This is it.
After 17 weeks, we head into the final weekend of the NFL's regular season. This weekend promises to be an enthralling conclusion to the period ahead of the play-offs, which start on Saturday, 11 January.
Here are five things to look out for this weekend.
Battle for the North and the NFC
The biggest clash of the weekend sees two 14-win teams come up against each other when the Minnesota Vikings travel to face the Detroit Lions early on Sunday Night Football in what is a pivotal game.
A win for either team will see them clinch the NFC North title in a very competitive year for the division, but more importantly the victor will possess the number one seed in the NFC, which will mean home field advantage throughout the play-offs and a week off during Wild Card Weekend. The victor will need to win at home twice to make Super Bowl LIX.
The losing team will enter the play-offs as the fifth seed. They will play away from home in the Wild Card round.
On Monday night, the Lions had a close victory over the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 40-34, with head coach Dan Campbell refusing to rest any starters.
While the game showed the firepower that the Lions have on their offence, the performance in Santa Clara highlighted some issues with a depleted defensive unit, which can be expected when over 10 players are out for Campbell’s team. That being said, they are hopeful that defensive captain linebacker Alex Anzalone could return for the matchup on Sunday.
"It's more about finding a way to win, and that’s really the objective here."@Lions HC Dan Campbell ahead of #MINvsDET on Sunday Night: pic.twitter.com/yEQoQKLfuF
— Pro Football Ireland (@NFLIreland) January 3, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings have been on a fantastic run in recent weeks, winning their ninth consecutive game last weekend after they defeated the Green Bay Packers.
What is even more incredible is the fact that quarterback Sam Darnold has rejuvenated not only Minnesota’s offence, but also his career.
The Vikings drafted Michigan’s JJ McCarthy, who tore his meniscus in preseason. The direction of the team had to change from that moment and Darnold has taken this opportunity with open arms, earning a Pro Bowl nomination this week.
AFC Permutations
If last week was Saturday night fever, then this weekend is all about finishing the week on the best foot.
The AFC North will come to a close in a double-header on Saturday night, when the Cleveland Browns will travel to play the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals will face the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium.
The Baltimore Ravens face their own destiny. They know that if they win on Saturday night, they will clinch the AFC North title and the third seed in the AFC play-off picture.
The Cleveland Browns have had another lacklustre season and are 20-point underdogs going to Maryland.
With Lamar Jackson (above) looking to continue the momentum for a potential MVP season, the Ravens are seen as heavy favourites here to win the North.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost their last three games and now host a Cincinnati Bengals team who are fighting for their lives.
The Bengals must win in Pittsburgh on Saturday night and then hope that the Denver Broncos lose, coupled with a Miami Dolphins loss or tie.
While various teams are facing opposition that is being rested, this is a big ask for the Bengals. Joe Burrow has played extremely well in recent weeks, but this may be a step too far for a team that made Super Bowl LVI just three seasons ago.
Miami needs to win and hope the Denver Broncos lose against a Kansas City team that is resting various key players, including Patrick Mahomes.
It's fair to say that the Broncos are in pole position for the final play-off spot.
Draft Season
After 18 regular season games, the NFL Draft order will be finalised this weekend for the teams that will not make it to the postseason.
Entering the final Sunday of the year in first position is the New England Patriots, who face a Buffalo Bills team who expect to rest their starters. The last time the New England Patriots made the first overall pick in the NFL Draft was in 1993, when they selected quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
It’s not just the New England Patriots who are in the mix in the final Sunday. The Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants all have a 3-13 record each and after the New York Giants stomped to a win last weekend against the Indianapolis Colts, anything could happen in the final game of the season.
Draft position could have a lot to do with future directions of teams as we head into one of the biggest Mondays of the year.
Under Pressure
For a number of teams that were mentioned above and various others, Black Monday will see a number of coaching changes around the league.
As we enter the final week of the regular season, there are three teams with open vacancies, the New York Jets, the New Orleans Saints and the Chicago Bears.
The spotlight will come into focus on Monday on various teams, with head coaches such as Brian Daboll of the New York Giants and Doug Pederson (above) of the Jacksonville Jaguars expected to be in trouble when the final ball has been thrown on Sunday.
Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots could be an interesting option to consider. The coach who replaced Bill Belichick could find his tenure in Foxborough shortened, with free agents such as former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel available if a vacancy does open up.
Here Come The Irish
Finally, a little focus on college football - in a historic first season in the expanded college football play-off.
Notre Dame won the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Thursday night, which was played a day later after the New Orleans truck attack.
The Fighting Irish will now enter the semi-finals of the competition next week, where they will face Penn State, with the winner advancing to the College Football National Championship to play either Texas or Ohio State, who also meet next week.
