NFL Wild Cards Week 18: Vikings, Commanders Battle For Spots
With just one week left in the 2024 NFL regular season, the pressure is on for the 6 teams fighting for a playoff spot in the AFC and NFC wild cards. The divisional champions have all been crowned, and they have nothing to worry about missing the postseason. But who among the remaining 6 teams is the most likely clinch candidate in the penultimate week of the regular season?
1. Vikings, 14-2; at Lions
Minnesota can win this game after being stunned at home back in Week 7. If they don’t, the Vikes will still get a playoff spot but will have their opener away from US Bank Stadium and face an opponent they lost to the following week: the Rams. This is a must win game for Minnesota, and with the crazy play QB Sam Darnold keeps whipping out, they just might get things done this time in Detroit. For the Vikings to have an easy postseason road, a victory is needed.
Oh, and did I mention- this game is on Sunday night AND the winner gets the NFC’s number 1 seed and a first round bye? You might’ve thought the Eagles already wrapped up that present, seeing as how they’re also divisional champs yet again like the Vikings. But not quite yet. In any case, you better get your popcorn ready for this definitive primetime showdown between two divisional rivals.
2. Commanders: 11-5; at Cowboys
Rookie QB Jayden Daniels, despite all the times I air my personal grievances against him for taking fantasy football points away from his top RB in Brian Robinson, Jr., is still one of the league’s best rookies, regardless of position. Daniels’ last two games have been very good, combining for 8 passing touchdowns and just 3 interceptions. He’s got a 25-9 total on TD-INT, which is fairly decent for a rookie QB, and has fought through some crazy games this season, being the hero against the Chicago Bears in their improbable Week 8 win.
In that particular contest, Daniels had 326 passing yards while his top aerial target was WR Terry McLaurin, who racked up 126 receiving yards. Now in Week 18 the Manders look to sweep a depleted Cowboys team that unceremoniously beat them after some missed kicking opportunities. Washington getting a wild card spot would be insane, as this is a team that usually doesn’t even sniff the postseason most years, no matter who their owner is. Now if they could just make their stadium a little more durable like a Master Builder Lego set…
3. Packers: 10-5; vs Bears
The last of the wild cards in the NFC, Green Bay needs quite a bit of help from the teams above them in the overall NFC standings if they want even a remote playoff spot. Unfortunately for Jordan Love and crew, that help is going to be out of reach, as some confusing scenarios have to fall into place for GB to earn a spot among the NFC wild cards. Being 6th in the overall NFC standings is not the best place to be in with one game left in your regular season calendar, and that’s where the Pack is, right smack in the middle of the conference standings, not too far above the eliminated bunch.
GB will at least get to beat up a lowly Bears team which they dramatically beat back in Week 11 down in the Windy City. This one will just be a little bit colder. And even with a win, other game results may see Green Bay run out of wild card scenarios. The math just won’t add up for the Packers this time.
Now, we move on to the AFC Wild Cards.
1. Chargers: 10-5; at Raiders
Justin Herbert and company have a pretty straightforward path to the postseason and top AFC wild card: hope Pittsburgh loses to Cincinnati and get things done on the road in Vegas against the Raiders. Unlike the Packers, LA will see the necessary math go through for them, giving both matchups’ predictions. The Chargers’ offense ranks within the top 15 of the league, while the Raiders’ is more in the bottom 5.
As for the Steelers and Bengals? Pittsburgh’s offense is top 10 in the league, minus their bottom 5 ranking in rushing yards per game. But Russell Wilson is still slinging it even at age 37, so that’s a valid explanation. The Bengals’ offense led by Mr. Frosted Tips himself, Joe Burrow, comes in at least in the top 15, like the Chargers. Not bad, but not as good.
2. Steelers: 10-5; vs Bengals
Speaking of the Steelers, their path to a wild card is pretty simple: win and get a solid playoff start. If they lose, things might be a little tougher because they’d be paired up against one of the AFC’s deadliest teams, their eternal rivals in the Baltimore Ravens. They did beat them earlier this season, but there are rarely scenarios where one team plays the same one three times before the playoffs, especially if they’re divisional foes. And remember, the Steelers have a much stronger offense than Cincinnati, which makes getting a wild card all the more simple with a win at home.
One more question though: how much of this monster snowstorm tearing across the US is gonna reach on Sunday? It could even affect other notable wild card spot games, especially if the stadium is of the open-air variety.
The last AFC wild card is 9-7 Denver, and despite Bo Nix’s ingenuity in finding every possible receiver downfield with his checkdown abilities, it just isn’t the Broncos’ time. Even after their improbable overtime win in Cincinnati last week, spearheaded by Nix’s talents, more wins earlier in the season might’ve given Denver a better shot at the playoffs. Perhaps the same thing but with a little extra is the recipe for next year.
Related: Vikings RB Aaron Jones Good to Go For Duel in Detroit
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