NFL Week 17 - Minnesota Vikings v Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions v Green Bay Packers

Summary

Titans and Eagles seal their play-off places
Black Monday starts at 01:00 GMT as Cleveland sack coach Kitchens
Patriots lose to play in wildcard round, Packers get bye with last-gasp win
Watch The NFL Show on Saturdays and NFL This Week on Tuesdays this season
Get Involved: #bbcnfl on Twitter or text 81111 (UK only)

Live Reporting

Ben Collins and Tom Rostance

Worst ever season?published at 18:07 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2019
Cincinnati Bengals 0-7 Cleveland Browns
The Bengals' absolute horrorshow of a season continues as they concede a touchdown inside 90 seconds.
Lose today and it's a 1-15 season. Eeeshhh.
The franchise's worst ever season was in 2002 when they won two games.
Eyes on a recordpublished at 18:05 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2019
Carolina Panthers 0-0 New Orleans Saints
A few games have a pre-season feel about them in these early games, but Christian McCaffrey could spice things up in Carolina with a new record.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Postpublished at 18:03 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2019
New England Patriots v Miami Dolphins (18:00 GMT)
This is the 11th straight season the Patriots have qualified for the playoffs, during which they have gone on to win three Super Bowls.
If they beat Miami today - or the Kansas City Chiefs lose against the LA Chargers - it'll be 10 straight years they've skipped the wild-card round.
The best run any other side has managed is four years!
Away we go...published at 18:01 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2019
Eight matches in the early batch of games are just kicking off now...
Saints turn down chance to sign Brownpublished at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2019
Carolina Panthers v New Orleans Saints (18:00 GMT)
Image source, Getty Images
We almost saw Antonio Brown return to the NFL this week too. The former Pittsburgh running back was working out with the New Orleans Saints but they decided not to sign him.
The 31-year-old left the Oakland Raiders in pre-season without playing a game for them and then played just one game for the New England Patriots before being released by last season's Super Bowl winners.
Brown was accused of rape by his former personal trainer in September, an accusation which he denies.
What you missed...published at 17:56 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2019
Since last Sunday's live text commentary, the Green Bay Packers secured the NFC North title, with Aaron Jones running in a 56-yard touchdown in a 23-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Both were already assured of a playoff spot, with the Vikings set to play next week in the wild-card round while the Packers will have a week off.
Media caption,
Aaron Jones run seals Green Bay Packers NFC North title with win over Minnesota Vikings
Postpublished at 17:55 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2019
As you'd expect for broadcasting reasons all the drama is happening later on...
Who's already in?published at 17:54 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2019
There are six playoff spots available in each conference.
AFC
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. New England Patriots
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Houston Texans
5. Buffalo Bills
6. TBC
Image source, Getty Images
NFC
1. San Francisco 49ers
2. Green Bay Packers
3. New Orleans Saints
4. TBC
5. Seattle Seahawks
6. Minnesota Vikings
*The Seahawks could still win their division ahead of the 49ers
Today's gamespublished at 17:51 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2019
An absolutely mammoth session.
Buffalo Bills v New York Jets (18:00 GMT)
New England Patriots v Miami Dolphins (18:00 GMT)
Kansas City Chiefs v LA Chargers (18:00 GMT)
Detroit Lions v Green Bay Packers (18:00 GMT)
Cincinnati Bengals v Cleveland Browns (18:00 GMT)
Carolina Panthers v New Orleans Saints (18:00 GMT)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Atlanta Falcons (18:00 GMT)
Minnesota Vikings v Chicago Bears (18:00 GMT)
Image source, Getty Images
Baltimore Ravens v Pittsburgh Steelers (21:25 GMT)
LA Rams v Arizona Cardinals (21:25 GMT)
Denver Broncos v Oakland Raiders (21:25 GMT)
Jacksonville Jaguars v Indianapolis Colts (21:25 GMT)
Houston Texans v Tennessee Titans (21:25 GMT)
Dallas Cowboys v Washington Redskins (21:25 GMT)
New York Giants v Philadelphia Eagles (21:25 GMT)
Seattle Seahawks v San Francisco 49ers (01:20 GMT)
What's up for grabs?published at 17:49 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2019
Essentially there are two playoff spots up for grabs.
In the AFC, there is one wild card spot up for the taking. As it stands it will go to the Tennessee Titans, but should they slip up tonight against the Texans then the Steelers or the Raiders could get in.
The one spot available in the NFC is not a wildcard but a divisional winners' place, with the Eagles holding top spot in the NFC East with a 8-7 record.
One more win will see them home but if they can't wrap it up then the Cowboys could sneak it.
One more time...published at 17:45 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2019
It's the final weekend of the regular NFL season.
Coaches will be canned, playoff places will be sealed, some players will make their final appearance on the hallowed turf.
Image source, Getty Images
Ten teams know they have a postseason to come. Who will take the final spots?