quarterback for the future.
Eagles star Saquon Barkley joined the unique group of nine rushers in NFL history running over 2,000 yards in a season. Barkley, 100 yards shy of Dickerson’s single-season record set in 1984, could potentially establish a new NFL record. However, with the Eagles poised in the NFC’s No. 2 seed, Barkley may not get enough playing time in the season finale to accomplish this feat.
Finally, an upset by the Giants resulted in a humiliating defeat for the Colts, costing their playoff chances. This marked an embarrassing day for the Colts’ defense while piling up concerns over the future of the team. Key decisions await on the coach, Shane Steichen’s return, the general manager Chris Ballard, and the future direction the franchise’s owner, Jim Irsay, would like to pursue.
