We have reached the final regular week in a season that has gone by so fast. There are two playoff spots still open, one in each conference. I will preview the games with playoff and seeding implications.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
The 3-13 Browns are huge underdogs with nothing to play for. A loss here, and they guarantee themselves a top 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 11-5 Ravens have clinched a playoff spot but need a win here to clinch the AFC South. A team led by QB Lamar Jackson is not going to lose at home to the browns as 17.5-point favorites.
Score Prediction: Ravens 34 Browns 6
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
The 8-8 Bengals, led by QB Joe Burrow, have won four games in a row to give themselves a slim chance at making the playoffs. They would need to beat Pittsburgh and have the Dever Broncos lose to the Kansas City Chiefs and for the Miami Dolphins to lose to the New York Jets to grab the final AFC Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, the 10-6 Steelers can win the AFC North with the win and an improbable loss by the Baltimore Ravens. Even if the Ravens do win, they will need to win to hang onto the 5th seed to play at Houston to open the playoffs. This is a tough game to predict, but I will go with the more desperate team.
Score Prediction: Bengals 27 – Steelers 23
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
The 4-12 Panthers, led by QB Bryce Young, can be pesky and look to put the final dagger into the Falcon’s playoff chances. The 8-8 Falcons need a win here and need an improbable loss by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the NFC South and capture the final playoff spot. I think RB Bijan Robinson could get 30 touches, and he should run right over the terrible Panther run defense.
Score Prediction: Falcons 30 – Panthers 20
Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys
The 11-5 Commanders, led by QB Jayden Daniels, need the win to secure the 6th seed and face the Los Angeles Rams to open the playoffs. The 7-9 Cowboys have nothing to play for and looked like they packed it in last week vs. Philadelphia. Without WR CeeDee Lamb, I expect the Commanders to have an easy time of it.
Score Prediction: Commanders 23 – Cowboys 13
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
The 4-12 Bears, led by QB Caleb Williams, have nothing to play for but will still play hard. They would like nothing more than to beat their biggest rival, the Packers. The 11-5 Packers need to win and hope for a Commander’s loss, or otherwise they will have the 7th seed and travel to Philadelphia to open the playoffs. I expect the Packers to do what they always do to Chicago and win.
Score Prediction: Packers 24 – Bears 17
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 5-11 Saints, led by QB Spence Rattler, have looked anemic offensively. They can play spoiler and can possibly knock the Buccaneers out of the playoffs with a win. The 9-7 Buccaneers, led by QB Baker Mayfield, need to win to clinch the NFC South. They still can clinch the South with a Falcon loss. Tampa is a two-touchdown favorite, and the 1-2 punch of QB Baker Mayfield and RB Bucky Irving will be too much for the Saints.
Score Prediction: Buccaneers 30 – Saints 17
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
The 15-1 Chiefs have wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They rested starters in this same situation a season ago. So, I do not expect a full effort here. The 9-7 Broncos need to win, and they are in as the final AFC Wild Card spot. As mentioned, I think the Chiefs rest most of their star players making it much easier for the Broncos.
Score Prediction: Broncos 20 – Chiefs 16
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
The 8-8 Dolphins can clinch the AFC final Wild Card spot with a win and a Bronco’s loss. The status of QB Tua Tagovailoa is still up in the air, and if he can’t go, then QB Tyler Huntley will get his second straight start. The 4-12 Jets seem to be getting worse, as they looked completely abysmal vs. the Bills. The offense commits costly turnovers and penalties while the defense can’t get off the field on third down.
Score Prediction: Dolphins 23 – Jets 16
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
The 14-2 Vikings and the 14-2 Lions are not only playing for the NFC North but for the number one seed for the conference and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Unfortunately, the loser will finish as the 5 seed and must travel to the winner of the NFC South to open the playoffs. Both teams have explosive offenses, but one team has a much better defense. I hate to go against the Lions at home, but this just feels like a Viking win.
Score Prediction: Vikings 37 – Lions 31
