The Falcons and Buccaneers will compete for the last playoff spot in the NFC. Broncos and Dolphins will define the same, but in the AFC, where Bengals also have possibilities of qualifying.
The NFL regular season is about to come to an end, but before saying goodbye to it, to start thinking about the playoffs, four teams will dispute the last spots of the American Conference and the National Conference, which promises us a day full of excitement.
The last spot in the NFC
At exactly 12 p.m., Central Mexico Time, the matchups that will define the last NFC spot will be Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints.
The Buccaneers only need to win their game against the Saints; with this result, they will catapult directly to the postseason. However, if the Bucs lose, the Falcons can access the playoffs if they win their match against the Panthers; if the Falcons lose, the Buccaneers advance automatically.
A three-team battle in the AFC
At 3:25 p.m., the games between Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins will decide the last invitee to the postseason in the American Conference, where three teams are still in the fight: Broncos, Dolphins, and Bengals, the latter waiting for the results of the first two after their victory over the Steelers.
The Broncos only need to win against the Chiefs to quash the hopes of the other two teams. If Denver loses, the Dolphins would have the opportunity to enter the playoffs if they win their duel against the Jets, eliminating the Bengals. However, if both teams playing in the afternoon were to lose, the Cincinnati Bengals would advance as the seventh-best team in the AFC.
Lions vs. Vikings, an unmissable match
As an honorable mention for a matchup, where although both teams are already in the playoffs, there is still something at stake; it is about the number one seed in the NFC, where Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings will face off to be the best in the National Conference. We will undoubtedly have a conference final in this Week 18, which may give us hints of what we can expect in the playoff games. This match is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. Central Mexico Time.
Cover image: X (@Broncos)
