The Detroit Lions stormed to the top seed in the NFC, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos grabbed the final two play-off spots on the final Sunday of the NFL regular season.
As the final play-off picture was set, the Lions dominated the Minnesota Vikings in their final-game showdown to ensure the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC would run through Detroit.
The Broncos shut out the Kansas City Chiefs back-ups to punch their play-off ticket, while the Tennessee Titans finished bottom of the entire NFL to win the first pick at the next draft.
Aaron Rodgers joined an exclusive club with a big landmark on what could well be his final game for the New York Jets – and possibly his career.
Lions roar to top spot in NFC
The 272nd and final game of the regular season was a huge one with the NFC number one seed up for grabs in the first meeting between two 14-win teams, but it was a one-sided affair in Detroit.
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs scored four touchdowns and the home defence hounded Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold all night in a rampant 31-9 victory.
Gibbs topped the league with 19 touchdowns and Detroit’s total of 68 by the offence is the second highest in NFL history.
Dan Campbell’s side’s reward is a bye week off and home advantage throughout the play-offs, so any team wanting to reach the Super Bowl must go to Detroit and win.
Judging by the way the Lions dealt with the Vikings, that will not be an easy task.
While Detroit enjoy a week off, the 14-3 Vikings will head to the 10-7 Los Angeles Rams in the wildcard round.
Nix helps Denver destroy Chiefs back-ups
Bo Nix became only the second rookie quarterback – after the great John Elway – to lead Denver to the play-offs as they hammered a second-string Chiefs side 38-0.
There was no Patrick Mahomes, no Travis Kelce and no real cohesion in a Chiefs team already locked into the top seed, but Nix still put on a clinic as the Broncos ended their eight-year play-off drought.
Denver had started 12 different quarterbacks since Peyton Manning won Super Bowl 50 in 2016 to end his career.
Nix could well be lucky number 13.
The Chiefs were shut out for the first time since 2012, but Andy Reid opted to give his stars what will be more than three weeks of rest before they hit the play-offs in the second round.
Denver head to the Buffalo Bills for a wildcard tie between the only two teams to beat the defending champions this season – albeit very different Chiefs teams.
Bucs win NFC South, Love worry for Packers
The NFC South battle went down to the wire as the Buccaneers produced a fourth-quarter comeback against the New Orleans Saints to take the division ahead of the Atlanta Falcons.
The Falcons had been in pole position as they led the Carolina Panthers at half-time, but the Bucs winning ended their hopes – and they went on to lose in overtime.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield led the Bucs to a fourth straight title with a typically all-action display with his arm and his legs as they clinched the third seed.
In the play-offs Tampa Bay will host the Washington Commanders, who beat the Dallas Cowboys 23-19 thanks to a Terry McLaurin touchdown with three seconds left in the game.
The 12-5 Commanders finished as sixth seed ahead of the Green Bay Packers after they lost 24-22 thanks to a last-gasp Chicago Bears field goal.
The Packers had won the previous 11 games against their big rivals, but of bigger concern is not only having to travel to the Philadelphia Eagles next week but also the health of star quarterback Jordan Love, who left the game with an arm injury.
Titans claim top Draft pick
The Titans lost at the Houston Texans to finish bottom of the NFL – but that at least comes with the bonus of being handed the first pick of the 2025 Draft.
Teams have been turned around before by having the first pick, and Titans fans will be hoping they can be one of those after a frustrating 3-13 season.
The Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants, who both finished 3-13, will pick second and third respectively.
The New England Patriots could have had the top pick had they not beaten an under-strength Bills side in their final game, which turned out to be Jerod Mayo’s last as head coach as he was fired one season after replacing Bill Belichick.
End of the line for Rodgers?
Rodgers became only the fifth quarterback in NFL history to throw 500 touchdowns as the Jets ended a bitterly disappointing season with a welcome 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins.
The 41-year-old threw four touchdowns to join Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre in the exclusive 500 club and bring the curtain down on a nightmare 5-12 season for a team seemingly set for a Super Bowl run.
Four-time MVP Rodgers joined close friend Davante Adams to walk off the field at MetLife Stadium in what could be the last game of his career.
“I just need some time away to think about my future in the game and my future here, if they want me to be a part of the next phase or be ready to move on,” said Rodgers.
“Either way, I’m thankful for my two years here.”
NFL play-off schedule – wildcard weekend
11 January
(5) Los Angeles Chargers @ (4) Houston Texans (21:30 GMT)
(6) Pittsburgh Steelers @ (3) Baltimore Ravens (01:00, 12 January)
12 January
(7) Denver Broncos @ (2) Buffalo Bills (18:00)
(7) Green Bay Packers @ (2) Philadelphia Eagles (21:30)
(6) Washington Commanders @ (3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (01:00, 13 January)
13 January
(5) Minnesota Vikings @ (4) Los Angeles Rams (01:00, 14 January)
*Seeding in brackets
NFL results – week 18
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Cleveland Browns 10-35 Baltimore Ravens
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Cincinnati Bengals 19-17 Pittsburgh Steelers
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Carolina Panthers 44-38 Atlanta Falcons (OT)
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Washington Commanders 23-19 Dallas Cowboys
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Chicago Bears 24-22 Green Bay Packers
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Houston Texans 23-14 Tennessee Titans
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Jacksonville Jaguars 23-26 Indianapolis Colts (OT)
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Buffalo Bills 16-23 New England Patriots
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New York Giants 13-20 Philadelphia Eagles
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New Orleans Saints 19-27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Kansas City Chiefs 0-38 Denver Broncos
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Los Angeles Chargers 34-20 Las Vegas Raiders
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Seattle Seahawks 30-25 Los Angeles Rams
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Miami Dolphins 20-32 New York Jets
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San Francisco 49ers 24-47 Arizona Cardinals
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Minnesota Vikings 9-31 Detroit Lions
