Division titles and wildcards up for grabs on NFL final weekend

Lamar Jackson has a divisional title and MVP to play for, while it is winner takes all in Detroit

There is still plenty to be decided on the final weekend of the NFL regular season, including the final two play-off places, a couple of division titles and an all-important top seed.

On Saturday night, Lamar Jackson led the Baltimore Ravens to the AFC North title and furthered his claim to be named Most Valuable Player (MVP), while the Cincinnati Bengals kept their AFC play-off hopes alive with a 19-17 win at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings do battle for the NFC's top spot in the big game of the weekend, while the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fight it out for the NFC South.

Throw in some crucial seeding positions and a thrilling three-way battle for the final AFC play-off spot and we have another cracker to look forward to.

Winner takes all for NFC top spot

Game 272, the final one of the regular season, could not be bigger as the winner takes top spot in the NFC, gets a first-round bye in the play-offs and home field advantage throughout.

The loser finishes as the fifth seed and has to do it the hard way.

The fact the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions are divisional rivals brings the heat, the fact they are both 14-2 provides the quality.

There has never been a regular-season game between two 14-win sides or 28 total wins in NFL history, and neither deserves to just be a wildcard team.

What a way to bring the curtain down on the season.

Three-way AFC wildcard battle

The Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins are vying for one play-off spot

The Bengals' victory over the Steelers kept alive their slim chance of making the play-offs but they now need the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins to lose their respective games.

The Broncos have their destiny in their own hands and just need to beat the Kansas City Chiefs, who will rest Patrick Mahomes and a host of starters, to clinch that final AFC wildcard spot.

If the Broncos do slip up, the Dolphins are next in line and will pinch that spot with a win at the lowly New York Jets.

A much simpler equation awaits the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they will win the NFC South for a fourth consecutive year if they beat the New Orleans Saints - with the Atlanta Falcons needing them to slip up and also beat the Carolina Panthers to pip them.

No record for Barkley - Mahomes and stars to sit out

Saquon Barkley will finish the season 101 yards short of Eric Dickerson's record

It could have been a fairytale day for Saquon Barkley, who needs just 101 yards to break Eric Dickerson's coveted rushing record - and he could have done it against his former side the New York Giants who controversially let him go in the summer.

The Philadelphia Eagles have their sights set on a Super Bowl though, so head coach Nick Sirianni said Barkley will "probably be somebody that rests" on Sunday.

Barkley was keen to try to eclipse a record that has stood since 1984, but has accepted the decision, saying: "I've got bigger things in mind, and we get a chance to rest and get ready to roll for the play-offs."

Mahomes, and possibly Travis Kelce and a host of other Chiefs stars, will sit it out, as their 15-1 record means they are already assured of being the AFC top seeds. With a first-round bye in the play-offs, they will have a break of more than three weeks between games.

Whether that results in the well-rested Chiefs coming out swinging in the play-offs, or some ring rust and lack of sharpness, remains to be seen.

Like Barkley, Josh Allen will not get much of a chance for a final MVP audition performance as the Buffalo Bills have confirmed they will only allow their star quarterback to continue his 114-game starting streak before pulling him out of the firing line early.

How do the NFL play-offs work?

There are 14 teams playing three rounds of play-off games to decide who contests the Super Bowl, seven each from the AFC and NFC containing four division winners in each and three wildcard teams.

The two number-one seeds get a first-round bye while the other six teams play in the Super Wildcard round, with the second, third and fourth seeds playing at home against the seventh, sixth and fifth seeds respectively.

Number-one seeds return for the Divisional Round, hosting the lowest remaining seed while the highest remaining seed hosts the fourth and final team.

The Conference Championship games are the final hurdle with the highest remaining seed hosting the lowest side for a place in the Super Bowl.

NFL play-off standings and permutations

AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)

2. Buffalo Bills (13-3)

3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5)

4. Houston Texans (9-7)

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)

7. Denver Broncos (9-7)

In the hunt: Miami Dolphins (8-8), Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)

Denver need to win against the Chiefs to secure their place. If the Broncos lose then Miami can pinch their place, and if they both lose then the Bengals will sneak in.

NFC

1. Detroit Lions (14-2)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)

3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)

5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)

6. Washington Commanders (11-5)

7. Green Bay Packers (11-5)

In the hunt: Atlanta Falcons (8-8)

Whoever wins out of Detroit and Minnesota takes top spot, the loser finishes fifth, and Tampa Bay need a win against New Orleans to get in ahead of Atlanta, who need a win and Buccaneers defeat to get in.

NFL Week 18 schedule

All times GMT

Saturday

• Cleveland Browns 10-35 Baltimore Ravens

• Cincinnati Bengals 19-17 Pittsburgh Steelers

Sunday

• Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons (18:00)

• Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys (18:00)

• Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers (18:00)

• Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans (18:00)

• Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts (18:00)

• Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots (18:00)

• New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles (18:00)

• New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (18:00)

• Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos (21:25)

• Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders (21:25)

• Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Rams (21:25)

• Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets (21:25)

• San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals (21:25)

• Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions (01:20 Monday)