Here's everything at stake in the NFL season finale

The 2018 NFL season finale is mere days away. Fans are already gearing up for the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean they should ignore what’s to come.

This has a chance to be one of the more exciting finishes to a season in a long time. Not only are several playoff spots still up for grabs. Many of the top seeds in both conferences remain undecided. That’s why several games this coming weekend hold significant importance. Far more than has been the case the past few years. So which games will be worth watching the most and how could things break depending on who wins or loses?

The #1 and #2 seeds in the AFC

The situation regarding the top two seeds in the AFC is crazy. No fewer than four teams are still within striking distance of both spots. This thanks to the loss suffered by the Kansas City Chiefs. Suddenly they, the New England Patriots, the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Houston Texans all have a legitimate shot to claim homefield advantage.

As things stand the Chiefs can still close things out by beating the Oakland Raiders, which would give them the top seed and relegate the Chargers to the #5 spot. However, if L.A. beats Denver and Kansas City happened to lose? They would suddenly switch places. The Patriots would gain the coveted prize if both of those teams ended up losing while the Texans would if they won their game against the Jaguars and all three other teams lost.

Presuming all four team take care of business and win? The Chiefs would be #1 and the Patriots #2 with the Texans and Chargers claimed the #3 and #5 spot respectively.

The #2 seed in the NFC

By beating the Steelers, the New Orleans Saints locked up homefield for the playoffs. That means the remain prize is the #2 seed and the first round bye. Currently the Los Angeles Rams control that spot but their grip on it isn’t secure yet. The Chicago Bears could threaten to take it away from them if they aren’t careful in their game against San Francisco.

Remember that Chicago defeated L.A. a few weeks back on Sunday Night Football. That win gives them the edge in any tiebreaker situations. So if the Rams lost and the Bears defeat the Vikings in Minnesota, the two teams would switch places with Chicago getting that coveted bye.

The 6th seed in the AFC and NFC

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The back end of the playoff race is always the most exciting to watch because so many teams are jockeying for position to get in. Races for both have come down to the final week, which is fitting. Let’s start with the NFC. Right now it’s basically a two-team race. The Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles are sprinting to the finish in hopes of snagging that final spot.

Somewhat ironic given both were in the NFC championship last year. Either way, here’s the setup. The Vikings just need to win their game against Chicago to get in. The Eagles need to beat the Redskins and then have the Vikings lose. If both lose? Then Minnesota would get in thanks to their 8-7-1 record vs. the Eagles’ 8-8 mark.

In the AFC, it’s much more clear cut. The Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans will have a showdown on Sunday night. The winner of the game clinches the 6th seed. Something worth noting? The Titans have never won a game that Andrew Luck has started. So this would be a first.

The AFC North title

It’s never boring in regards to the AFC North. That division hasn’t had a consistent winner in a over a decade and once again it’s going to come down to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. These longtime rivals never disappoint in how they’ve wrestled for superiority in that division for ages. It wouldn’t be the same if things didn’t come down to this.

The situation is simple. If both teams win their respective games on Sunday? The Ravens advance. Same goes for if Baltimore wins and Pittsburgh doesn’t. However, if the Ravens fall to the plucky Cleveland Browns and the Steelers can put away the sagging Bengals that would see the black and gold back in the postseason yet again.

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Here’s everything at stake in the NFL season finale

By Erik Lambert | Dec 24, 2018