With just two rounds of games remaining in the 2024 NFL regular season, there is still plenty to be sorted out with regard to the playoff positions and draft order. Neither conference has a top seed locked in, and several division titles remain wide open — with ‘all or nothing’ scenarios and no wildcard safety net looming for those involved.

At the other end of the power spectrum, no team has yet laid definitive claim to the first overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft, with nine names still within a couple of games of being on the clock.

With some real Christmas crackers on the docket this week, will any one be closer to making their presence felt?

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GAME OF THE WEEK

Kansas City Chiefs (14-1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)

The Chiefs continued to do just enough to get the W in Week 16, edging past the Houston Texans to earn a 14th win of the season despite once again looking less than explosive on offense. Patrick Mahomes did come the game relatively unscathed, which was the real priority heading into the postseason. Earning the top seed in the AFC and giving Mahomes a chance to rest up before the real business starts is still in KC’s hands and can be secured with a win over the Steelers on Christmas Day. Pittsburgh are wobbling at present without George Pickens and lost again on Saturday to the Ravens, destroying their outside chance of earning the top spot in the conference while also opening the door for the Ravens to clinch the AFC North. The Ravens have the friendlier schedule on paper, meaning the Steelers must take care of business against the reigning Super Bowl champs.

PREDICTION: The Chiefs lock up the #1 seed in a scrappy affair, while the Steelers’ wobbles continue.

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WORTH A WATCH

Sometimes there are fixtures that just stand out on a schedule, whether it’s your favourite team(s), a rematch or a plain old revenge game…

Baltimore Ravens (10-5) @ Houston Texans (9-6)

The Ravens looked a lot like their old selves in Week 16 with a casual demolition of the Steelers that ignited their hopes of earning the AFC North crown. Lamar Jackson showed signs of his genius against the team he has struggled against most often in his career, while Derrick Henry looked to be rounding nicely into late season form with 162 yards on the ground against a stout Steelers front. The Texans have locked up the AFC South, but will want to build some momentum as they prepare for the postseason. They’ll have to do it without another member of their offense after Tank Dell suffered a gruesome injury whilst catching a touchdown against the Chiefs. The second year wideout was just starting to recapture his early rookie season form, and this devastating injury will likely rule him out for most of next season, given how late in the year he has suffered it. This one probably won’t be a Christmas cracker, but any chance to watch Lamar Jackson is an event to savour.

PREDICTION: The Ravens take down the Texans and, in concert with the Steelers result, return to the top of the AFC North.

Washington Commanders (10-5) @ Atlanta Falcons (8-7)

Sunday Night Football will be between two teams who have something serious to play for in the penultimate week of the season. The Commanders’ win over the Eagles, propelled by five touchdown passes from Jayden Daniels, was their tenth of the season, a mark they last achieved in 2012 when another rookie phenom flashed for the team. An 11th win of the year would see them return to the playoffs, a fantastic achievement in Daniels’ — and head coach Dan Quinn’s — first year on the job. But it won’t be easy as they face Quinn’s former team, the Atlanta Falcons. The NFC South leaders benched former Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins ahead of Week 16 in favour of rookie Michael Penix Jr. Penix was efficient without needing to be spectacular as he led his side to victory over the hapless New York Giants, thanks in no small part to running back Bijan Robinson. The Buccaneers’ loss to Dallas on Sunday night saw the Falcons return to the top of their division, and a win over the Commanders coupled with another defeat for the Bucs this week would see the Falcons earn their first NFC South title since 2016…when Quinn was running the show.

PREDICTION: The Falcons will be made to fight all the way to Week 18 to secure a playoff spot, while the Commanders can already start looking at potential opponents on Wild Card weekend as they take the spoils in a close one.

Detroit Lions (13-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (6-9)

The Detroit Lions defense has been stripped bare, with most of their Week 1 starters on the shelf with one injury or another. Offensively, however, the team looks as dangerous as ever, as evidenced by their disembowelling of the Bears in Week 16. The Lions are still in control of their own playoff fate, so can they get a win over the listing 49ers in Week 17 which, coupled with a Vikings loss, would see the Lions clinch the #1 seed in the NFC, locking up homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and, most importantly, the all-important bye week?

PREDICTION: The Lions make sure of their postseason path and avenge their 2023-24 playoff defeat in Santa Clara.

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ALSO ON

Dallas Cowboys (7-8) @ Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)

The Eagles will hope that Jalen Hurts is healthy enough to lead them against their bitterest rivals because, if misses out, can Kenny Pickett find the victory that would lock up the NFC East?

Arizona Cardinals (7-8) @ Los Angeles Rams (9-6)

The Rams offense looked like sputtering out in recent weeks, but needs recover to beat the already eliminated Cardinals and move a step closer to the NFC West title.

Green Bay Packers (11-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (13-2)

Both teams will be playing in January, but can the Vikings get the victory that will keep their hopes of locking up the top seed in the NFC alive all the way to Week 18?

Carolina Panthers (4-11) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

The Buccaneers’ loss on Sunday Night Football in Week 16 has handed control of the NFC South back to the Falcons. Can Baker Mayfield exact revenge on a former side and keep the Bucs’ playoff hopes?

Seattle Seahawks (8-7) @ Chicago Bears (4-11)

The Seattle Seahawks postseason hopes are hanging by a thread, adding extra spice to the Shane Waldron Bowl?

New York Jets (4-11) @ Buffalo Bills (12-3)

The Bills need to win out and hope for two Chiefs losses if they are to snatch the AFC’s top seed, but can Aaron Rodgers and the Jets play spoiler in what is sure to be red hot atmosphere in a white cold environment?

Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) @ New England Patriots (3-12)

The Patriots jumped out to a big lead over the Bills in Week 16 but couldn’t close out the deal. Can they build on this form to test the Chargers, who are one win away from earning a playoff spot in Jim Harbaugh’s first season in charge?

Denver Broncos (9-6) @ Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)

In any other season, the form of Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase would be warranting MVP buzz for both. As it stands, both need to stay hot to keep alive the Bengals’ slim postseason prospects, but the Broncos needs just one more win to earn their first playoff berth since 2015.

Indianapolis Colts (7-8) @ New York Giants (2-13)

The Colts offense looked red hot against the Titans in Week 16, thanks to a performance for the ages from Jonathan Taylor, but still need snookers if they are to earn a spot in the postseason.

Miami Dolphins (7-8) @ Cleveland Browns (3-12)

The Dolphins are still alive in the playoff hunt after downing the 49ers in Week 16, but they’ll need an awful lot to go their way if they’re to punch a ticket to the postseason.

Las Vegas Raiders (3-12) @ New Orleans Saints (5-10)

Can the Raiders halt the form that has seen them fall out of the top five in the draft standings and lose to the injury devastated Saints in the Derek Carr Bowl?

Tennessee Titans (3-12) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)

In this basement battle of backup quarterbacks, which team really wants to finish bottom of the AFC South and potentially earn the first overall pick in 2025?