Week 18 NFL Preview and Capsules

NEW YORK — Dec. 31, 2024 — Three division titles (AFC North, NFC North and NFC South) and the final AFC playoff team will be decided in Week 18. The regular season will conclude with #Game272, as the Minnesota Vikings (14-2) visit the Detroit Lions (14-2) on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), with the winner securing the NFC North division title, the No. 1 seed in the NFC and home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.

Minnesota and Detroit in Week 18 will be the first regular-season game in NFL history between two teams each with 13-or-more wins and the 28 combined wins between the Vikings and Lions will be the most all-time entering a regular-season game, surpassing 25 combined wins each between the New England Patriots (15 wins) and New York Giants (10) on Dec. 29, 2007, and Indianapolis Colts (13) and Seattle Seahawks (12) on Dec. 24, 2005.

For the Week 18 capsules, click here.

Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley leads the NFL with career highs in rushing yards (2,005) and scrimmage yards (2,283) this season and became the ninth player ever with 2,000 rushing yards in a season. In Week 18:

• Barkley can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson (2,105 rushing yards in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams) for the most rushing yards in a season in NFL history.
• Barkley can become the third player ever with 2,400 scrimmage yards in a season, joining Chris Johnson (2,509 scrimmage yards in 2009 with Tennessee) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (2,429 in 1999 with the St. Louis Rams).

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow leads the NFL with career highs in passing yards (4,641) and touchdown passes (42) this season and has at least three touchdown passes in eight consecutive games. In Week 18:

• Burrow can become the fifth quarterback in NFL history with 5,000 passing yards and 45 touchdown passes in a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (5,477 passing yards and 55 touchdown passes in 2013 with Denver) and Dan Marino (5,084 and 48 in 1984 with Miami) as well as Drew Brees (5,476 and 46 in 2011 with New Orleans) and Patrick Mahomes (5,097 and 50 in 2018 with Kansas City).
• Burrow can join Tom Brady (10 consecutive games in 2007) as the only players all-time with at least three touchdown passes in nine consecutive games.

Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase leads the NFL with career highs in receptions (117), receiving yards (1,612) and touchdown receptions (16). Since 1970, only four players have led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions in the same season: Cooper Kupp (2021), Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (1990), Sterling Sharpe (1992) and Steve Smith Sr. (2005).

Here’s a look at a few interesting storylines entering Week 18:

• NFC entering Week 18: The Philadelphia Eagles (13-3, NFC East, No. 2 seed), Los Angeles Rams (10-6, NFC West), Detroit Lions (14-2), Green Bay Packers (11-5), Minnesota Vikings (14-2) and Washington Commanders (11-5) have secured their spots in the NFC playoffs.
  
  • NFC North #Game272: The winner of the regular-season finale on Sunday Night Football between Minnesota and Detroit will be the NFC North champions, the No. 1 seed in the NFC and have home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs. Detroit is looking to secure consecutive division titles for the first time since 1970 (the Lions finished first in their conference in three consecutive seasons from 1952-54). Minnesota can win the NFC North for the second time in three seasons (2022) and tie a franchise record with 15 wins (15-1 in 1998).
    
  • NFC South: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) enter Week 18 with a one game lead over the Atlanta Falcons (8-8) in the race for the NFC South division title and the final NFC playoff spot. Tampa Bay can win the NFC South for the fourth-consecutive season with a victory against New Orleans on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX), while Atlanta needs a win against Carolina (1 p.m. ET CBS) and a Buccaneers loss for their first division title since 2016 and first playoff berth since 2017.
• AFC entering Week 18: The Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West, No. 1 seed), Buffalo Bills (13-3, AFC East, No. 2 seed), Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South, No. 4 seed), Baltimore Ravens (11-5), Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) have secured their spots in the AFC playoffs.
  
  • AFC North: A Saturday doubleheader on ESPN/ABC will decide the AFC North as Baltimore hosts Cleveland (4:30 p.m. ET) and Pittsburgh hosts Cincinnati (8 p.m.). The Ravens, with a win, will clinch consecutive division titles for the third time ever (2011-12 and 2018-19) while the Steelers, with a win and a Baltimore loss, can be division champions for the first time since 2020.
    
  • Final AFC playoff spot: Three teams – the Denver Broncos (9-7), Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) and Miami Dolphins (8-8) – are alive for the final AFC playoff spot.
    • Denver (vs. Kansas City, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) needs a win or tie, or losses by both Cincinnati and Miami to secure their first 10-win season and playoff berth since 2015.
    • Miami (at the New York Jets, 4:25 pm. ET, FOX) needs a win and a Denver loss to clinch a third-consecutive playoff berth.
    • Cincinnati (at Pittsburgh on Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC) needs a win and losses by both Denver and Miami to clinch a playoff spot for the third time in the past four seasons.

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