The Detroit Lions clinched the NFC’s top seed with a dominant 31-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, securing their second consecutive NFC North title. Jahmyr Gibbs scored four touchdowns, three of them in the second half, to propel the Lions (15-2) to the win. This victory also earned Detroit home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, as they aim for their first Super Bowl appearance since their last NFL championship in 1957.
The Vikings (14-3), despite the loss, are set to face the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round. Meanwhile, the Lions will enjoy a bye week to recover and prepare for their upcoming playoff run.
In other NFC action, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers triumphed 27-19 over the New Orleans Saints, clinching their fourth consecutive NFC South title. Baker Mayfield played a key role, throwing a touchdown pass and scrambling for a crucial first down late in the game. The win also helped Mike Evans surpass 1,000 receiving yards for the 11th consecutive season, tying Jerry Rice for the most such seasons in NFL history.
The Chicago Bears ended a 10-game losing streak to the Green Bay Packers with a dramatic 24-22 win, as Caleb Williams led a late drive culminating in Cairo Santos’ 51-yard field goal as time expired. The Packers (11-6) will enter the playoffs as the No. 7 seed and face the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round, though they will be without injured quarterback Jordan Love and wide receiver Christian Watson.
The Philadelphia Eagles secured a 20-13 victory over the New York Giants, finishing the regular season with a 14-3 record. With key players like Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley resting for the playoffs, Tanner McKee stepped in and threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Despite Barkley falling short of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record, the Eagles are primed for a playoff run as the NFC’s No. 2 seed.
The Washington Commanders secured the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs with a 23-19 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Marcus Mariota threw for two touchdowns, including a game-winning five-yard pass to Terry McLaurin in the final seconds. The Cowboys (10-7) were led by Trey Lance, who made his first start since 2022, but the Commanders held on to clinch their playoff spot.
In the AFC, the Houston Texans defeated the Tennessee Titans 23-14, snapping a two-game losing streak and securing a playoff berth. The Texans (10-7) will face the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round. The Titans (3-14), with the loss, secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The New England Patriots cost themselves the top draft pick with a 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills. Joe Milton III passed for 241 yards and a touchdown, while the Patriots (4-13) ended their season on a high note. The Bills, despite the loss, had already clinched the AFC East title and will enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed.
The Kansas City Chiefs rested several key starters in their 38-0 loss to the Denver Broncos, who clinched a playoff spot with the victory. Bo Nix led the Broncos (10-7) to their first postseason appearance since 2015, while the Chiefs (15-2) had already secured the top seed in the AFC and will enjoy a first-round bye.
Other notable results included the Los Angeles Chargers’ 34-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, with Justin Herbert passing for 346 yards and two touchdowns, and the Arizona Cardinals’ 47-24 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, as Kyler Murray threw for four touchdowns. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams 30-25, and the Miami Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention after a 32-20 loss to the New York Jets.
